Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
Illinois

Rece Davis names Illinois as 'trendy' Big Ten team that could be 2025's Indiana

Danby: Daniel Hager06/28/25DanielHagerOn3
Rece-Davis-names-Illinois-is-trendy-Big-Ten-team-that-could-be-2025-Indiana
© Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images

The Illinois Fighting Illini remerged into college football’s national spotlight last season, compiling a 10-win record for the first time since 2001 with a win over South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl. Heading into Bret Bielema‘s fifth season at the helm, expectations are high for the program.

ESPN College Gameday’s Rece Davis even named the Illini as a ‘trendy’ Big Ten team that could be 2025’s Indiana, meaning a team from the conference that could come from out of nowhere and nab a spot in the College Football Playoff. He discussed his reasoning on the “College GameDay Podcast.”

“A team from off the radar that might be a trendy pick to follow the Indiana path last year would be Illinois,” Davis said. “They won a lot of close games last year. I think they were 5-1 in one possession games. You deserve a lot of credit for that. That shows grit, fortitude and all of those things that coaches like to talk about to win close games. Some of the close games were against lesser teams, with one even coming against Purdue. So there are a couple of things with a team like Illinois that I think has great potential.”

Illinois was in fact 5-1 in one possession games last season, with wins over No. 19 Kansas (23-17), No. 22 Nebraska (31-24 in OT), Purdue (50-49 in OT), Rutgers (38-31) and No. 15 South Carolina (21-17). Its lone one possession loss came at home to Minnesota (25-17).

“A lot of people are back, I think by some of the standards, they are the most experienced team in the country,” Davis continued. “Yet now they have some expectations and they also have to follow up with ‘can you win the close games?’ Or can you prove that the games that shouldn’t be close wouldn’t be this time. I think handling some of the expectations and attention that [Bret] Bielema has brought to Illinois is important.”

Bielema and his staff return starting quarterback Luke Altmyer, second-leading rusher Aidan Laughery, and their top-five tacklers from last season (DB Matthew Bailey, EDGE Gabe Jacas, LB Dylan Rosiek, DB Myles Scott and LB James Kreutz). The Illini also brought in the nation’s No. 30 ranked Transfer Portal class, headlined by West Virginia wide receiver Hudson Clement, Wisconsin DL James Thompson Jr. and Ball State wide receiver Justin Bowick.

Illinois is seeking back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in program history.

Illinois 2025 Schedule: