Illinois football projected AP Top 25 landing spot after huge Michigan win

Another week is in the books, and the Illinois football team keeps doing what is necessary to move up in the rankings.

The Illini entered Saturday ranked No. 22 in the latest AP Top 25 poll. This was the fifth-straight week being ranked in the top 25, which tied the length of stay from the 2022 campaign.

Illinois came out of the gates and looked good against a ranked Michigan program. It was one of the most well-coached games I have seen out of the Bret Bielema era, and the result was a massive win for the Orange and Blue.

After this win, Illinois will mark a continued stay in the AP Top 25. We will be ranked for six weeks in a row, which is the most consecutive weeks in the top 25 since the 2001 campaign when we hit nine straight weeks.

At this point, it is not about whether Illinois stays in the AP Top 25; it is about how far we can climb with another win over a ranked program. The Illini are now 3-1 against ranked opponents this season, so this win should help push us higher in the rankings.

Illinois football teams to jump in the AP Top 25

• #20 Pittsburgh (6-0)

The Panthers didn’t do anything wrong this week. In fact, they had a bye week. But while Pittsburgh’s 6-0 start looks good, they haven’t played anyone.

Pittsburgh has only played one team with a winning record, and that was a one-point win over Cincinnati back in early September. The Panthers are currently only two spots ahead of Illinois in the rankings, so I fully expect us to jump them when the new AP Top 25 is released.

• #18 Ole Miss (5-2)

Another team that had a bye week and didn’t do anything wrong is Ole Miss. While they didn’t play a game, the Rebels could drop in the updated AP Top 25.

Ole Miss has lost two out of their last three games. One of those losses was to a struggling Kentucky program that is now 3-4 and just lost to Florida 48-20 this weekend. I think there is a chance that Kentucky loss against Florida could affect Ole Miss this week in the rankings.

Illinois football teams to watch in the AP Top 25

• #21 SMU (5-1)

The teams for the Illini to watch are programs that I am less than 50% sure we will jump but there is a possibility. I think SMU is one of those programs.

SMU won this week against a bad Stanford program by 30 points. The Mustangs are good, and their only loss is to a talented and undefeated BYU program. The fact SMU is only one spot ahead of Illinois, and they aren’t a big brand, makes me think Illinois could jump them based on the good Illini victory.

• #19 Missouri (6-1)

I am not sure Illinois will jump Missouri this week, but it wouldn’t shock me if the AP Top 25 comes out and we are ahead of the Tigers.

Missouri is a decent team, but for being in the SEC, they haven’t played a tough schedule. The toughest team they played was at Texas A&M, and the Tigers lost that game by 31 points. This weekend, Missouri struggled against a bad Auburn program at home. Keep an eye on Missouri in the updated AP Top 25.

• #7 Alabama (5-2)

Again, I don’t think Illinois is going to pass Alabama in the new AP Top 25. But this is a team to keep an eye on to see how far they drop.

Alabama has now dropped two out of the past three games. They are about to drop out of the top 10. I wonder how far they are going to tumble, though. The last time Illinois has been ranked ahead of Alabama in the AP Top 25 was the 2008 preseason poll when Illinois was No. 20 and the Crimson Tide was No. 24 in the country.

Illinois football projected AP Top 25 ranking

I think there is definitely going to be some upward movement for the Illini this week in the AP Top 25. When you beat a ranked team, you are going to move up.

I am projecting Illinois passes Pittsburgh and Ole Miss in the AP Top 25. Those two teams are locks in my eyes. I have Missouri falling behind Illinois too. Despite SMU's win, they are likely to fall behind the Illini as well.

When the new AP Top 25 is released, look for Illinois to crack the top 20. I see the Illini landing in the newest AP Top 25 at No. 18 in the country.