CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football program finished the season ranked #16 in the final AP Top 25 released Tuesday. The Fighting Illini beat #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl to secure the program's highest AP Top 25 finish since 2001 (#12).
The #16 ranking is Illinois' second-best finish in the last 35 seasons, behind only 2001, and the Illini's 11th-best final ranking since the AP poll began in 1936. The final poll was Illinois' 12th appearance in the AP Top 25 this season, the third-most AP Top 25 appearances in a single season in program history behind only 1989 (17) and 1990 (16).
Illinois (10-3, 6-3 Big Ten) tied its program record with 10 wins in 2024, including a program record-tying four wins against AP Top 25 ranked teams. The historic season was capped with the win over #14 South Carolina, Illinois' first bowl win since 2011 and the Illini's highest-ranked nonconference victory since 1990.
Illinois now turns the page to the 2025 team, which opens the season Aug. 30 against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium. Led by QB Luke Altmyer, the Fighting Illini return 18 starters from the Citrus Bowl win and 12 of last year's 14 All-Big Ten honorees.
Illinois' AP Top 25 Finishes
#16 — 2024
#20 — 2007
#12 — 2001
#24 — 1999
#25 — 1990
#10 — 1989
#10 — 1983
#3 — 1963
#13 — 1959
#7 — 1953
#4 — 1951
#13 — 1950
#5 — 1946
#15 — 1944
One of the Best Seasons in Illinois History
• Tied the program record for wins in a season (10).
• Highest final AP Top 25 ranking since 2001 (#16).
• Tied the program record for AP Top 25 wins in a season (4).
• Cheez-It Citrus Bowl champions, the program's first bowl win since 2011.
• Led the nation in fourth-quarter comebacks (5).
• Tied the program record for one-score wins in a season (5).
• Won six Big Ten games for the first time since 2007.
• Best home attendance since 2009 (54,750).
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Champions
• In one of the biggest bowl wins in program history, #21 Illinois took down #14 South Carolina, 21-17, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando to cap a historic 10-win season.
• In their nation-leading fifth fourth-quarter comeback of the year, the Illini took the lead with 7:29 remaining on a 9-yard TD run by Josh McCray, forced a turnover on downs with just over three minutes to go inside of the red zone, and then ran out the clock on their ensuing possession.
• Cheez-It Citrus Bowl MVP Josh McCray ran for two touchdowns and 114 yards, including a game-sealing 60-yard run on 3rd-and-2 from Illinois' own 15-yard line with 1:56 remaining, and QB Luke Altmyer threw for 174 yards and one touchdown.
• DB Matthew Bailey tied the Illinois bowl record with 13 tackles in the victory over South Carolina.
• Illinois won a bowl game for the first time since Dec. 31, 2011 (Kraft Fight Hunger vs. UCLA, W, 20-14).
• Illinois defeated an SEC team for the first time in program history (previously 0-6).
• The Citrus Bowl was Illinois' second New Year's bowl game in the last three seasons, along with the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl following Illinois' 8-4 regular season in 2022. The last time Illinois played in two New Year's bowls in a three-year span was 1990-91, when the program played in the 1990 Citrus Bowl and the 1991 Hall of Fame Bowl (now the ReliaQuest Bowl).
• Illinois played in two bowls over a three-year stretch for the first time since back-to-back bowl seasons in 2010 and 2011.
• Bret Bielema was the first Illini coach to go to two bowl games in his first four seasons since Lou Tepper from 1991-94.
• Illinois improved to 14-5 in games with more than six days rest since Bielema's arrival in 2021, including 12-3 over the last three seasons and a 4-1 record in 2024.
• With South Carolina ranked #14 in the AP Top 25, the win marked Illinois' highest ranked win over a nonconference opponent since defeating #9 Colorado, 23-22, Sept. 15, 1990.
• Illinois ended the season on a four-game winning streak, tied for the longest active winning streak in the Big Ten with national champion Ohio State.
10-Win Illinois
• Illinois tied the program record for wins in a season with 10, set four times previously in 1902, 1983, 1989, and 2001.
• Illinois won 9+ regular season games for the eighth time in program history (1892, 1902, 1904, 1983, 1989, 2001, 2007).
• Illinois won 23 games over the three-year span from 2022-24, tying the program's most wins in a three-year span since winning 24 games from 1988-90. Illinois also won 23 games from 1999-2001.
• Illinois had six Big Ten wins for the first time since going 6-2 in Big Ten games in 2007 on the way to the 2008 Rose Bowl.
• Illinois had its third six-win Big Ten season in the last 30 years (2001, 2007, 2024).
• Illinois tied the program record with four ranked wins in 2024, joining the 1946 and 1983 teams as the only squads in Illini history to defeat four AP Top 25 ranked teams.
Illinois in the Rankings
• Illinois was #16 in the final AP Top 25 poll, the program's highest final ranking since finishing #12 in 2001.
• Illinois was #20 in the final College Football Playoff Top 25 released prior to bowl games and the College Football Playoff. The Illini were ranked in the final four CFP rankings, the longest stretch of consecutive CFP rankings in program history. Prior to 2024, Illinois had appeared in two CFP rankings in 2022.
• Illinois was in the AP Top 25 for 12 weeks in 2024, the third-most AP Top 25 appearances in a single season in program history behind only 1989 (17) and 1990 (16).
• Illinois had six wins when ranked in the AP Top 25 this season, the Illini's most wins while ranked since eight during the 1990 season.
Big Comebacks and B1G Wins
• Illinois led the nation with five fourth-quarter comeback wins in 2024. The Illini pulled off fourth-quarter comeback wins over #19 Kansas, at #22 Nebraska, Purdue, at Rutgers, and against #14 South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl.
• Illinois has a 10-4 record in one-score games over the last two seasons, including a 5-1 record in one-score games in 2024. The Illini had one-score wins over #19 Kansas, #22 Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers, and #14 South Carolina.
• Seven of Illinois' 10 one-score wins over the last two seasons have come in the final minute or overtime.
• Illinois has been underdogs in six of its 10 one-score wins over the past two seasons, including five as road/neutral dogs.
• Pat Bryant had three game-winning touchdown catches in the final minute or overtime in 2024, all coming from Luke Altmyer (at Nebraska, Purdue, at Rutgers). Bryant led the nation in game-winning touchdowns (3).
• Altmyer has led five game-winning drives in the final minute or OT during his Illini career, including four in Big Ten wins. He leads the nation in career game-winning drives of all active quarterbacks in 2024.
The Bielema Era
• Bret Bielema is 28-22 during his Illinois career. Since Robert Zuppke went undefeated in two of his first three seasons at Illinois from 1913-15, Bielema's 28-22 start is the second-best through 50 games by an Illini head coach, behind only Mike White (30-19-1, 1980-84).
• Bielema has won at least eight games in two of his first four seasons at Illinois, becoming the first Illini head coach since John Mackovic (1988-91) to reach eight wins twice in his first four seasons in Champaign.
• Bielema's 18 Big Ten wins through his first four seasons at Illinois are the most since John Mackovic won 22 in his first four seasons from 1988-91.
• Bielema's six ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons are the second-most in program history, behind only John Mackovic (8, 1988-91).
• Bielema's four road/neutral ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) are the most of any coach in Illini history during his first four seasons in Champaign.
• Bielema has had the Illini ranked in 17 AP polls during his first four seasons in Champaign. Only John Mackovic (39 weeks, 1988-91) had the Illini ranked more during their first four seasons as Illinois head coaches.
• Bielema joined John Mackovic (1988-91) and Lou Tepper (1992-95) as the only head coaches in Illinois history to win 5+ games in each of their first four seasons leading the Fighting Illini.
• Bielema is 10-8 in Big Ten road games at Illinois. His 10 Big Ten road wins are tied for the second-most by an Illini head coach in his first four seasons, behind only Mike White (11, 1980-83) and tied with Lou Tepper (10, 1992-95), and John Mackovic (10, 1988-91).
The Illinois Offense
• Illinois scored 368 points, the fifth-highest single-season total in Illinois history.
• Illinois averaged 28.3 points per game, the 10th-best mark in Illinois history.
• Illinois averaged 27.7 points per game in Big Ten games, the 7th-best mark in Illinois history and the 3rd-best in the last 35 years.
• Illinois ended the regular season by scoring exactly 38 points in three straight games, the program's first time scoring 38+ points in three straight Big Ten games since 2010.
• Illinois scored 30+ points in five Big Ten games for the first time since 2010.
• Altmyer was one of only four quarterbacks in Power-4 with 20+ touchdown passes and five or fewer interceptions during the regular season, along with Clemson's Cade Klubnik (29/5), Indiana's Kurtis Rourke (27/4), and Arizona State's Sam Leavitt (21/5).
• Altmyer was 33rd in the nation in passing efficiency during the regular season.
• Altmyer's 144.0 passing efficiency was the second-best in a single season in Illinois football history, behind only John Paddock's 151.1 set in 2023. Barry Lunney's offenses have produced three of Illinois' top four passing efficiencies in program history, as Tommy DeVito's 141.2 mark in 2022 ranks fourth in Illini history.
• Altmyer was fourth in the Big Ten in passing touchdowns (21) and 31st in the nation during the regular season.
• Altmyer in Illinois wins: 158-for-254 passing (62.2%), 2,145 yards (214.5 yards per game), 20 touchdown passes, 3 interceptions, 66 rushes, 235 rushing yards (3.6 yards/rush), four rushing touchdowns.
• Altmyer joined an impressive list of Illini QBs who have led the team to 3+ Top 25 wins in a single season over the last 50 years: Jack Trudeau (1983), Jason Verduzco (1990), Kurt Kittner (2001), Juice Williams (2007), and Altmyer (2024).
• WR Pat Bryant tied for the Big Ten lead in receiving touchdowns (10) and tied for 10th in the nation during the regular season. His 10 TD receptions tied the Illinois record held by Brandon Lloyd (2001) and David Williams (1985).
• On the game-winning TD at Rutgers, Bryant became the 10th player in Illini history to reach 2,000 career receiving yards.
• Bryant set the Memorial Stadium records for single-season receiving TDs (6) and career receiving TDs (13).
• Illinois was 7-0 when Bryant caught a touchdown pass in 2024, including 5-0 in Big Ten games.
The Illinois Defense
• In Aaron Henry's second season as defensive coordinator, Illinois ranked 31st in the nation in scoring defense (21.7), an improvement of 62 spots in the national rankings year-over-year (93rd, 29.4).
• Illinois led the Big Ten and ranked 10th in the nation in forced fumbles (15).
• Illinois' 24 sacks in Big Ten games tied for fifth in the conference, behind only Oregon (32), Penn State (28), Michigan (27), and Ohio State (27). Indiana also had 24 sacks during conference games.
• Illini OLB Gabe Jacas ranked in the top 25 nationally in forced fumbles (t-10th, 3) and sacks (t-25th, 8.0) during the regular season. Jacas tied for the Big Ten lead in forced fumbles and ranked sixth in sacks during the regular season.
• Xavier Scott was an All-Big Ten First Team selection and one of 15 semifinalists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back.
• Illinois had three defensive backs with multiple interceptions: Xavier Scott (4), Torrie Cox Jr. (3), and Miles Scott (2).
The Illinois Special Teams
• Illinois' special teams unit ranked #16 in the nation by ESPN's special teams efficiency metric.
• Kicker David Olano is 17-for-20 on field goals, including 16-for-18 inside of 50 yards and 12-for-12 inside of 40 yards.
• Kicker Ethan Moczulski's 59-yard field goal vs. Central Michigan, the first attempt of his career, set an Illini program record and tied for the sixth-longest field goal in the nation and longest in the Big Ten during the regular season.
• Punter Hugh Robertson landed 54.1% (20/37) of his punts inside the 20, which set an Illinois record.
• Hank Beatty led the Big Ten and ranked fourth in the nation with 14.1 yards per punt return.
• Beatty's 14.1-yard punt return average ranked No. 7 in Illinois single-season history.
• Beatty's 310 punt return yards ranked No. 2 in Illinois single-season history, behind only Dike Eddleman's 77-year-old Illinois record of 323 punt return yards set in 1947.
Four Ranked Wins
• Illinois tied the program record with four ranked wins in 2024, joining the 1946 and 1983 teams as the only squads in Illini history to defeat four AP Top 25 ranked teams.
• Illinois had ranked wins over Kansas (#19), Nebraska (#22), Michigan (#24), and South Carolina (#14).
• Illinois went 4-2 against AP Top 25 teams in 2024. From the 2008 Rose Bowl game through the 2023 season, Illinois went 3-40 against AP Top 25 teams.
• All four of Illinois' ranked wins came as underdogs.
• Illinois had two AP Top 25 wins during September for the first time in program history.
• Against Michigan, Illinois won a ranked vs. ranked game at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 1991, when #20 Illinois defeated #11 Ohio State, 10-7 (Oct. 12, 1991).
• Illinois has won two ranked vs. ranked games in a single season for the first time since 2001 (Nebraska, Michigan).
• The Sept. 15 AP Top 25 poll marked the earliest in a season that Illinois has been voted into the top 25 since 2008.
• Illinois was ranked #11 in the nation by ESPN's strength of record metric.
Tough, Smart, Dependable
• Illinois was sixth in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+0.46 per game) and fifth in the Big Ten in turnovers gained (20).
• Illinois ranked 16th-best in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game (40.15).
• Illinois' six interceptions thrown as a team tied for the fewest in the Big Ten and tied for the sixth-fewest in the nation. Only Army (4), James Madison (4), Marshall (4), Vanderbilt (4), and Missouri (5) threw fewer interceptions than Illinois.
• Illinois went 8-0 when it committed zero or one turnover. The Illini were 8-1 when they force one or more turnovers.
Illinois' Successful Memorial Stadium Celebration
• Illinois celebrated the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary this season by going 6-1 at home.
• The Illini won six games at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2001, when Illinois finished 6-0 at home on its way to the Big Ten title and 2002 Sugar Bowl.
• Illinois finished its home schedule averaging 54,750 fans over seven home games, the highest average in a single season since 2009 (59,544).
• This season, Illinois sold out Memorial Stadium twice in a single season for the first time since 2009 (vs. #19 Kansas, vs. #24 Michigan). The Illini had two wins in front of sell-out crowds at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2008.
Illinois Continues Success in Close Games
• Illinois is 10-4 in one-score games over the last two seasons, tying the program record for one-score wins (5) in back-to-back seasons. The five one-score wins in 2023 and 2024 tied the program record first set in 1934.
• Illinois was 5-1 record in one-score games in 2024 with wins over #19 Kansas, #22 Nebraska, Purdue, Rutgers, and #14 South Carolina.
• Illinois was an underdog in six of its 10 one-score wins over the past two seasons, including five as road/neutral dogs.
• Illinois won five one-score games in 2023 (5-3). The Illini's eight one-score games played in 2023 were the most in program history.
• Illinois' five one-score wins in 2023 tied for the third-most in the nation during the regular season, behind only Old Dominion and Washington, which each had six one-score wins during the 2023 regular season.
• Illinois is 4-0 in overtime games under Bret Bielema with wins against #7 Penn State (9 OT, 2021), Indiana (1 OT, 2023), #22 Nebraska (1 OT, 2024), and Purdue (1 OT, 2024).
• Seven of Illinois' 10 one-score wins over the last two seasons have come in the final minute or overtime. In 2024, Illinois topped Nebraska and Purdue in overtime and beat Rutgers with 0:04 left. In 2023, K Caleb Griffin had game-winning field goals to beat Toledo (0:05) and Maryland (0:00), and WR Isaiah Williams had game-winning TD receptions from QB John Paddock at Minnesota (0:50) and against Indiana (OT) in back-to-back weeks in November.
• QB Luke Altmyer has led five game-winning drives in the final minute or overtime during his Illini career. He led the Illini on last-second field goal drives against Toledo (0:05) and Maryland (0:00) in 2023. This season, he has thrown the deciding touchdown to Pat Bryant in the opening drive of overtime wins over #22 Nebraska and Purdue, plus hit Bryant with 0:04 left at Rutgers for a game-winning 40-yard touchdown.
• Illinois ran three offensive plays in overtime in 2024 and scored two touchdowns (both Altmyer to Bryant TD passes).
