CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football team is ranked No. 16 in the initial College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings, it was announced Tuesday night on ESPN. It is the first time since the CFP rankings began in 2014 that Illinois has been in the top 25. 

The 13-person CFP selection committee ranks the teams based on the members' evaluation of the teams' performance on the field, using conference championships won, strength of schedule, head-to-head results, and comparison of results against common opponents to decide among teams that are comparable. More on the CFP overview can be read here. 

Following a 26-9 win at Nebraska, Illinois is in the AP Poll's top 15 – coming in at No. 14 – for the third season in the last 30 years. The Illini also appeared in the top 15 during the 2001 season, which ended at the Sugar Bowl, and the 2007 season, which ended at the Rose Bowl.

No. 14/16 Illinois is back home at Memorial Stadium on Saturday to host Michigan State at 2:30 p.m. CT. A limited amount of tickets remain.

Illinois Notes
• Illinois is off to a 7-1 start, tied for its best start since starting 7-0-1 in 1951. This is the fourth time Illinois has started 7-1 since the undefeated season of 1951, joining 1983, 1989 and 2001.
• Illinois is on its first six-game winning streak since the 6-0 start in 2011. The Illini are on their 15th six-game winning streak in the last 100 years and the seventh in the last 50 years.
• Illinois completed its first undefeated October since 2001 (3-0). The Illini won four games in October for the first time since 1990.
• Illinois has won five straight games against Big Ten West opponents for the first time since the Big Ten switched to East/West divisions in 2014.
• Illinois is 4-1 in the Big Ten for the first time since 2001. The Illini have already matched their Big Ten wins total from last season (4).
• Illinois is on a six-game home winning streak for the first time since 2001-02. The Illini have outscored opponents 175-43 (29.2-7.2) during the six-game home winning streak.

Illinois Defense - Top 5 National Rankings
• 1st in scoring defense (8.9)
• 1st in total defense (224.5)
• 1st in touchdowns allowed (6)
• 1st in passing efficiency defense (77.9)
• 1st in interceptions (15)
• 1st in passing touchdowns allowed (3)
• 1st in yards per pass attempt (5.0)
• 1st in fewest red zone attempts allowed (12)
• 1st in red zone touchdown percentage (25.0%)
• 1st in fourth down conversions against (2)
• 2nd in first downs allowed (95)
• 2nd in rushing defense (75.63)
• 2nd in rushing touchdowns allowed (2)
• 2nd in passing defense (148.9)
• 2nd in passes defended (60)
• 3rd in takeaways (20)
• 4th in third down defense (25.5%)
• 4th in fourth down defense (22.2%)
• 4th in third down conversions against (28)
• 5th in yards per rush (2.73)

Chase Brown - Nation's Leading Rusher
• Chase Brown is the nation's leading rusher with 1,208 yards.
• Brown was the first running back in the nation to 1,000 yards and tied the Illinois record for the fastest to 1,000 when he eclipsed the mark in just seven games (tied J.C. Caroline, 1953).
• Brown is only the third Power-5 running back since 2000 to rush for 100+ yards in his first eight games while leading his team to a 7-1 record. The others are Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State, 2015) and Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma, 2004).
• Brown leads in the nation in rushes of 10+ yards (36) and 100-yard games (8).
• Brown ranks second in the nation in all-purpose yards (1,328) without having return duties.
• Brown is second in the nation in yards after contact (707) and forced missed tackles (60), according to PFF.
• Brown's 57 first down runs are fifth in the nation, according to PFF.
• Brown leads the nation in rushing attempts per game (28.0).
• Brown has rushed for 100+ yards in an Illinois record nine straight games.