Illinois Football: Happy College Football Playoff ranking anniversary

The first 2023 College Football Playoff ranking came out on Tuesday night, and to no surprise, the Illinois football team was not included.

This was an obvious heading into the first CFP ranking of the year. The Illini currently sit at 3-5 overall and 1-4 in the Big Ten, so there is no reason to even think about the CPF ranking. I would imagine most of the Illinois fanbase was doing something else that night, like maybe betting on some MAC games.

While the Tuesday reveal of the CFP ranking didn’t bring joy to most Illini fans, it was a day we could all think about and shed a little smile. The first 2023 CFP ranking this year wasn’t good for the Orange and Blue, but it is the one-year anniversary of the Illini making the first 2022 CFP ranking.

Yes, I remember it all too well. Illinois was 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten. We just beat Nebraska on the road 26-9. Times were good. This great start to the 2022 campaign landed Illinois No. 16 in the country in the first 2022 CFP ranking that came out in week 10.

Despite a tough loss the following week, Illinois managed to stay in the CFP Top 25 in week 11, checking in at No. 21 in the country. After that, we would drop a game to Purdue, and that would be the last time Illinois saw the CFP Top 25.

When is the next time the Illinois football program is going to see the College Football Playoff Top 25

Being ranked in the first and second CFP Top 25 ranking of 2022 was exciting. It wasn’t just that Illinois was in the top 25, but it was the first time we have ever been in the CFP Top 25. On top of that, it was the first time since 2011 that the Illini have seen any type of national ranking.

But when is the next time Illinois fans will see the CFP Top 25? Well, you can pretty much guarantee this season is out the window. Even if we run the table and get to 7-5 on the season, that won’t be good enough to crack the ranking.

I wouldn’t count out 2024, though. While Illinois is working through some growing pains with a new quarterback and players developing at key positions, the 2024 campaign should see a much-improved Illini squad.

Illinois isn’t losing much in the way of talent. Luke Altmyer, Reggie Love III/Kaden Feagin, and Isaiah Williams, among others, will all be back on offense. The biggest loss on the team is going to be Jer’Zhan Newton. Overall, though, the Illini are only losing 13 players to graduation.

I believe the Illini non-conference opponents in 2024 are Kansas, Central Michigan, and Eastern Michigan. That is a non-conference that I like to see. I think we start off with Purdue on August 31 as well. If Illinois can get out to a 4-0 start, that would be optimal. We will have some tough Big Ten games, though.

Illinois has Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Purdue at home in 2024. The road games will feature Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, Penn State, and Rutgers. We get to avoid Ohio State and USC, which is good.

At the end of the day, it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see Illinois crack the CFP Top 25 in 2024. We have a ton of experience returning. Let’s see how the team gels the final four weeks of the 2023 campaign, and that could give you a better sign of what is to come for this program.