Illinois football took a big step forward in 2025 - not just because of who they kept, but because of who they brought in. Bret Bielema and his staff had a clear offseason mission: plug the gaps, especially at wide receiver and on the defensive front.
Mission accomplished. The Illini didn’t just patch holes - they turned them into strengths.
After an offseason that saw Illinois retain a solid core of returning starters, the coaching staff went to work in the transfer portal, and the payoff was immediate. Two wide receiver additions gave the passing game a jolt of life, while four key defensive transfers helped anchor a front that became one of the more consistent units in the Big Ten.
The result? Back-to-back 8+ win regular seasons for the first time since 1990 and a ticket to the Music City Bowl to take on Tennessee on Dec.
Now, with a senior-heavy roster set to turn over after the bowl game, Bielema and his staff are staring down a much steeper offseason climb. The transfer portal officially opens on Jan. 2, and the Illini will need to be just as aggressive - if not more - to maintain their momentum.
But before we look ahead to what’s next, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate what worked. Illinois hit on several transfer additions last offseason, and those moves helped shape one of the most competitive teams the program has fielded in decades.
Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 transfer additions from last offseason - the players who didn’t just fill roles, but helped redefine what this Illinois team could be.