Illinois went 1-7 in the BIG, 4-8 overall last season, winning 20-16 at Purdue. In 2012, they went 0-8 in the BIG, and 2-10 overall.
In 2011, 2-6, but finished 7-6 overall and beat UCLA in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. They also finished 7-6 in 2010 and beat Baylor in the Texas Bowl . In the past 4 seasons, UI has gone 2 bowl games twice, winning each of those games. So, while Illinois is definitely a bottom tier BIG team, this is not the same as when YSU had much better teams than they do now, and would play lower level teams from the MAC.
Also, not sure what their record against BIG teams matters, given YSU is in the MVFC, and plays at the FCS level?Given all that YSU lost on offense, and the way this team has played defense under Wofford, not sure why people would think YSU has much of a chance in this game?
As for Illinois in previous years against FCS teams, they are 11-0 since the 2000 season when they first played an FCS team. This includes 6-0 against teams from the MVFC.