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Big Ten Football Spring Preview: 10 biggest questions and storylines

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer and Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh prior to the game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer and Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh prior to the game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 27, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA;Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Can Illinois be competitive under Lovie Smith?

Illinois fired Bill Cubit, who signed a two-year contract after serving as the interim head coach last season, with days remaining until the start of spring practice. In comes former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith to the rescue.

Smith was hired to change the culture and bring sustained success to a program that has struggled to do anything consistent over the last few decades besides losing with an occasional good season every four or five years. He brings instant credibility to the program with his NFL background and a massive upgrade over the coaches who have patrolled the sidelines in Champaign, but he has no prior college head coaching experience.

There’s no doubt he can coach and develop talent, but can he recruit to funnel talent into the program year after year? That’s the biggest question facing Smith at Illinois, but if he can win 7-8 games every year, he’ll have a statue built in his likeness outside Memorial Stadium.

Next: Was Iowa's Rose Bowl run a fluke?

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