Illinois Football: 5 stats that show why the Illini are ranked in the AP Top 25

5. 19 interceptions

I am going to be honest here, I can’t stop raving about the Illinois football defense. Growing up as a Chicago Bears fan, defense is ingrained in me, so having a great defense is always fun to watch.

Illinois’ defense has been sensational this season. You could probably already tell that by my previous two slides, but I am not done breaking down how special this unit has been for the Orange and Blue in 2022.

Yes, the Illini are giving up just 9.6 points per game. Yes, we only allow 67.4 yards per game on the ground. But let’s not forget about the Illinois defensive backs. This group has been incredible for the program.

Through six games, Illinois looks to have multiple NFL-caliber defensive backs. They are swarming to the ball and breaking up passes as I have never seen before. These defensive backs are also intercepting the ball at the highest rate we have seen over the past 22 years.

Illinois currently has nine interceptions this season. Kendall Smith leads the way with three interceptions and Matthew Bailey isn’t far behind with two interceptions of his own. Mind you, this is only through half of the season.

If you expand those nine interceptions out to a full season plus a bowl game, that would give Illinois 19.5 interceptions on the season. Let’s make that 19 interceptions because you can’t have a half-pick. So, if Illinois keeps on this pace, they would have the most interceptions by any Illini defense through the 2001 campaign.

The most interceptions by an Illini squad since 2001 was that 2001 team that had 18 interceptions in 12 games. They would end up making the Sugar Bowl against a Nick Saban-led LSU squad. Just think about that for a second. That 2001 defense was legendary. The 2022 defense is on pace to be of that ilk.

I will go a step further. Illinois’ nine interceptions through six games is the same as or more than 12 out of the past 21 full seasons. That is an incredible stat. This Illini secondary is feeding on opposing offenses.