CHAMPAIGN — Illinois football's run defense ranked among the worst 15 in the country in the 2017 season after allowing 218.5 rushing yards per game. Only four Power Five teams gave up more yards per game on the ground.
Run defense has been a recurring issue for the Illini. Lovie Smith's first team ranked 105th nationally. Bill Cubit's lone year as interim coach had Illinois 64th, and just one of Tim Beckman's teams was in the top 100 (the 2012 squad ranked 97th).
The last Illinois team to rank among the top 50 run defenses in the country was the Vic Koenning-led defense in 2011 during Ron Zook's final season.