Illinois football reaches highest AP ranking since 2001, now ranked No. 11

Bret Bielema Douglas C. and Linda M. Mills Endowed Head Football Coach | University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics Website

By Chambana Sun

Sep 2, 2025

The Illinois football team has moved up to #11 in the Associated Press Top 25, according to an announcement made Tuesday. The team remains at #12 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

This marks Illinois' highest AP ranking since it reached #7 during the 2001 season.

Head coach Bret Bielema has guided the Illini to appear in 19 AP polls over his first five seasons with the program. This is the most weeks Illinois has been ranked in a five-year span over the past 35 years.

Illinois will play its first road game of the season against Duke on Saturday. The game is set for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff and will be broadcast on ESPN.

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University of Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Football

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