Money, road success and depth keys to next Illini step

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Jul. 29—CHICAGO — Two seasons, 19 wins. The best two-year stretch in Illinois football history.

Now what? How does the program continue — or improve — its recent run of success?

Charles Davis, the new lead analyst for CBS college football broadcasts this season, has a few ideas.

But first, questions.

"In 2026, where's your money coming from? How do you build your roster," Davis asked me on Tuesday before Big Ten Media Days kicked off at the Hilton Chicago. "But you just don't throw money at it. It's what we've seen from the best ones."

In the Big Ten, for example, Davis said just look at what coaches like Curt Cignetti at Indiana, Ryan Day at Ohio State and Jim Harbaugh at Michigan — before he bolted for the NFL again — have done.

Evaluating and developing are part of the formula.

Only a part.

"But can you get those difference-makers when you go up against Indiana, Oregon, Ohio State?" Davis said. "That's what they all are looking for."

Bret Bielema is entering his sixth season in charge at Illinois. Winning 19 games in two years means his program is moving in the right direction.

"Based on what we've seen and going into the season, I feel like it's one more step away," Davis said. "How many times have we watched the season unfold and someone makes that step, coming out of nowhere?"

Like Indiana two years ago when the Hoosiers unexpectedly made the College Football Playoff for the first time.

Davis has a healthy knowledge about the history of the Illinois program.

"There have been the ups and downs that you go through in college ball," Davis said.

He was aware of improved recruiting under Ron Zook in the mid-to-late 2000s. And the key additions of Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn that led to a 2008 Rose Bowl berth.

Now, with Bielema leading the way, Davis sees a familiar style.

"You're back to what you would probably suspect an Illinois team to be like: tough, hard-nosed, smart at what they do," said Davis, who added he is curious to see what improvements new defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck brings to that side of the ball. "Nowadays, you're going to fling it around some, that doesn't mean you're not going to run it. When Bret has a program, you're always in it. You're always going to look the part. You're going to have a good football team. You have an aggressive football team. He knows his biz really well."

Ample opportunity

When the CFP had only four teams, Illinois would have needed a perfect season to make the cut. When the number jumped to 12, it had a better shot. Albeit still a long shot.

Best bet for Illinois making the playoffs going forward is if the Big Ten gets its wish and the field grows to 24 someday.

"It's a boon for those teams that are right on the edge," Davis said. "It's always a boon when you add, if you're a team on the next layer. … If you're Illinois, 24 sounds great. Once you get in, anything and everything can happen."

Indiana's miracle run to the CFP title last season raised expectations for every program.

No more excuses.

"They messed it up for everybody," Davis said. "But each circumstance is different. Coaching matters. Not everybody has Curt Cignetti. Bret Bielema can do it. I don't have any doubt whatsoever they have the bandwidth. If Illinois has a level playing field of money, Bret Bielema is a guy who is going to get it done."

Simple solution

Illinois went 6-1 at home in 2025, with the only loss in Champaign to Ohio State.

To reach the CFP, Bielema said the team needs to improve on the road. It went 2-3 in 2025, losing at eventual national champ Indiana, nine-win Washington and under-.500 Wisconsin.

"To build a successful campaign, to win 10 games or more in the regular season to get you in the playoffs, I think we're going to have to win on the road," Bielema said. "Each year, we've had one of those games that snaps up and gets us. We've got to avoid those games."

Another key to improvement according to Bielema: better depth.

"We still have a couple positions like, 'No. 1 is good, but this guy, I've got concerns about,'" Bielema said. "I think you can say that every year, but at Illinois, that really played up huge, especially in the two years where we didn't qualify for bowl games. It was kind of a position stretch at certain times."

Outside view

Scott Dochterman of The Athletic covers Iowa, a program that like Illinois is looking to take another step, and has a good grasp on not only the Big Ten, but the national scene, too.

But Iowa already has what Illinois lacks.

"I think consistency is the most important thing for Illinois football right now," Dochterman said. "As we know, over the years, they've had a good season, then gone 5-7. It's been all the way back to 2001 when they went to the Sugar Bowl and then fell off. Then to the Rose Bowl in '07, in '08 return everybody, and go 5-7. Even with Bret for one of the years, they were a game out of the Big Ten West, then 5-7."

Bielema has achieved consecutive winning seasons for the first time at the school since the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

"Can they put together another bowl season?" Dochterman asked rhetorically. "I think for Illinois, the next step is proving you can be consistent. And then when all the pieces are in place, exploit it then."

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