Indiana’s playoff hopes might have vanished thanks to Notre Dame’s 27-17 knockout punch, but the Hoosiers’ impressive 11-2 run proved one thing: Teams armed with the right schedule and returning firepower can crash the party. Well, it’s not us saying that, but football commentator-turned-broadcaster Greg McElroy, who’s seemingly cracked the code. As things stand, he’s set his sights on another squad currently that possesses that same winning formula. Emerging with a 10-3 record last season, this team had managed to keep their core players together, and seemingly has a clear path to contention as per the former quarterback…

“You look at where the Big 10 is right now — Illinois. But the schedule is really manageable. And we looked last year at Indiana, and Indiana punching their ticket to the dance, getting to the playoff. And really, at the time, they didn’t have a whole lot of signature victories on their schedule. Yeah, but you know what Indiana also didn’t have? A bunch of losses. Why? Because their schedule was manageable,” the veteran said on the Always College Football with Greg McElroy podcast aired February 10.

Even analyst Brandon Walker mentioned the same thing about Indiana’s easy playoff ride, saying, “I don’t think Indiana is, in any other year, would be near the playoffs.” It’s evident that Curt Cignetti’s Big 10 experience has been relatively kind, whereas most of the teams in the conference fell victim to the strength of their companions.

Notably, as per upcoming season’s schedule, Illinois will start their run with a clash against Western Illinois (August 30), followed by Duke (September 6), Western Michigan (September 13), Indiana (September 20), USC (September 27), Purdue (October 4), Ohio State (October 11), Washington (October 25), Rutgers (November 1), Maryland (November 15), Wisconsin (November 22), and Northwestern on November 29. Now you be the judge on whether McElroy, and Walker are correct with their predictions…

Having said that, looks like a “manageable” schedule is not the only upper hand Illinois will get…

Greg McElroy highlights Illinois’ hidden weapon

It’s no wonder that Illinois has gone all out to strengthen their chances for another successful run. Three crucial players, Xavier Scott in the defensive back position, J.C. Davis as an offensive lineman, and Gabe Jacas as a defensive end, are all returning after playing pivotal roles in Illinois’ impressive 10-win season and their 21-17 victory over No. 14 South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl. With these key players back in the lineup, Illinois can maintain the integrity of their core team, setting themselves up for a genuine chance at remaining in the playoff conversation.

That’s exactly what makes them stand out, and even Greg McElroy talked about their 10 wins and a strong bowl game, saying, “I’m not just saying this to garner a significant reaction. There will be people this summer that will pick Illinois to potentially play in the Big 10 championship game. Now, I think that’s a little bit too far-fetched. It seems like a lot, but when you win 10 games the year before and you bring back 18 starters from a team that won the Citrus Bowl over another playoff contender in South Carolina, people are going to feel good about what you have.” It’s evident that the Illini aren’t just holding the line; they’re bringing back 18 starters from that bowl-winning squad.

Plus, coach Bret Bielema isn’t just stopping there, as he recently secured a commitment from a four-star safety player, Kaedyn Cobbs, for the 2026 class. The interesting thing is this guy chose Illinois over scholarship offers from teams like SMU, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Nebraska, among others. Stability like that doesn’t come around often, and with momentum on their side, Illinois looks ready to turn last season’s breakthrough into something even bigger.