The Illinois Fighting Illini missed the college football playoffs in 2024, but they finished with a 9-3 record and even defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks in a bowl game. Illinois showed a lot of progress during the 2024 college football season and there is a chance that they could take a greater leap during the 2025 college football season.
During the 2024 season, four BIG10 conference teams made it to the college football playoffs. Illinois was not one of those teams, but people have been talking about them as a potential playoff contender for the 2025 college football season.
College Football Analyst Lists the Illinois Fighting Illini As a Potential Team To Make the College Football Playoffs
Ari Wasserman of on3.com listed teams from the SEC Conference and the BIG10 Conference who did not make the college football playoffs last season, but they may have a chance of cracking the party during the 2025 college football season. One of the teams that Wasserman listed was Illinois. He said,
“Maybe some people see Illinois coming. Everyone likes to try to bill Illinois as this year’s Indiana, though the main difference in that comparison is that Indiana truly did come out of nowhere. Illinois beat South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl to cap off a 10-win season, its first since 2001. Bret Beilema’s team returns basically everyone, including quarterback Luke Altmyer, and the Illini added West Virginia’s leading receiver Hudson Clement in the portal. They also return their entire offensive line, cornerback Xavier Scott, safeties Dylan Rosiek, Matthew Bailey and Miles Scott. Illinois has a chance to be really, really good.”
Outside of Drew Allar for the Penn State Nittany Lions, Altmyer could be the most experienced quarterback returning in the BIG10 conference for the Fighting Illini in 2025. They have a lot of talent returning to the team. The two games that will be circled on Illinois calendar will be against the Indiana Hoosiers and the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Both of those teams made the college football playoffs last season. Penn State and the Oregon Ducks did as well from this conference. Illinois has to win one, if not both of those games to potentially make the college football playoffs. The Fighting Illini will have a favorable schedule other than those two matchups. Illinois will be one of the most talked about teams from the BIG10 Conference leading up to the 2025 college football season.
For More Great Football Content
Follow me on Twitter at @glennkaplan13 more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and professional football, click here!
