Illini Ranked in Associated Press Top 25 For First Time in 11 Years

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 9, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- For the first time in 11 years, the University of Illinois football team will play a regular season game with a number by their name.

Following the 9-6 win over Iowa Saturday, its fourth straight win of the 2022 season, Illinois (5-1, 2-1 in Big Ten Conference) is ranked, at No. 24, in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since Oct. 16, 2011.

“Some people have been asking me, ‘Do you think you should be ranked?’ I said, ‘No, but I did think we’d get some recognition.’ We haven’t played a ranked opponent at this level,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said on Oct. 3 just two days removed from defeating Wisconsin in Madison 34-10. “We’re kind of finding our way. I’m excited for that. That’s a good indication. We’ve been talking to our players about getting respect and you get respect one day at a time, but if people are starting to respect us, that’s a great thing. We’ve obviously have a long way to go.”

Illinois will host Minnesota (4-1, 1-1), which also received five voting points in this week’s poll, for an 11 a.m. kickoff for its Homecoming week in Champaign.

By being ranked for the first time since Ron Zook’s Illini started the 2011 season by winning its first six games, Illinois ended the longest drought being unranked among Power Five Conference programs just one week after Kansas ended that streak. As of now, Rutgers (Nov. 18, 2012), Oregon State (Aug. 17, 2013) and Vanderbilt (Jan. 7, 2014) take over the title of longest time being outside in the AP Top 25 poll. Illinois was joined by James Madison this week as new additions to the AP Top 25 poll as the Dukes (5-0, 3-0) found themselves in the poll for the first time in school history and are playing their first season as a member of the Sun Belt Conference in Division I college football’s highest level.

Illinois was one of four Big Ten programs ranked this week with Ohio State (2), Michigan (5) and Penn State (10) all staying within the top 10 of the poll. Georgia took back the No. 1 spot in The Associated Press college football poll after dominating Auburn 42-10 on Saturday and previous No. 1 Alabama sliding to No. 3 after they escaped a 24-20 home win despite Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young being sidelined with an injury. The Crimson Tide is the first team to drop from No. 1 to No. 3 off a victory in 25 years.

Podcasts

Illinois Athletics State of the Union Discussion - #487

Listen

Whitman's Illini State of the Nation & the NBA Draft - 6.27.25 - S4Ep46

Listen

Zach Hamer Illini Asst BB Coach Talks KJ, Will & the NBA Draft - #486

Listen

Illini FB Recruiting Update, If Illini FB was a Movie & NIL & NBA Draft "What If" #485

Listen

Illini BB International Players & Cearah Parchment the newest IlliniGal - 6.20.25 - S4Ep45

Listen

Illini FB Recruiting Blitz & House Settlement Implications - 6.13.25 - S4Ep44

Listen

Illini Update Featuring 3-Star Illini WR Commit Kenyon Alston - #484

Listen

Illini Hoops & Football Schedules, Illini HOF Voting & More - 6.6.25 - S4Ep43

Listen

FB Portal Thoughts, Expectations, BB Update & for the 1st Time in My Life...#483

Listen

May 30 - Hr2 - S4Ep42 - Illini Recruiting, NBA Draft, Caitlin Clark & More

Listen

May 30 - Hr1 - S4Ep42 - FB & BB Contracts, FB & Golf Update & Brian Barnhart

Listen

May 23 - Hr2 - S4Ep41 - French Open, Indiana Pro Hoops & Softball

Listen

May 23 - Hr1 - S4Ep41 - Illini FB Recruiting, Golf and Track

Listen

High School Recruiting Takes the Spotlight - #482

Listen

May 16 - Hr2 - S4Ep40 - Chicago Sky, ACC Issues & Northwestern Stadium

Listen