Champaign is in a good mood, and it’s because Illinois football jumped four spots in this year’s AP Preseason Poll compared to last year. In 2025, they’re starting to look like a program that can actually meet those growing expectations. The Illini are ranked inside the Top 20 for the first time since 2008, and a chunk of that credit goes to quarterback Luke Altmyer. Altmyer has helped stabilize the offense and closed the season strongly for the Illini. 

Altmyer enters the 2025 season on a high note, having put together a solid 2024 campaign with nearly 2,700 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. And reports from fall camp highlight his improved decisiveness, stronger chemistry with receivers, and readiness to handle game situations confidently. Yet, as with any football season, the looming ‘what if’ lingers. What if Altmyer gets injured or needs to be sidelined? The Illini need assurance that the offense won’t skip a beat if backup quarterback duties fall to the next man up.

That assurance is given by Ethan Hampton, a transfer from Northern Illinois who has impressed head coach Bret Bielema during both spring practice and the early stages of fall camp. Bielema praised Hampton during the Illini media day, saying, “Luke has continued to be very impressive at quarterback. Uh, but I would say Ethan Hampton has truly been uh what we saw in the spring, if not even better. So, super excited about him as a player.” This endorsement signals Hampton’s readiness to contribute meaningfully if called upon, providing crucial depth for the Illini quarterback room. Moreover, Hampton will also make sure that you don’t turn your TV off during a blowout win. Because you’ll be in for some magic plays.

If you missed his spring work, Hampton made sure he was hard to ignore. Running with the team offense, he pushed the ball downfield, handled red-zone reps with confidence, and looked comfortable against the defense. Now, with Bielema saying he’s “even better” than that spring version, it’s fair to think the gap between Altmyer and Hampton isn’t as wide as people may assume. As Bielema reflected, “Hampton has been very impressive. He’s not Luke, but, in the same capacity, there are several things that he does very, very well.“ He’s already benefiting from Illinois’ grueling 14-hour camp days, where reps are simulated under every game-like condition possible. That means if his number is called, Hampton will have already lived the moment in practice. Moreover, Hampton is in competition with Carson Boyd for the job of backup QB, and he seems to be winning.

The Illini might be climbing the polls because of what Altmyer brings, but the real strength is in the depth. Between Altmyer’s steady leadership and Hampton’s rapid growth, Illinois has a quarterback situation that’s stable and highly competitive, pushing both players higher. And when you’re playing in the Big 10 as a playoff dark horse, this is exactly the type of insurance plan that could turn momentum into a legitimate run.

Luke Altmyer Faces New Challenges as Illinois Rebuilds Receiving Corps

Luke Altmyer enters the 2025 season as the unquestioned starting quarterback for Illinois, earning a spot on the prestigious Davey O’Brien Award preseason watch list. The comparison to Nathan Scheelhaase, who last garnered similar attention in 2012, is a testament to the confidence the Illini have in Altmyer. Yet, as much as the attention focuses on his skills, the real story for Altmyer this year is the challenge of building chemistry with a receiving group that has lost two of its most productive weapons.

Altmyer is known not just for his statistics but for his ability to lift his teammates, mentoring and searching for new go-to targets in the wake of Pat Bryant and Zakari Franklin’s departure. As Jeremy Werner of the Big Ten Network pointed out, “He’s still trying to find out who his go-to guys are… It’s a talented and deep room, but it’s an unproven room when it comes to being go-to guys.” The loss of Bryant and Franklin, who together accounted for nearly 64% of offensive snaps, 71% of receptions, 73% of receiving yards, and an overwhelming 87% of the team’s passing touchdowns in 2024, leaves a sizable void to fill.

Illinois is looking toward players like Hudson Clement, a transfer from West Virginia who put up solid numbers last season with 51 receptions, 741 yards, and five touchdowns. He is expected to be Altmyer’s primary target, although the step up to the Big Ten’s pressure-packed environment will be a true test. Malik Elzy, once a highly touted recruit, and Justin Bowick, another talented transfer with considerable potential, remain largely unproven at this level. Alongside Clement, receivers Brayden Trimble, Colin Dixon, and Hank Beatty are also competing for significant roles, but none yet bring the established presence that Bryant and Franklin provided. This inexperience poses multiple challenges for Altmyer, who will need dependable, quick-read options to succeed, especially against aggressive defenses that tighten coverage or send strong blitzes.