CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —  The Illinois football team is ranked #24 in this week's AP Top 25.
Illinois (7-3, 4-3 Big Ten) is back in the AP Top 25 for the eighth time this season. The Illini's eight AP Poll appearances are the program's most since 2001, when the Illini appeared in 10 polls.Â
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has had the Illini ranked in 13 AP polls during his first four seasons in Champaign. Only John Mackovic (39 weeks, 1988-91) and Mike White (14 weeks, 1980-83) had the Illini ranked more during their first four seasons as Illinois head coaches.Â
The Fighting Illini are coming off a 22-point home win over Michigan State to close the Memorial Stadium schedule with a 6-1 record. The Illinois defense had five sacks, RB Josh McCray scored three touchdowns, and WR Pat Bryant had 135 receiving yards and one touchdown to lead Illinois to the dominant 38-16 win.
Illinois will close the regular season with back-to-back Big Ten road games, a stretch that begins Saturday, Nov. 23 at Rutgers. The Fighting Illini and Scarlet Knights are scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT/12 p.m. ET on Peacock.
