With the football season nearing its end and basketball season beginning, Illinois Athletics finds itself in a notable position nationally. The university is currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 for football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. This achievement places Illinois among only three schools appearing in all three polls, alongside Alabama and Iowa State.
The Fighting Illini football team holds a 7-3 record and is ranked No. 24 in the latest AP poll after a decisive 38-16 victory over Michigan State. Head Coach Bret Bielema has seen his team ranked two of the last three years, with this being their eighth appearance in this season's poll—the most since 2001.
In men's basketball, Illinois (3-0) has entered the AP poll at No. 25 for the first time this season. Under Head Coach Brad Underwood, this marks six consecutive seasons that the team has been ranked. They have finished in the Top 25 four times over the past five years, including twice within the Top 10.
The women's basketball team at Illinois (4-0) has climbed to No. 22 in the current AP poll. During Head Coach Shauna Green's tenure of three seasons, they have consistently been ranked—a streak not seen since between 1997 and 2001.
This is a significant moment for Illinois Athletics as it is their first concurrent ranking across these sports since January 2000. At that time, following the conclusion of the 1999 season, Illinois Football was also positioned at No. 24 while Men's Basketball was No. 22 and Women's Basketball was No.12.
Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman played an integral role during this period as he hired Bielema, Underwood, and Green to lead these programs forward.
Alerts Sign-up