Illinois fans can ramp up their excitement even more, as 25 days separate it from its season opener against Western Illinois. Illinois attempts to build off last year's unlikely 10-3 finish that has the national media predicting a College Football Playoff berth as a reasonable expectation.
The Illini and coach Bret Bielema received good news Monday, as they find themselves ranked No. 12 in USA Today's Coaches Preseason Poll.
It marks the team's highest spot since 1990, when Illinois was also ranked No. 12. Five years before, Illinois was No. 10.
Since the poll began in 1978, it marks the fourth time Illinois has cracked the top-20 and the first time it has done so since 2008 (No. 19). This feat followed a season where it went to the Rose Bowl and upset No. 1 Ohio State in the same year.
According to a school-issued press release, the Illini's returning experience is evident and proves Bielema's ability to retain such talent.
"Illinois returns 16 starters from last season — tied for the most in the nation — and 18 starters from last year's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl team that finished #16 in the final Coaches Poll," a portion of the statement read. "Last year's team tied the program record for wins with 10 and tied the program record for ranked wins with four. The Fighting Illini capped one of the best seasons in program history by beating #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, 21-17, in one of the top bowl game victories in Illinois history."
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The Illini play only two other teams that earned spots on the poll this season, both of which made the College Football Playoff. No. 2 Ohio State, of course, enters this fall as the defending national champion. In contrast, coach Curt Cignetti's No. 19 Indiana Hoosiers were bounced in the opening round against Notre Dame in December.
The Hoosiers mark Illinois' first Big Ten opponent, Sept. 20, as the two teams will meet for the first time since Nov. 2023, while the matchup against the Buckeyes Oct. 11 ends a near-decade hiatus since they last met in Nov. 2017.
For now, it remains to be seen whether winning one or both games will go a long way in determining whether Illinois qualifies for its first College Football Playoff appearance in school history.