Illinois Football: National pundit has Illini in preseason AP Top 25

It looks like the Illinois football team is getting some love from a national pundit when it comes to being ranked.

The Illini had a couple of first-time-since moments in 2022. It was the first time we had been ranked in the AP poll since the 2011 campaign when Illinois started the 2011 season 6-0 only to finish the regular season with six straight losses.

Illinois also cracked the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time ever in 2022, getting as high as No. 16 in the country.

On Monday, the first preseason AP Poll will be released, but before the first poll does come out, we are getting a sneak peek inside the mind of a national pundit.

Brett McMurphy of the Action Network released his preseason AP Top 25 ballot on Wednesday. The top spot for McMurphy went to Georgia. The first Big Ten team on the list was Michigan at No. 2. There are a total of five Big Ten teams in his top 25 with the final of the conference programs being Illinois.

At No. 25 on McMurphy’s preseason poll is the Illini. We are at least getting some love from a pundit out there, and hopefully, more ballot influencers follow suit. If Illinois did make it into the top 25, it would be the first time we have been ranked in the preseason AP Top 25 poll since the 2008 campaign.

Illinois football does have a case to be ranked on the preseason AP Top 25 poll

Illinois was able to get as high as No. 14 in the AP Top 25 in 2022. That is an impressive feat considering that is the highest we have been ranked in a season since the 2007 Rose Bowl run.

Winning eight games in the regular season is impressive as well. With the talent the Illini have returning in 2023, I think we have a strong case to start the season in the AP Top 25.

Yes, Illinois lost some key pieces, but there is a lot of returning talent on both sides of the ball. On offense, we have an extremely experienced offensive line. Isaiah Williams is one of the best wide receivers in the country. Even the replacement we have at quarterback, Luke Altmyer, is a former four-star recruit.

Defensively, Illinois has a front six that can rival most in college football. Jer’Zhan Newton is an All-American. Keith Randolph Jr. is likely to be on the first or second-team All-Big Ten. Gabe Jacas is coming off a Freshman All-American campaign. There is a ton of talent from top to bottom on this Illinois roster.

I think Illinois has the team to be in the preseason AP Top 25. Even if we don’t make it in before the season starts, I think the first few weeks will show the country that we belong.