Uiuc's AD is smart to extend Smith. It helps with recruiting right now, and likely lowers the future buyout so a change could still be made next year if desired. The buyout was too pricey for a change now according to many reports, so he was going to be the coach again in 2019 anyway.
The Illini have been bad since Mackovic left. Patience with a coach might be a smart strategy.
But I'm a lot more interested in the new Redbird recruits who will sign soon!