CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Pat Embleton has heard the refrain over and over again in his 13 years here.

Typical Illinois .

Every time the program takes one step forward, it takes two steps back. Long-time fans have become accustomed to bracing for the anvil to drop from the sky once they finally let their guard down and enjoy Illinois football.

In 2001, the Fighting Illini won 10 games and went to the Sugar Bowl, only to miss a bowl the next five seasons.

Typical Illinois .

Ron Zook got it back on track in 2007, won nine games and took the Illini to their first Rose Bowl since 1984. And then typical Illinois hit and the program missed a bowl the next two seasons and largely wandered in the wilderness until Bret Bielema arrived in 2021.

You can understand then why Illinois fans might s

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