Jan. 11, 2008

The University of Illinois football team's 9-4 record this season and trip to the 2008 Rose Bowl led to a Top-25 ranking in the 2007 Final Associated Press and USA Today polls. The Illini were voted 20th by the AP and No. 18 by the coaches.

Illinois' reached the nine-win mark this year, the most since the 2001 season, which also was the last time an Illini team finished the season ranked in the top 25. The squad beat two Top-5 opponents and posted a 3-2 record vs. ranked opponents in 2007.

In head coach Ron Zook's third campaign at the helm, Illinois finished tied for second in the Big Ten Conference, leading the league in rushing for the second straight season. A total of 11 Illinois team and individual records were broken this season, and two players, linebacker J Leman and offensive guard Martin O'Donnell were named first-team All-Americans, with Leman earning consensus honors. In addition to those accolades, the Illini nearly swept the Big Ten's major awards as Zook was named Coach of the Year, Rashard Mendenhall Offensive Player of the Year and Arrelious Benn Freshman of the Year.

Despite losing a strong senior class, the Illini return six or more starters on each side of the ball for the 2008 season.