The Illinois Fighting Illini are ranked #12 in both the AP and USA Today preseason polls. There are 12 slots in the 2025 College Football Playoff. Thus, it's not a reach, stretch or hot take to predict the Illini to make the CFP this season. Tell that to ESPN, who released their playoff pundit prediction panel yesterday, and Illinois was barely represented. … [Read more...] about #12 Illini Almost Absent in ESPN College Football Playoff Predictions
xavier scott
Xavier Scott: Elite Cornerback Critical to 2025 Illini Football Success
We're currently in, as Elvis Costello once sang "the other side of summer." If you're into college football, then you know how the "back to school" period of summer is dominated by preseason award watch lists. Some of them are hilarious participation trophies, like the Doak Walker, which literally has 102 names on it this season. But others, like the Bronko Nagurski (see … [Read more...] about Xavier Scott: Elite Cornerback Critical to 2025 Illini Football Success
Illini Return 16/22 Starters, Look Very Strong in 2025
Is 2025 going to be the year that the Illinois Fighting Illini football program finally starts stacking winning seasons? It certainly looks that way on paper. And while there was obvious cause for optimism in 2000, 2002, 2008 and 2023 (four seasons that followed major program breakthroughs), it just didn't work out that way, and all four of those years were mere five-in … [Read more...] about Illini Return 16/22 Starters, Look Very Strong in 2025
Illini Football: Very Early 2025 Season Preview
With 18 of 22 starters returning, Illini football should be special in 2025. Winning ten games, including the Citrus Bowl, has put the program back up at a level relevance that hasn't been seen since 2001. And perhaps most importantly, the Illini have done it by finding and maintaining an identity. Defensive Coordinator Aaron Henry has perfectly articulated the Illini … [Read more...] about Illini Football: Very Early 2025 Season Preview