Luke Altmyer is gearing up as the unquestioned starting quarterback for Illinois in the 2025 season. This season, the selection committee named him one of 36 quarterbacks nationally to the prestigious Davey O’Brien Award preseason watch list. It’s a nod to his past performance and leadership qualities that few at Illinois have seen since Nathan Scheelhaase in 2012. The vibe around Altmyer is that of a confident leader. He is someone who’s not just about putting up stats but also about lifting his teammates.

Speaking of his teammates, does he have the necessary weapons? Yes, he’s taking charge in mentoring and building chemistry with the wideouts to overcome the loss of veteran go-to guys from last year. The Big Ten Network recently highlighted a crucial factor that can be a major roadblock for Luke Altmyer’s potential breakout season. That is the lack of established go-to receivers to throw to, which casts a shadow over Illinois’ offensive outlook.

“He’s still trying to find out who his go-to guys are,” Jeremy Werner of Big Ten Network said. “Because Pat Bryant is a third-round pick of the Broncos. Sounds like he’s going to be a starter there for year one with Shawn Peyton and Bo Nix. But then you also lose Zakari Franklin, who was the most targeted player on Illinois last year. It’s a fun stat, even though you had Pat Bryant. Zakari Franklin was an outstanding player for them, coming over from Ole Miss. So, it’s a talented and deep room, but it’s an unproven room when it comes to being go-to guys.” The Illini lost two of their top receivers from last season, Pat Bryant and Zakari Franklin. They accounted for a massive chunk of the team’s receiving production and chemistry with Altmyer.

Together, they represented nearly 64% of the snaps, 71% of the receptions, and 73% of the yards. And also an overwhelming 87% of the touchdowns in the passing game from 2024. Losing both means the Illini must dig deep for new leaders on the outside. The replacements come with a promise but remain largely unproven at the big-time, pressure-packed Big Ten level. Leading the way is Hudson Clement. He is a transfer from West Virginia who had a solid 2024 season with 51 receptions, 741 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Clement is expected to start and be one of Altmyer’s primary weapons. But this change will be more of a proving ground than a guarantee. Malik Elzy, a highly touted recruit from earlier in his career, has yet to take off. He only managed 4 receptions for 77 yards last season.

The expectation is he might step up, but he hasn’t proven himself as a dependable go-to guy yet. Justin Bowick, another transfer, brings size and potential with good production at Ball State last year. But it still lacks Illinois-level game experience and chemistry with Altmyer. Then there are other receivers like Brayden Trimble, Colin Dixon, and Hank Beatty. All of them are competing for time, but don’t carry the proven “alpha” confidence and consistent production of the departed veterans. The problem with inexperience is multifold for Altmyer. They are playmakers who must understand timing, running routes against top-tier defenses, and provide dependable options. And especially when the defense tightens coverage or blitzes too strongly. Bryant’s and Franklin’s absence means Altmyer has fewer go-to faces he can instantly trust when under pressure.

Bret Bielema’s weight of expectations

Bret Bielema is carrying a heavy load of expectations heading into the 2025 season, after delivering a standout 10-win season in 2024. It’s their best since 2001. And also a major bowl win, the Illini have fans, media, and the college football world expecting even more. Bielema’s job now is to maintain and build on that momentum. The challenge is intensified because while Illinois returns 16 starters and has a solid core.

Altmyer has shown growth, especially in smart decision-making and composure under pressure. But without established receivers, the passing game risks setbacks. Additionally, Bielema’s coaching staff has been stable, including offensive coordinator Barry Lunney and defensive coordinator Aaron Henry, which should help with consistency. The offensive line and running game remain strengths, easing some burden on Altmyer.

Still, Bielema must lead the team to earn its high expectations every game. And he has been clear about expectations being earned, not given. To meet the elevated target on Illinois’ back, Bielema must get the most out of an evolving offense and keep the defense stout, especially against tough Big Ten competition like Ohio State and Indiana. The ultimate pressure comes from the expectation to turn a promising roster into an order to reach the playoffs. With a quarterback searching for reliable go-to receivers, into a consistent winner and legitimate playoff contender.