Illinois Football clinches first nine-win season since 2007

The Land of Lincoln trophy comes back with the University of Illinois! On a chilly, November morning, Illinois football held off their in-state rival, the Northwestern Wildcats 38-28 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. It was certainly nice revenge for the Illini after having their hearts ripped out of them by the Wildcats last year in Champaign. After a rocky first half marred by turnovers, the Illini settled in and took control of the Wildcats in the second half.

This game goes well beyond the Land of Lincoln trophy, however.

Bret Bielema deserves his flowers

Just looking at this season alone, Bret Bielema has officially clinched the first 9-win season for Illinois football since 2007. If the Illini win their bowl game, it would mark the first 10-win season since 2001. On top of that, Bielema won six Big Ten games this year. It was not long ago when winning six games total would have been considered a monumental feat for Illinois. Bret Bielema has changed the tide of Illini football and has turned this into the expectation in Champaign within just a few years.

Through four years, Bielema has compiled a 27-22 record with a strong 18-18 in conference play. His predecessor’s record through four years? 15-34 overall and 8-28 in Big Ten play. 

It may not have been pretty at all times, but Illinois football just had a season where two of their three losses were to top-5 teams in the country . They will likely head to the Citrus Bowl to take on a highly touted SEC powerhouse. That is quite an achievement for Illinois football.

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