Illinois Football: 10 Dream Scenarios for 2011

The Illinois Fighting Illini will enter the 2011 College Football season with high aspirations of improving upon their 7-6 campaign in 2010, which will more easily become reality if these 10 dream scenarios come true.

The Big Ten as a whole is up for grabs this year, especially with all the uncertainty facing the Ohio State University who have seemingly dominated the Big Ten the past six years.

If some of these dream scenarios play of for the Fighting Illini come September, anything is possible. 

Ron Zook always seems to field an elite rushing attack, but for the Illini to make a run at a Big Ten Title, they must have a successful passing game to compliment the run.

Illinois accounted for nearly 3,200 yards on the ground last year but only 1,900 through the air. 

If the Fighting Illini can find a way to amass roughly the same amount of yardage through the air as they do on the ground, Illinois could have a deadly offense in 2011.

Illinois has a history of giving Ohio State problems even when they are heavy underdogs, and this year the Fighting Illini should keep that trend going.

Ohio State will field a predominately young team next year and will also be dealing with off the field distractions which bodes nicely for Illinois.

An Oct. 15th storming of the field would be a great midseason life for the Illini moving forward.

The success of the Illinois football program will be placed on the arms and legs of redshirt sophomore Nathan Scheelhaase. 

Scheelhaase will be the most athletic quarterback in the Big Ten next year, and if he can improve upon his solid freshman numbers he could be collecting some hardware at seasons end. 

Scheelhaase threw for over 1,800 yards last year while accumulating nearly 900 yards on the ground to go with 22 total touchdowns. 

Nathan Scheelhaase should feel more comfortable and confident with a year of experience under his belt, and if he can rush for over 1,000 yards while throwing for over 2,000 yards and put up good touchdown number, he will be a front-runner for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

Illinois could have easily been a 10-3 team in 2010 had they finished out close games. 

The Fighting Illini lost three games that were decided by four points or less last season, and if they are able to come out on top in clutch situations in 2011 the Illini should be looking at a much improved overall record.

Coaching is normally the difference in game that go down to the wire, and it's up to Ron Zook to put his players in the best possible situations to be successful late in games next season.

If Nathan Scheelhaase has a much improved year through the air in 2011, A.J. Jenkins should reap the benefits of a more complete Illinois passing attack.. 

A.J. Jenkins had 52 receptions for 750 yards during his junior season which placed him in the top 10 for receiving in the Big Ten, and I fully expect him to have a breakout senior year for the Fighting Illini this season.

Mikel Leshoure had a monster year for Illinois last season rushing for nearly 1,700 yards while accounting for nearly 40 percent of the teams offense, so the Illini will need someone to fill his shoes in 2011. Senior Jason Ford looks to be the man for the job.

Ford rushed for 480 yards on 99 carries last year which was good for a 4.8 yards per carry average. 

At 6'1'', 235 pounds, Ford is a brushing back that has the ability to wear down opposing defenses as games wear on. 

Tavon Wilson and Trulon Henry combined for 111 tackles last year, and the duo will provide a shutdown secondary for Illinois.

Both will be entering their Senior seasons and will look to lead the often inconsistent Illinois defense.

Wilson (6'1'', 205) and Henry (6'2'', 225) have the skills and physical ability for anchor the Fighting Illini defense in 2011.

The Fighting Illini only have four away games on the 2011 schedule, so an undefeated home record would mean the worse the Illini finish is 8-4. 

When looking down the schedule, two home games pop out—Oct. 15th against Ohio State and Nov. 19th against Wisconsin. 

Those will be the two toughest games of the season for Illinois, but they have the luxury of facing those two opponents at home. 

If Illinois pulls those two games out, an 11-1 season seems realistic.

With an undefeated home record and only one road loss at Penn State, the Fighting Illini will hold the top spot in the Leaders division and a spot in the Conference Championship game.

This would be a monumental accomplishment for Ron Zook and the Illini, as they would be participants in the first-ever Big Ten Championship game in Indianapolis and will most likely take on Big Ten newcomer Nebraska. 

What would a 2011, dream football season for Illinois be without an appearance in the Rose Bowl?

With a win over Nebraska in the inaugural Big Ten Conference Championship game, Illinois will finally have a chance to avenge their 2007 Rose Bowl let-down against USC.

With a steady dose of Jason Ford mixed in with the all around ability of quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase dabbled with the big play threat of A.J. Jenkins, the Illini will be a tough out in 2011.  

As hard as this may be to believe for some Big Ten fans, if Illinois can hold down their home field in 2011, their dreams could become a reality by season's end.