Bret Bielema’s second season in Champaign has officially come to an end.
Despite a disappointing 1-4 finish, it’s fair to characterize the year as a giant step forward for the Illini. It was their first 8-win season since the 2007 Rose Bowl year and created a sense of excitement about football in Champaign that hadn’t been experienced in over a decade, maybe longer.
Now, it’s on Bielema and the rest of this staff to continue pushing forward and making sure this success is not a one-off, but instead something sustainable for years to come.
That’s where the offseason comes in.