CHAMPAIGN \u2014 The Illinois football team will begin the 2025 season ranked No. 12 in the AP Preseason Poll, the Associated Press announced Monday. The Fighting Illini begin the season in the AP Poll top 15 for the first time since 1990, when Illinois also checked in at No. 11 in the AP Preseason Poll.<\/p>\n
The Fighting Illini are ranked in the AP Preseason Poll for the first time since 2008 (No. 20). Illinois\u2019 No. 12 preseason ranking is the ninth-highest in program history since the AP Preseason Poll began in 1950.<\/p>\n
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