The updated AP Top 25 poll is out, and the Illinois football program saw a slight bump.
We are only one week into the 2025 campaign, and the Illini have started the proceedings in the best way possible.
Illinois should have always beaten Western Illinois by a landslide, and that is exactly what happened. A 52-3 thumping is exactly what the Orange and Blue needed, and it showed by the latest AP Top 25 poll.
The AP Top 25 was delayed a bit, but on Tuesday afternoon, they released the updated version and had the Illini ranked No. 11 in the country. This is a one-spot jump from last week's No. 12 ranking.
The next month is where Illinois can make up some ground in the AP Top 25
While the Western Illinois game doesn’t move the needle, the coming weeks for the Illini are where we can make up some serious ground when it comes to the national rankings.
Illinois is about to take on Duke this weekend on the road. That is a tougher game than most think, as the Blue Devils have a good quarterback.
Following the game at Duke, the Illini then have Western Michigan, at No. 23 Indiana, USC, at Purdue, and newly minted No. 1 Ohio State.
This is a schedule that has some wins in it, but it also has some tough games that could launch us up the AP Top 25 quickly. If Illinois can emerge from that first seven games 6-1, then I think we have a really good shot at the College Football Playoff.
Step No. 1 is beating Duke this weekend. Take out the Blue Devils, and let’s keep working our way up the rankings.