Illinois ranks 24th in the AP Top 25

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CHAMPAIGN, Illinois — The Illinois football program is back in the top 25, ranking 24th in Sunday's AP Top 25. Illinois is in the top 25 for the first time since 2022, when the Illini were as high as 14th and ranked four weeks in a row in October and November.

The Fighting Illini beat Eastern Illinois, #19 Kansas and Central Michigan to start the season 3-0 for the first time since 2011. Illinois started the season 3-0 and moved into the top 20 for the first time in 50 years (1974).

#24 Illinois is back in action at #22 Nebraska on Friday night. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. CT on FOX. It will be the first game between the Illini since 2008, when #21 Illinois lost 38-24 at #12 Penn State.

More Illini Top 25 Notes
• Sept. 15 is the earliest Illinois has been ranked since 2008.
• Bret Bielema is the first Illini coach since Ron Zook in 2007 and 2008 to earn a top-25 ranking in two of his first four seasons.
• Illinois and Nebraska meet as evenly matched opponents for the first time since Sept. 21, 1985, when No. 17 Nebraska defeated No. 20 Illinois 52-25 in Lincoln.
• Since 1942, Illinois has amassed a record of 81-50-2 (.620) in the AP Top 25.
• Illinois finished one spot behind in this week's coaches poll, coming in at No. 26. Nebraska is ranked No. 22 in this week's coaches poll.