
Think You Saw The Real 2025 Illini Last Night? Think Again And That’s Okay
The 52-3 victory over Western Illinois served as nothing more than a dress rehearsal for games where this team will be more harshly evaluated. But that reality doesn’t take away from Illinois being 1-0.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
August 30, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN — And now the 2025 season can unofficially start.
Yes, Illinois will have a 1-0 overall record when they take their show on the road next weekend to Duke. However, yes, basically the same amount of questions involving practically the same topics still exists following the 52-3 dress rehearsal victory over Western Illinois - a developing Football Championship Subdivision program.
Please don’t get me wrong, dress rehearsals (when you can figure out how to schedule them properly certainly serve a valid purpose and this four-hour run through is no different.
For a program where history likely needs to be forgotten than relied upon, beginning a season in the win column should obviously never be taken for granted. Bret Bielema’s 29th victory as he begins his fifth season as the Illinois head football coach is the perfect way for him to begin the summer’s final holiday weekend into a fall season.














