Good morning, Illini fans. We’re officially in the final stretch before Illinois football returns, and the national conversation around the Big Ten is starting to take shape. Here are the things that matter this morning.
🏈 The Big Story: Where does Illinois fit in the Big Ten?
The national preseason predictions are starting to roll in, and Illinois isn’t getting quite as much love as some Illini fans might expect.
Bleacher Report released its Big Ten preseason predictions Monday and projects Illinois to finish 11th in the conference.
Illinois finished 9-4 last season, but it had a couple of stinkers as we all remember (in Madison and Seattle).
The Illini have plenty of opportunities to prove the national doubters wrong. Ohio State and Oregon loom large, while the Nebraska, Iowa, UCLA and Northwestern games could all play major roles in determining where Illinois ultimately lands.
🏈 Can Illinois actually make the CFP?
TCR’s Don Glenn took a closer look at that question overnight.
The path isn’t easy, but it isn’t as crazy as it might sound.
A 10-win season has generally been the benchmark for getting into the 12-team College Football Playoff, and Illinois has a schedule that gives it a realistic opportunity to get there.
The problem? The Illini likely can’t afford many mistakes.
With Ohio State and Oregon on the schedule, Illinois will need to take care of business against the rest of its opponents if it wants to put itself in the CFP conversation.
🏈 17 days until kickoff
Illinois opens the 2026 season against UAB on Sept. 3 at Gies Memorial Stadium.
That means we’re officially down to 17 days.
The biggest questions remain the same: Can Katin Houser take control of the offense? How quickly will Bobby Hauck’s defense come together? And does Illinois have enough depth to survive a Big Ten schedule that includes Ohio State and Oregon?
We won’t have to wait much longer for answers.
🏀 Brady Pettigrew recruitment watch
Illinois remains firmly in the mix for five-star 2028 guard Brady Pettigrew.
The Bolingbrook product, ranked No. 1 in Illinois and No. 18 nationally by 247Sports, will officially visit Illinois on Oct. 2.
⚽ What’s next for Illinois soccer
Illinois will return to action Thursday against Cincinnati.
The Illini opened the season with a 0-0 draw against No. 19 Georgia last week.
Illinois will then host UIC on Sunday.