CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football team finished the season ranked #25 in the final US LBM Coaches Poll released Tuesday. The Fighting Illini finished ranked in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1989-90.
Illinois (9-4, 5-4 Big Ten) beat #23 Tennessee in the Music City Bowl to get back in the Coaches Poll top 25 for the ninth time this season.Â
Illinois was one spot outside the AP Top 25, also released Tuesday.
Illinois now turns the page to the 2026 team, which opens the season Sept. 5 against UAB at Gies Memorial Stadium. Season ticket renewals for the 2026 season begin today.Â
Program Accomplishments
• First back-to-back 9+-win seasons in program history.
• First back-to-back ranked seasons since 1989-90.
• Most wins over a two-year period in program history (19).
• Most wins at Gies Memorial Stadium over a two-year period in program history (12).
• Music City Bowl champions, the program's first back-to-back bowl wins since 2010-11.
• 37 wins in the Bret Bielema era (2021-25), tied for the program's most wins over any five-year period since 1901-05.
• 15 Power-4 wins over the last two seasons, the fourth-most in the Big Ten.
• 8-0 against nonconference opponents over the last two seasons (2024-25) with the program's first two SEC wins in history.
• Best average home attendance since 2009 (58,350).
