The Illinois Fighting Illini haven’t fully inspired faith in CBS Sports’ college football pundits.
Last season, the Fighting Illini finished on the outside looking in at college football’s final top 25 rankings despite a strong season that ended with a Music City Bowl win over the Vanderbilt Commodores.
This season, Bielema and his team will trudge forward through a challenging schedule in search of a top 25 finish and potential College Football Playoff appearance with new starting quarterback Katin Houser at the helm of what is expected to be one of the Big Ten’s best offenses.
The Fighting Illini also have a potential strong defensive season on tap with former Montana head coach Bobby Hauck in charge of the defense and veteran leaders including Xavier Scott returning.
The Fighting Illini are gaining positive preseason attention, but not enough to warrant a top 25 inclusion according to preseason rankings released by CBS Sports.
Oct 19, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA;Illinois Fighting Illini defensive back Xavier Scott(14) steps into the light on the tunnel before the start of a game with the Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium. Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images
Illini on Outside Looking In
Bielema’s Fighting Illini are on the outside looking in according to rankings released by CBS Sports, which placed Illinois 29th in the country.
The Fighting Illini are one spot ahead of the 30th ranked Arizona Wildcats, one spot behind the SEC’s South Carolina Gamecocks, and two spots behind legendary Clemson Tigers coach Dabo Swinney’s team, which came in 27th.
Iowa, Washington, Penn State, Michigan, and USC comprise a list of five Big Ten teams ranked outside the top ten nationally by CBS Sports.
Ohio State, Oregon, and defending national champion Indiana round out the list of Big Ten teams in the top 25, with the Buckeyes first, Oregon second and Indiana sixth.
Six-Game Stretch Looms Large
The Fighting Illini’s schedule appears daunting with a full Big Ten slate including games against Ohio State and Oregon on this year’s docket.
Still, it’s easier than many other Big Ten teams as a whole.
The non-conference schedule is more than manageable, starting against UAB on Sept. 3, Duke on Sept. 12 and ending with Southern Illinois on Sep. 19.
A six-game stretch starting with a road game at CBS’ top team, the Buckeyes, on Sept. 26 could decide Bielema’s team’s fate.
It includes four challenging but winnable games sandwiched around the Buckeyes and Ducks on Oct. 24 at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
A 4-2 record in those games would put Illinois on target for a top 25 finish, College Football Playoff contention and a solid bowl game.
Three or more losses would make those goals incredibly difficult to achieve.
A 5-1 or better mark including an upset in either marquee game would instantly make Bielema’s group one of the most talked about in college football and inspire hope in a potential Playoff berth, which would be the program’s first.
Illinois has garnered plenty of respect this offseason, including from Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, but the work is far from done.
The Fighting Illini are longing for more in an era of college football marked by upstart contenders and champions, including the Indiana Hoosiers last year, and know they’re capable of bigger and better things if they keep improving and buy into Bielema’s system.
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