In a recent episode of The Big Ten Huddle, I released the 2025 Big Ten football travel rankings, which revealed a golden opportunity for the Illinois football program.
With the lowest travel burden in the conference at just 2,735 miles, Illinois holds a significant edge over other teams they will face, like Washington (7,023 miles) and USC (7,306 miles). Coupled with the second-easiest schedule in the Big Ten—ranked 44th nationally by ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI)—the Illini are set up to defy the skeptics and make a serious run at the College Football Playoff.
In the video, I highlight Illinois’ favorable position. Their longest road trip is to Washington, with a 500-plus-mile trip to Duke being the only other significant journey. The remaining three road games—against Indiana, Wisconsin, and Purdue—are all under 225 miles.
A more minimal travel schedule for Illinois will create less fatigue, fewer time-zone disruptions, and more time for recovery and preparation. In a conference where coastal teams, such as Oregon and Rutgers, will be six of the seven most traveled teams, Illinois’ central location is a huge benefit. Additionally, Illinois has only five road games, which will enable them to capitalize on home-field advantage at Memorial Stadium.
Illinois football is an underdog when it comes to potentially making its first College Football Playoff
The betting odds, however, haven’t been favorable to Illinois this offseason. FanDuel lists them at +540 to make the CFP, despite winning 10 games and finishing 16th in last year's final AP Poll. Their win total is set at 8.5, with the under favored at -184. Yet, the travel numbers paint a different picture.
With 16 starters returning from a 10-win 2024 season, including quarterback Luke Altmyer and a stout offensive line, Illinois is built to exceed expectations. Key defensive players like Gabe Jacas (8.0 sacks in 2024) and a deep secondary add to their firepower. The schedule also plays into their hands, avoiding Oregon, Michigan, and Penn State while hosting Ohio State and USC.
This setup is so far Illinois’ best shot ever at the CFP. The combination of low travel, a manageable schedule, and a veteran roster under coach Bret Bielema creates a perfect storm. Games against Indiana and USC are winnable, and a home matchup against Ohio State provides them with an opportunity to shock the college football world. The biggest tests will be road matchups at Duke and Washington.
In the video, I note that while the hype around Illinois has been met with some fatigue, it’s justified. The program’s continuity, coaching, and now this travel advantage position them to prove the oddsmakers wrong. A 9-3 or 10-2 season should be the minimal expectation, with 11-1 being the dream goal. This is one of the many benefits to the expanded 12-team CFP format; Illinois could sneak in with a strong showing.
But the best news is that with a strong season, this isn’t just a one-off chance—Bielema’s history suggests Illinois is building toward sustained success. For Illini fans, 2025 could be the year they finally crash the playoff party, and it might just be the confirmation of something bigger starting to happen in Champaign.