CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football team is ranked #21 by the College Football Playoff, the selection committee announced Tuesday on ESPN. The Fighting Illini are ranked by the CFP selection committee for a program-record third straight week.
Illinois (9-3, 6-3 Big Ten), which was also #21 in this week's AP and coaches polls, won nine or more regular-season games for the eighth time in program history. The Illini won nine games for the first time since 2007, which was also the last time Illinois finished the regular season ranked in the AP Top 25 (#15).
The Illini finished the regular season on a three-game winning streak, including a 38-28 win over Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Saturday. It was Illinois' fifth win while ranked this season, the program's most since 1990.
With its third week in the rankings, the 2024 Illinois team surpassed the 2022 team for the most weeks ranked by the CFP.
Illinois, which won three games in November for the first time since 2007, will now wait for its postseason fate. The College Football Playoff and bowls announce pairings on Sunday, Dec. 8.
Illinois All-Time CFP Rankings
2022 Week 9 — #16
2022 Week 10 — #21
2024 Week 12 — #25
2024 Week 13 — #23
2024 Week 14 — #21
