Illinois strives to maintain a streak of victories
Illinois Football Aims High for the 2023 Season
The University of Illinois football team is gearing up for an exciting 2023 season, with high expectations and a history of notable success. After finishing the previous season ranked 20th in the final College Football Playoff ranking, the Illini are aiming to eclipse their 8-4 record and potentially earn their first College Football Playoff invitation.
The team's first game of the season is against Western Illinois, an FCS school. Despite the apparent advantage, Western Illinois should not be underestimated, as they boast a strong offense, having led their nine-team league in total offense (427.5 yards per game) and ranking second in scoring (31.0 points per game) in the previous season.
Illinois returns 16 starters from a 10-3 team, including three-year starting quarterback Luke Altmyer, a veteran offensive line, and eight defensive starters led by linebacker Gabe Jacas. The coaching staff continuity is also noteworthy, with Illinois being the only Power-4 program to have the same head coach, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, and starting quarterback all together for three consecutive seasons by 2023 and continuing into 2024 and 2025.
However, concerns about the health of the offensive line have arisen. J.C. Davis, the best left tackle, is managing a case of plantar fasciitis, and Melvin Priestly missed a few days with a sprained ankle. The schedule for 2023, while manageable, includes two pre-season top 25 opponents (No. 3 Ohio State and No. 20 Indiana), providing a challenge that the team will need to overcome.
Western Illinois' quarterback Chris Irvin takes over for the graduated Nate Lamb, who threw for 3,332 yards and 21 touchdowns. Illinois visits Duke on Sept. 6 before opening the Big Ten slate on Sept. 20 at Indiana.
The program's resurgence under coach Bret Bielema has been significant, with back-to-back strong seasons, including a 10-3 record and a Citrus Bowl victory in 2024—the program’s first 10-win season since 2001. Illinois is ranked in the preseason Top 25 poll for the first time since 2008, a testament to the team's potential this season.
Attendance growth has also been impressive, with the largest Big Ten and national attendance growth over the last four seasons. As the season unfolds, fans and analysts alike will be eager to see if the Illini can live up to their preseason expectations and make history.
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