By IlliniGuys Staff

October 5, 2025

The Illinois football team will be ranked among the nation's top 20 football teams when they host defending national champion and top-ranked Ohio State on Saturday.

The Illini jumped five spots in both the Associated Press and the coaches poll to stand at number 17 in both national rankings after week six.

Illinois downed Purdue 43-27 on Saturday for their first win in West Lafayette since 2019 and securing their third 5-1 start in five seasons under head coach Bret Bielema, the first Illini coach to do that since the legendary Ray Eliot in the 1950s. The Illini are also 2-1 in Big Ten conference play.

They now prepare for a rare matchup as this weekend's 11am kickoff (televised by FOX) will mark only the second time that a ranked Illinois team will face a number one ranked team. In 1950, 8th ranked Illinois knocked off No. 1 Ohio State 14-7 in Champaign.

Overall, Ohio State has won nine straight in the series and is an early two-touchdown favorite.

The Illini have now been in 12 straight AP polls, dating back to last season. That is their longest streak since being included in 33 consecutive AP rankings during the entire 1989 and 1990 seasons.