Illinois Football news: Illini sneaks In College Football Playoff Rankings

Illinois Football Coming in at No. 25 in CFP Rankings

The College Football Playoff (CFP) committee released its third round of 2024 polls on Tuesday evening (11/19), and Illinois Football has earned a spot following a commanding 38-16 victory over Michigan State.

The 7-3 (4-3 in Big Ten play) Illini snuck their way into Tuesday’s CFP polls at No. 25 (11/19), marking the 3rd time since Bret Bielema’s hire in 2020, that Illinois has clinched a position within the standings. (#16 – 2022, #21 – 2022, #25- 2024).

Illinois currently joins four other Big Ten programs in the CFP polls. Notably, the Fighting Illini are the only team representing the conference from outside of the top five.

Big Ten Teams – College Football Playoff Rankings (11/19)

(1) Oregon (11-0)

(2) Ohio State (9-1)

(3) Penn State (9-1)

(5) Indiana (10-0)

(25) Illinois (7-3)

NEWS: Illini Football is 25th in the College Football playoff Selection Committee rankings🔥🔥🔥
🎨:@rjburjek pic.twitter.com/2W5G2WyEdk

— Armchair Illinois (@ArmchairIllini) November 20, 2024

A New Era Under Bret Bielema

Before Bret Bielema’s arrival in 2020, the Illini Football program had been in a difficult spot for quite some time.

Prior to the 2022 season (Bielema’s second year) the Fighting Illini had not been ranked in the AP Top 25 since their 6-0 start in 2011, a season that ultimately unraveled with a disastrous six-game losing streak. That skid led to the firing of coach Ron Zook and left the program searching for stability for the next 13 years.

Nov 16, 2024; Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

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