Illinois football is losing players to the transfer portal — including an All-Big Ten kicker, a multi-year starter, and key depth pieces — and Illini fans are starting to panic. But are these exits actually devastating… or just part of roster evolution? In today’s episode, I break down who’s leaving, why they’re leaving, and what it really says about where Illinois football is right now. We’ll talk David Olano, Kaleb Patterson, Cole Rusk, NIL realities, and why portal losses are not all created equal. Plus, why Illinois may actually be better positioned long-term than fans think. Drop your panic level (1–10) in the comments. 
 

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