Schedule video for the 2025 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
Here is who Illinois will play in the 2025 college football season, from its opener vs. Western Illinois to the season finale with Northwestern.
CHAMPAIGN — One of the most anticipated Illinois football seasons is nearly here.
The No. 12-ranked Fighting Illini open the season on Aug. 29 at home against Western Illinois. Coach Bret Bielema brings most of his starters back from a 10-win season in 2024, which ended with a big win in the Citrus Bowl.
Before the first kickoff of 2025, here are some bold predictions we made for the Illini.
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Illinois football preview: Bold predictions for 2025
Journal Star sports editor Wes Huett lays out four bold predictions for Illinois ahead of the 2025 college football season.
1. Illinois football will make the College Football Playoff
Let’s get this one out of the way. Illinois will win its tossup games, tangle with Ohio State, and sneak into the final at-large spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Big Ten elites like Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon seem like locks to make the CFP field of 12. The Illini are right behind, needing to take care of business against teams like Indiana, USC and Washington — while also hoping runners-up in leagues like the ACC and Big 12 don’t overperform and earn their leagues an at-large berth.
2. ESPN College GameDay will come to Champaign
I’m calling it here. Illinois and Ohio State will be highly ranked and highly motivated when they meet on Saturday, Oct. 11 inside Memorial Stadium in Champaign. The matchup will be too much for ESPN to ignore — assuming the Red River Rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas isn’t more tempting.
If ESPN makes the trek to Champaign, it will be the iconic weekly show’s first trip to Memorial Stadium and only Illinois’ third…
Source link : https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/college/football/2025/08/23/illinois-football-predictions-2025-college-football-season/85531797007/
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Publish date : 2025-08-23 08:45:00
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