Matt Stevens 2025 Post-Week 1 Top 25 College Football Ballot - Welcome to Opening Week Overreactions 

IlliniGuys.com’s Matt Stevens gives his first weekly Top 25 ballot with analysis now that we have a data point of evaluation in this 2025 season.  

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 2, 2025

Every single time during the months of June, July and early August, I get asked a version of the same questions that start with ‘What do you predict….?’ or ‘Who do you think will (fill in the blank end-of-season result)?

The answer, if I’m being fully honest and I always try to be whenever possible, is three simple words: I . . .

 

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548 Illini Strangle Penn State 73-65

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547 Portal Kombat Day 1 & CFP Thoughts

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545 - Illini Beat Tennessee in Music City Bowl

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544 - Illini Smash Southern 90-55

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