
Illini Placed 4th in Unofficial Cleveland.com Big Ten Preseason Poll
Following a 10-win season, Illinois predicted to finish fourth in the unofficial Big Ten Football Media poll.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
July 22, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
LAS VEGAS — A panel of 24 reporters throughout the Big Ten Conference selected Illinois to finish fourth in the 18-team conference going into the 2025 season.
The panel of league media members organized by Cleveland.com is an annual tradition as, unlike most every other Football Bowl Subdivision conference in college football, the Big Ten does not organize a preseason media or coaches poll. IlliniGuys.com was not asked to participate in the poll and I’ll be coming out with a IlliniGuys.com preseason poll shortly.
Coming off a 10-win season in 2024, Illinois was aggregated by the 24-reporter panel to finish fourth in the league in this upcoming season, which is a nine-spot jump in this Cleveland.com preseason poll from one year ago.