llinois ranked No. 12 in 2025 preseason coaches poll
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois football will open the 2025 season ranked No. 12 in the US LBM Preseason Coaches Poll, as announced by USA TODAY on Monday. It marks the program’s highest preseason ranking since 1990, when the Illini were also slotted at No. 12.
This year’s No. 12 ranking is tied for the second-highest preseason mark in school history since the poll’s inception in 1978, trailing only the 1985 team that debuted at No. 10. It also represents Illinois’ first appearance in the Coaches Poll preseason rankings since 2008, when they came in at No. 19.
Illinois enters the 2025 season with momentum and experience, returning 16 starters—tied for the most in the nation—including 18 from last season’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl-winning roster. The 2024 team finished No. 16 in the final Coaches Poll after posting a 10-win season, matching school records for total wins and ranked victories (four). The year was capped with a signature 21–17 win over No. 14 South Carolina in Orlando, one of the most notable bowl victories in program history.
Key returners include quarterback Luke Altmyer and outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, both of whom were named to the Big Ten Preseason Honors list as two of the conference’s top 15 players. Altmyer passed for 2,717 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2024, while Jacas anchored the Illini defense with 74 tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, and 8.0 sacks.
Illinois kicks off the 2025 season on Friday, August 29, hosting Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Peacock.
Full poll
| Rank | Team | Record | PTS | 1st | Prev | Chg | Hi/Lo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 0-0 | 1606 | 28 | NR | – | 1/1 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 0-0 | 1565 | 20 | NR | – | 2/2 |
| 3 | Penn State | 0-0 | 1525 | 14 | NR | – | 3/3 |
| 4 | Georgia | 0-0 | 1466 | 3 | NR | – | 4/4 |
| 5 | Notre Dame | 0-0 | 1360 | 0 | NR | – | 5/5 |
| 6 | Clemson | 0-0 | 1324 | 2 | NR | – | 6/6 |
| 7 | Oregon | 0-0 | 1307 | 0 | NR | – | 7/7 |
| 8 | Alabama | 0-0 | 1210 | 0 | NR | – | 8/8 |
| 9 | LSU | 0-0 | 1056 | 0 | NR | – | 9/9 |
| 10 | Miami (FL) | 0-0 | 823 | 0 | NR | – | 10/10 |
| 11 | Arizona State | 0-0 | 806 | 0 | NR | – | 11/11 |
| 12 | Illinois | 0-0 | 734 | 0 | NR | – | 12/12 |
| 13 | South Carolina | 0-0 | 665 | 0 | NR | – | 13/13 |
| 14 | Michigan | 0-0 | 580 | 0 | NR | – | 14/14 |
| 15 | Ole Miss | 0-0 | 573 | 0 | NR | – | 15/15 |
| 16 | SMU | 0-0 | 555 | 0 | NR | – | 16/16 |
| 17 | Florida | 0-0 | 498 | 0 | NR | – | 17/17 |
| 18 | Tennessee | 0-0 | 492 | 0 | NR | – | 18/18 |
| 19 | Indiana | 0-0 | 460 | 0 | NR | – | 19/19 |
| 20 | Kansas State | 0-0 | 438 | 0 | NR | – | 20/20 |
| 21 | Texas A&M | 0-0 | 392 | 0 | NR | – | 21/21 |
| 21 | Iowa State | 0-0 | 392 | 0 | NR | – | 21/21 |
| 23 | BYU | 0-0 | 287 | 0 | NR | – | 23/23 |
| 24 | Texas Tech | 0-0 | 261 | 0 | NR | – | 24/24 |
| 25 | Boise State | 0-0 | 246 | 0 | NR | – | 25/25 |
Others Receiving Votes
Oklahoma 221; Missouri 142; Louisville 126; USC 116; Utah 86; Baylor 76; Auburn 50; Iowa 49; Memphis 34; Army West Point 33; Tulane 31; Georgia Tech 27; TCU 24; Nebraska 19; Syracuse 16; Washington 15; Navy 14; Arkansas 14; Duke 12; Colorado 12; Minnesota 11; UNLV 8; Florida State 8; Kansas 6; Vanderbilt 3; Buffalo 1;
