CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– With the football regular season in its closing stretch and basketball season underway, Illinois Athletics stands among select company nationally, and in rare air for the program historically.
Illinois is currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 in football, men's basketball, and women's basketball. The Fighting Illini are one of just three schools appearing in all three polls, joined by Alabama and Iowa State.
The Fighting Illini football team (7-3) is ranked No. 24 in the latest AP poll, returning to the Top 25 following its dominant 38-16 win over Michigan State. Head Coach Bret Bielema has had the Illini ranked two of the last three years, with its eight appearance in this season's poll the most for the program since 2001.
The Illini men's basketball team (3-0) has cracked the AP poll for the first time this season, checking in at No. 25. It marks the sixth straight season under Head Coach Brad Underwood that the Illini are in the AP poll. Illinois has finished in the Top 25 four times in the last five years, including twice in the Top 10.
The Illini women's basketball team (4-0) is up to No. 22 in the current AP poll. Illinois has been ranked during each of Head Coach Shauna Green's first three seasons in Champaign, the program's longest streak since 1997-2001.
This marks the first time since January 2000 that Illinois is ranked concurrently in all three sports. Following the 1999 season, Illinois Football appeared at No. 24 in the final AP poll, which was released on Jan. 5, 2000. And in the polls issued Jan. 10, 2000, Illinois Men's Basketball was No. 22 while Illini Women's Basketball was No. 12.
Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman, who hired Bielema, Underwood, and Green, was the starting tight end on the Illini football team that ended the 1999 season with an 8-4 record and ranked No. 24 following its 63-21 bowl win over Virginia.
