Ranking the top 50 college football programs of all time

Nov 26, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back Curtis Samuel (4) celebrates after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Michigan Wolverines in the second overtime at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won the game 30-27 in double overtime.Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports /

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Nov 12, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Wes Lunt (12) hands the football off to running back Kendrick Foster (22) during the fourth quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Lovie Smith taking over this program looked to be the best news to happen to Illinois in quite some time. It will be a process, but the former Chicago Bears head coach finished 3-9 in his first season in the Big Ten.

Illinois was one of the first members of the Big Ten back in the 1800s and the Fighting Illini dominated the conference under Arthur Hall and Bob Zuppke from 1910-1928, winning eight league titles during that time. Zuppke has since been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and he was the first great head coach — he also won four national titles.

The Fighting Illini had one national title post-Zuppke in 1951 under Ray Eliot when they also won the Rose Bowl.

They’ve won 15 Big Ten titles and are 8-10 in bowl games all time. The most recent ‘major’ bowl came in 2008 when Juice Williams led the Fighting Illini to the Rose Bowl, but they were blown out by USC.

Go retro with this vintage Illini shirt.

If Lovie can get the local recruits that seem to dominate the Midwest on a consistent basis, he will have this program back in the Big Ten title conversation.

Some notable alumni include Dick Butkus, Red Grange, Whitney Mercilus and Vontae Davis. There seem to be solid NFL draft prospects that come out of this program each year, despite the lackluster recent records. Illinois also has 24 consensus All-Americans.

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