It figures to be an interesting offseason at Illinois, but head coach Ron Zook still seems safe for a return in 2010.

Athletic director Ron Guenther backed Zook on Oct. 24 during halftime of Illinois' game against Purdue, saying, "There will be some changes, but there won't be a change at the top."

Illinois wound up losing to Purdue, but rebounded for back-to-back victories. The Illini have since backslid, dropping consecutive games to slip to 3-8, but Guenther's stance on Zook hasn't changed.

An Illinois spokesman told ESPN.com in an e-mail that Guenther won't be making any additional comments about Zook, even after Saturday's season finale against Fresno State. The AD is sticking by what he said at Purdue.

That's good news for the fifth-year coach, though the outlook for the program looks hazy right now. Zook's recruiting abilities have been his calling card, but the 2010 class includes only eight verbal commitments and just lost its headliner, tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz, to Iowa.

Illinois' university administration is unsettled following an admissions scandal, and Guenther's future is in doubt with only one year left on his contract and retirement possibly looming.

Veteran columnist Loren Tate writes:

While Guenther has announced Zook will be given another year, numerous factors must weigh into the ultimate evaluation after Saturday's game with Fresno State: (1) can serious recruiting slippage be turned, (2) what are the chances of Zook producing a winner against the difficulties of the schedule, (3) are there staff problems that need to be resolved and (4) what would be the severest financial setback, a buyout or the lost ticket revenue next season?

Short of Zook masterminding a stunning revival, it is a no-win situation. The current freshman class appears average by Big Ten standards, and the Illini are behind on the recruiting front for 2010. If this is compounded with further player acquisition shortfalls next year, the repercussions could be felt for years.

So while Zook appears to be safe, the coming months will be critical for a program that reached the Rose Bowl three long years ago.