How A Second Bye Week Helped Illini Find Key to Unlocking Run Game Success in 2024

Illinois finished the 2024 season in the November games tied for fourth in the 18-team Big Ten Conference in rushing offense and hope what they found translates into the Citrus Bowl.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 30, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

ORLANDO, Fla. — It took multiple months for Illinois to properly showcase the first key to victory in a football game in the mind of its head coach - run the football.

Through the months of September and early October as Illinois continued to build a 6-1 start, Bret Bielema’s offense in 2024 . . .

 

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