Football
Illinois Football Rises to No. 9 in Week 3 AP Poll
Momentum continues for Illinois Football, as they continue to climb up the national rankings
Illinois Football has climbed to No. 9 in this week’s (Week 3) AP Top 25, extending its stay in the rankings to the program’s longest streak in over 35 years. The Fighting Illini now sit two spots higher than last week’s No. 11 ranking after opening the season with an expected blowout of in-state FCS challenger Western Illinois.
It’s certainly no surprise to see the Illini make a jump. Despite some doubters, Bret Bielema’s squad went on the road and took down dangerous QB Darian Mensah and the Duke Blue Devils in a 45-19 beatdown in Durham. It was truly a statement win, as the Illini took the “overrated” chants to heart and went to work against Manny Diaz’s crew for a dominant early-season road victory.
Moving forward, I’d expect Illinois Football to continue climbing in the weeks ahead. Next up is a sold-out primetime (6 p.m.) kickoff in Champaign against Lance Taylor’s 0-2 Western Michigan squad — a game that feels like the perfect “get healthy, get right” matchup (and most likely another blowout) before a critical road trip to Bloomington to face Curt Cignetti and the 22nd-ranked Indiana Hoosiers.
No. 9 in the AP Poll. Focused forward. pic.twitter.com/MAalTpgpit
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) September 7, 2025
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