Why Illinois football is set to win big in their season opener

Game week is finally here. After a long offseason building toward a 2025 season with sky-high expectations—and a roster capable of taking Illinois Football to heights the program hasn’t seen in years—the Fighting Illini are just four days away from kicking off the season against in-state foe Western Illinois. Friday’s primetime matchup (8/29) offers both programs a chance to make a statement: Illinois to elevate its success, and Western Illinois to continue building momentum under a new and promising head coach.

Illinois

Coming off a 10-3 season capped with a bowl win, the Illini enter 2025 aiming to build on last year’s momentum and reach the program’s potential in Coach Bret Bielema’s fifth year at the helm in Champaign. Illinois Football is ranked No. 12, with the 12-team College Football Playoffs on the mind, but, as always, the focus starts one game at a time—beginning with Friday’s matchup against the Leathernecks.

WIU

Western Illinois enters the contest coming off a promising inaugural season with second-year head coach Joe Davis. The former Eastern Illinois offensive coordinator helped snap a 27-game losing streak in 2024, finishing 4-8 and showing signs of life in a once solid FCS program. The Leathernecks will face tough challenges against a veteran Illini team, but Coach Davis is ready to test his squad in Champaign, just an hour north of his old stomping grounds of Charleston (IL), where he previously spent two seasons (2022–2023).

Of course, it’s Week One, so plenty of questions remain about this team and how strong they will look out of the gates. Friday’s opener against a motivated Western Illinois squad will provide the first real test—so, that said, here are our three predictions for how the Illini will kick off 2025, highlighting the areas that could set the tone for the rest of the season.

Rushing Attack Leads the Way

If the Illini will want to keep the majority of Barry Lunney Jr’s playbook under wraps ahead of a huge Week two showdown with Duke, expect Bart Miller’s crew to hit the ground running against a Western Illinois defensive line they should dominate. The offensive line – returning all five starters form thier 2024 Citrus Bowl victory – should open up plenty of opportunities for Illinois’ experienced running backs to have big games. If so, the can take advantage of what’s essentially a lower-risk, high-reward matchup at the end of the day.

This game will be a perfect chance for the Illini’s veteran RB’s Kaden Feagin, Aidan Laughery, and sophomore Ca’Lil Valentine—to shake off the offseason rust and build some early confidence ahead of a crucial week two. Injuries have impacted this group in the past, so getting meaningful carries early is going to be key for Thad Ward’s group.

As long as the night is going to plan, expect some heavy third and fourth quarter reps for Valentine, with a dash of true freshman Cedric Wyche II, to give them reps at game speed, ensuring the young rushers are prepared if injuries arise later in the season.

Sep 28. 2024. University Park, Pennsylvania. USA. Illinois Fighting Illini. Kaden Feagin (3). Penn State Nittany Lions. Beaver Stadium. Credit: Matthew O’Haren. Imagn Images.

 Trench Domination for the Illini

Illinois Football enters 2025 very confident up front. All five starters return from last year’s bowl-winning offensive line. This gives Bret Bielema and his staff one of the most experienced units in the Big Ten. That continuity provides stability in protection and paves the way for what should be a versatile rushing attack. With veteran leadership and plenty of physicality, this group is capable of controlling the line of scrimmage from the opening snap. They can also keep larger chunks of the playbook under wraps ahead of tougher tests later in September.

Defensively, the Illini are just as formidable in the trenches. The front seven is anchored by All-American edge rusher Gabe Jacas, whose combination of size, strength, and explosiveness makes him one of the most disruptive players in the nation. Surrounding him are key offseason additions like James Thompson Jr., Leon Lowrey Jr., Tomiwa Durojaiye, and Curt Neal. Together, this group has the depth and versatility to rotate fresh bodies, collapse the pocket, and live in Western Illinois’ backfield. A relentless pass rush and strong run-stopping presence should allow Illinois to dictate tempo and put its offense in favorable positions all night.

In short, dominating the trenches is where Illinois can truly separate itself. If the offensive line establishes control and the defensive front delivers on its high ceiling, the Illini will dominate the Leathernecks.

Sep 20, 2024. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA. Illinois Fighting Illini. Memorial Stadium. Credit: Dylan Widger. Imagn Images.

Illinois Football Wins Week 1 in Blowout Fashion

While the Leathernecks have made progress under Coach Davis, Illinois’ experience, talent, and home-field edge make this a prime opportunity for the Illini to open 2025 with a blowout. This opener gives Bielema and his staff the chance to gwarm up before a massive road trip to Durham, NC.

If all goes as expected, Illinois Football should handle business in convincing fashion. Illini hit the over.

Prediction: Illinois 57 – Western Illinois 10

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