When is the first 2023 College Football Playoff ranking being released?

The College Football Playoff is right around the corner, and here is when you should keep an eye out for the ranking release.

While the Illini won’t be in the College Football Playoff ranking, and it is highly unlikely we will see the top 25 anytime this season, it is still good to see which teams are in the running for the postseason.

First 2023 College Football Playoff ranking release date

On Tuesday, October 31, the first College Football Playoff rankings will drop. This ranking will feature the top 25 teams in all of the FBS.

In 2022, the first set of rankings for the College Football Playoff was released around the same date, week 10. Tennessee took the top spot with Ohio State, Georgia, and Clemson to follow, in that order.

There were four total Big Ten teams in the first release of the College Football Playoff last season. Ohio State was No. 2, Michigan was No. 5, Penn State was No. 15, and Illinois was No. 16.

Illinois football history in the College Football Playoff

Illinois was finally good enough to crack the top 25 in the College Football Playoff rankings in 2022. The Illini opened the first rankings up as the No. 16 team in the country. This was the first time we had ever been ranked in the College Football Playoff.

After a loss to Michigan State, the Illini dropped down to No. 21 in the College Football Playoff the following week. By week 12, we were out of the rankings altogether.

While the Illini might not get to the College Football Playoff ranking top 25 this season, the future is still bright. Bret Bielema has the Illini trending in the right direction, and there is more help on the way from the class of 2024.