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i l l i n o i s ( c o n t i n u e d ) to throw the ball 2012 RESULTS 2013 SCHEDULE (2-10 overall, 0-8 Big Ten, 6th Leaders) DateGame more vertical- DateOpponent Results 8/31 SO. ILLINOIS 9/1 WESTERN MICHIGAN . W, 24-7 9/7CINCINNATI ly than it has in 9/8 at Arizona State . . . . . . L, 14-45 9/14WASHINGTON* W, 44-0 the past but will 9/15 CHARLESTON SO . . . . L, 24-52 9/28 MIAMI (OHIO) 10/5 at Nebraska 9/22 LOUISIANA TECH . . . . 9/29 PENN STATE . . . . . . . . . 7-35 likely be doing it 10/6 at Wisconsin . . . . . . . . L,L,14-31 10/19WISCONSINSTATE 10/26 MICHIGAN with senior QB 10/13 at Michigan . . . . . . . . . . L, 0-45 11/2 at Penn State 10/27INDIANA . . . . . . . . . . . L, 17-31 11/9 at Indiana Nathan Scheel- 11/3 at Ohio State . . . . . . . . L, 22-52 11/16 OHIO STATE 11/10MINNESOTA . . . . . . . . . L, 3-17 11/23 at Purdue haase, whose 11/17PURDUE . . . . . . . . . . . L, 17-20 11/30NORTHWESTERN * Soldier Field, Chicago skills have dic- 11/24 at Northwestern . . . . . . L, 14-50 tated in the past that the Orange and Blue run option and stick to short passes. The receiver position seems suspect, Darius Millines' dismissal from school certainly not helping after he was one of the team's top receivers last season. Illinois does return its leading rushers from last season, but that was a ground attack that averaged less than 130 yards per game in 2012, so whether that's good news remains to be seen. Illinois hopes it can be a bowl team this year. To realize that ambition, its offense is going to have to progress exponentially, because it's difficult to see the defense being the type that can drive the proverbial ship. The Illini were not particularly good on D a year ago and now sees their front seven decimated by the losses of defensive lineman Akeem Spence and edge pass-rusher Michael Buchanan to the NFL. A healthy season from standout linebacker Jonathan Brown, one of the most productive defenders in the league before shoulder problems ravaged him last season, is a step in the right direction, but the rest of the defensive front is a major question. In what will be a pivotal year for Beckman at Illinois, it is just one of many questions that'll need to be answered. Until they are, he must be considered the most vulnerable coach in the Big Ten heading into 2013. — Brian Neubert an, im Beckm Prior to T struggled coaches went two Illini on Turner previous the easons. R while Ron econd s d year in their s his secon (1998) in 3-8 06). t 2-10 (20 Zook wen Of Note GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com 2013 OPPONENT PREVIEW • Nov. 30 • Memorial Stadium • Time TBA • TV TBD I Indiana Hoosiers ndiana is getting there. Or so it seemed during 2012, when the Hoosiers finished 4-8, but easily could have flipped that record had they been able to come out on top in close games. During the fivegame losing streak that deep-sixed IU's season last year, it lost those games by a combined 25 points, with losses of two, four, three and one points, reIndiana spectively, in that Greg Heban led the Hoosiers with 91 tackles and three interceptions in span. At the end of the 2012. season, Indiana wasn't quite so close, getting rolled by Wisconsin (6214), Penn State (45-22) and Purdue (56-35), but it was the early-season slide that IU looks to now as something that can be reversed in 2013. "I think the expectation now is to win eight games and make a bowl," said Matt Weaver of Peegs.com, the Rivals.com site that covers Indiana. "I think that's a reasonable expectation." Even after losing starting quarterback Tre Roberson to a broken leg early in the season, Indiana piled up points with its fast-paced, pass-oriented offense, averaging nearly 31 points per game, including the 49 it dropped on unbeaten Ohio State in Bloomington. Problem was, the Hoosiers allowed 52 in that game, an illustration of the step IU must now take. Its offense must remain as potent as it was a year ago, which it should considering it brings back virtualGold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 • 109