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Illinois Football: Everything the Illini need to make the College Football Playoff

By Rees Woodcock

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
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 /
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Illinois football
LINCOLN, NE – OCTOBER 29: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Illinois Fighting Illini and Athletic Director Josh Withman celebrate the win against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on October 29, 2022 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images) /

For the first time ever, the Illinois football team made the College Football Playoff rankings.

The Illini checked in as the No. 16 team in the country in the first College Football Playoff rankings of the season on Tuesday night. This was monumental for all Illinois fans who have wanted a winner for such a long time.

Well, we finally have a winner on our hands and, the crazy part is, getting to the College Football Playoff isn’t out of the question. There is a chance that Illinois could end up playing for the opportunity to get to the National Championship game this season.

Here is everything the Illinois football team needs to make the College Football Playoff.

1. Illinois has to win out

  • 2 wins over top 5 teams
  • 12-1 & Big Ten Title
  • Jumps Penn State (0 ranked wins)
  • Jumps Utah (1 ranked win)

The first thing Illinois has to do to make the College Football Playoff is the most obvious thing. We have to win out.

Winning out means we have to take down Michigan State and Purdue at home in the next two weeks. The Illini then make a trip up to the Big House to take on No. 5 Michigan. That needs to be a win. Illinois then travels up to Northwestern for the final game of the regular season, and that should also be a win.

Illinois’ final test would be in the Big Ten Championship game against a top-three Ohio State program. A win over the Buckeyes would enable us to be in the conversation for the final four of the College Football Playoff.

If the Illini can go on this hot run, that would give us two wins over top-five programs. We would also be 12-1 with a Big Ten Championship under our belts.

There are a couple of teams that we would jump without them having to do anything. If Illinois can win out, I think we jump Penn State and Utah no matter what those two programs do on the football field. Those two teams already have two losses and a total of one combined top-25 win.

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