July 26, 2001

The University of Illinois football team has been rated No. 22 in the nation according to the Football Writers Association's preseason Top-25 poll announced earlier today.

The Fighting Illini are one of three Big Ten teams listed among the Top-25 along with No. 14 Michigan and No. 20 Northwestern.

The squad returns seven offensive starters, including Heisman Trophy Candidate quarterback Kurt Kittner, off a team that averaged over 25 points a game in 2000. In the offseason, the coaching staff got three new defensive coaches to lead the six returning starters in implementing a more aggressive scheme.

2001 FWAA Preseason Top-25
1. Florida
2. Miami
3. Oklahoma
4. Oregon
5. Texas
6. Florida State
7. Oregon State
8. Tennessee
9. Nebraska
10. Virginia Tech
11. Washington
12. Clemson
13. Georgia Tech
14. Michigan
15. UCLA
16. Notre Dame
17. South Carolina
18. LSU
19. Kansas State
20. Northwestern
21. Colorado State
22. Illinois
23. Georgia
24. Mississippi State
25. Marshall