Illinois Football: Will Luke Altmyer Return to Illinois in 2025?

Quarterback Luke Altymer Comments on His Future With Illinois Football

As the regular season concludes, and bowl/College Football Playoff season begins for Illinois Football, a new concern is emerging among Illini fans.

In the age of NIL deals, transfer portal decisions, and shifting opportunities, will rising quarterback Luke Altmyer return to lead the Fighting Illini for a seemingly promising 2025 season?

Nov 30, 2024; Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Altmyer On His Future In Champaign

WCIA 3 Sports Reporter Tristan Thomas asked Altmyer the question on the minds of many Illini fans. In the ever-changing landscape of college football, what does the future hold for the Illini’s talented quarterback?

“Yeah, it’s such a crazy, crazy world that the NCAA has turned into,” stated Altmyer. “It changes by the day, I feel Like I don’t know all the rules, all the timelines, all that stuff. With the revenue sharing, there’s a bunch to it. I don’t know what the future holds, I really don’t. But, man I really love being here, I enjoy it. I love my coaches, I love my teammates. I think we have a really really bright future ahead of us here at Illinois Football.“

Luke continued, “Just trying to follow where the Lord leads me, and I’m going to trust that. Just looking forward to being my best self here, or wherever that is. But, man I really enjoy being here, I love being here, and like I said, I’m excited to keep on doing this here.“

Comfortability

To follow up, Thomas asked how important comfortability within Bret Bielema and Barry Lunney Jr’s system would be for Luke when making decisions about his future on the field.

Luke’s response, “Extremely.“

Furthermore, he concluded, “There’s so many factors that go into where things kind of finish up. But, man, comfortability with who you do it with is right there at the top of it. Obviously, with your players, and your teammates, but obviously the coaching, and the people who lead you. Obviously, with Coach Bielema and Coach Lunney, I’ve been under them for two years, and to have a third year with them, more growth would occur. Know what they want, know what they understand, understand who they are and just like that they understand who I am. So, big big factor, and looking forward to seeing what the future holds.”

Caught up with #Illini QB Luke Altmyer and asked about his outlook on next season and if he plans to be back at Illinois.

“I don’t know what the future holds… but man I love being here”

He adds that comfort with this staff is important as he considers the future. pic.twitter.com/VYYP8Ivi3E

— Tristan Thomas (@TristanThomasTV) December 7, 2024

Quick Thought

Luke certainly has a decision to make once the Illini get to the end of bowl season. Something for fans to keep in mind – the new world of college football has never been more of a business. I really don’t think Altmyer wants to make a departure from Illinois Football to another team to learn a whole new system for his senior season.

However, comparable to the 2021 Kofi Cockburn offseason drama, Luke will have a chance to shop the market due to his increasing stock.

Will he leave? Probably not, but, he will make a big case for a handsome increase in NIL funding.

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