LAS VEGAS, NV (WAND) --Â We are just over a month away from college football games returning and Monday in Vegas was the beginning of the Big 10 media day.
Head coach Bret Bielema kicked off the day for the coaches press conferences saying what a great time to be in Vegas.
In the off season Bielema signed a contract extension to be at Illinois through the 2030 season.
The Illini have 24 returning starters back this season...notably on the offensive quarterback Luke Altmyer, tackle JC Davis and center Josh Kruetz. And on the defensive side linebacker Gabe Jacas and defensive backs Miles & Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey.
Bielema said after last year they are ready to show that it wasn't a fluke. Illinois is coming off a program best 10 win season and projected to be preseason ranked for the first time since 2008.
"Everybody's worried about Illinois with the expectations, expectations are earned. They're never given," Bielema said. "Some people give expectations. That's great. But for us at Illinois, we got to earn them. We got to have a chip on our left shoulder and our right shoulder. The way we've earned these expectations will be the way we earned success this year. We'll do it on a daily basis, with our teammates and our coaches and I have a coaching staff that, retains my offense and defense and special teams coordinator for the last three years. I have the starting quarterback for the last three years. Those are the things that get me excited."
The Illini open this years campaign Friday August 29 at home at Western Illinois.
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