Illinois football will try to maximize its hot start next week when the staff hits the recruiting trail during its first of two midseason off weeks. The Illini certainly will have a lot to sell.
Illinois is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2011 and just the second time since 1951 (when Harry Truman was president). The Illini have two AP Top 25 wins in September for the first time in program history — and are trying to add a third on Saturday night at No. 9 Penn State (6:30 p.m. CT, NBC), where Illinois will have the chance to make the most of the national spotlight again and put itself in conversations about contention for a College Football Playoff and a national championship.
But Illinois, which last season missed out on a bowl bid by one win for the second time in three seasons, certainly has regained some mojo and optimism in recruiting with a hot start and what now projects to be a second strong season in three years under Bret Bielema…