When sitting down to evaluate the Illinois football team, one of the first observations that came to mind was that the Fighting Illini are a poor man’s version of the Wisconsin Badgers. While Illinois has nowhere near the talent of the Badgers, both teams are committed to the power running game to the point of being almost allergic to the forward pass, both teams run physical three-man fronts on defense, and both teams have improved their performance as the season progressed despite poor starts to the year. The similarities even extend to Illinois’ choice to lead the program: former Wisconsin head coach and Hawkeye defensive lineman Bret Bielema.
Iowa Football Opponent Preview: Illinois
