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Illinois Football: 5 bold predictions for the rest of the Illini 2022 season

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 10: Matthew Bailey #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates with his team after recovering a fumble for a touchdown during the first quarter in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 10: Matthew Bailey #2 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates with his team after recovering a fumble for a touchdown during the first quarter in the game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Sep 10, 2022; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini defensive lineman Keith Randolph Jr. (88) and teammates celebrate Saturday’s 24-3 win over the Virginia Cavaliers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

4. AP Top 25 welcomes the Illini at some point

One of the things that have been scarce over the past decade is Illinois football making a bowl game. It happens but not often. But when it comes to scarcity, Illinois making the AP Top 25 says, “hold my beer.”

If you are 14-ish years old, you have never seen the Illini finish the season ranked inside the AP Top 25. That feat has only happened one time since the 2001 campaign, and that was in 2007 when Illinois made the Rose Bowl.

It has been since the 2010 campaign, when Illinois started the season 6-0, that the program has seen the AP Top 25 sometime during the season. We would get to No. 16 in the nation before losing the final six games of the season, which would result in Ron Zook getting fired.

But it does seem that things are turning around for the Illinois football program. And, because of this feeling, I think there is a chance that the AP Top 25 welcomes the Illini back into the rankings at some point during the 2022 campaign.

You have to look at the schedule to figure out when the best chance is for Illinois to crack the top 25 once again.

Illinois should beat Chattanooga next Thursday. That would give us a two-game winning streak and would make us 3-1 on the season. I would venture to say the Illini might get a few votes to be in the AP Top 25 after that victory.

We go on the road to Wisconsin next. If Illinois wins that game, then I think we could crack the AP Top 25. But it is on the road against Wisconsin, so it might be a loss. The streak of games that follows could be our best chance, though.

Illinois’ next four games would be home vs Iowa, home vs Minnesota, at Nebraska, and home vs Michigan State. I think there is a chance we win three straight heading into a matchup against the No. 11 ranked Spartans. Illinois then takes down Michigan State to crack the AP Top 25.

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