Illini open 2025 season at No. 12 in AP Poll, highest preseason ranking in 35 years
CHAMPAIGN — For the first time in nearly two decades, Illinois football will begin a season inside the Associated Press Top 25 — and the Illini aren’t just sneaking in.
The AP placed Illinois at No. 12 in its 2025 preseason poll released Monday, marking the program’s highest starting position since 1990, when the team opened at No. 11. It’s only the 14th time the Illini have appeared in the preseason rankings since the poll began in 1950, and the ninth time they’ve been inside the top 15.
Illinois last cracked the AP preseason poll in 2008, starting at No. 20 before tumbling out of the rankings after a 2–2 start and finishing 5–7. The 2025 squad will try to avoid a similar fate — something only two of the program’s previous 11 preseason-ranked teams have accomplished by ending the year still ranked.
Returning talent fuels expectations
The Illini are coming off a 10–3 campaign that ended with a 21–17 victory over No. 14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, tying the program’s single-season win record and matching the mark for ranked wins (four). Illinois finished No. 16 in the final AP poll.
Head coach Bret Bielema’s team brings back 16 of 22 starters — tied for the most in the country — and 18 total from last year’s bowl roster. All five offensive line starters return, along with key playmakers like quarterback Luke Altmyer, linebacker Gabe Jacas, and defensive back Xavier Scott.
Altmyer threw for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, while Jacas, a Big Ten Preseason Honors selection, posted 74 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. Both were named among the conference’s top 15 players by media voters.
Big Ten well represented
Illinois is one of six Big Ten teams in the preseason Top 25, behind No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Ohio State, and No. 7 Oregon, and ahead of No. 14 Michigan and No. 20 Indiana. USC, Nebraska, and Iowa also received votes. Multiple preseason publications project Illinois to finish fourth in the conference, trailing only the three teams ranked ahead of them nationally.
Looking ahead
Illinois opens the season Friday, Aug. 29, at Memorial Stadium against Western Illinois. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Peacock.
