The start of March means college basketball’s best month is here. But don’t overlook that college football returns this month as well, at least college football practice.
Illinois will start spring practice later this month, and it’ll be a spring of change for the Illini. A significant senior class just walked out the door, including all-time great quarterback Luke Altmyer, four of five offensive line starters and most of the defensive front. Illinois welcomed a significant transfer class, highlighted by ECU transfer quarterback Katin Houser, and a top-25 prep recruiting class.
The Illini also replaced six of its top-11 assistant coaches with Bret Bielema hiring his third defensive coordinator at Illinois, Bobby Hauck, who will bring a significant scheme change to the Illini to a 3-3-5 alignment.
Needless to say, the Illini’s spring practices will be key to transitioning a massive group of newcomers to the program and teaching a new defense to all the returners.
There are a lot of unknowns about this team, but in an effort to think more about the 2026 Illini after so many changes, Illini Inquirer takes its first crack at projecting the Illinois football depth chart.