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Illinois Fighting Illini Climb in CFB Rankings

Illinois Fighting Illini

The Illinois Fighting Illini are rising in the AP Top 25 rankings after their road win over the Nebraska Cornhuskers Friday night. The Illini checked into their road test in Lincoln ranked 24th in the country. After the victory, Illinois has climbed five spots up to 19th in the country ahead of their second straight ranked road matchup against Penn State in Happy Valley. The Fighting Illini will be looking for their third win over a ranked opponent this season and their first win over a top ten team since 2007 when they won on the road over number one Ohio State.

Illinois Fighting Illini Climb Into Top 20

Sep 20, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) scores a touchdown in overtime against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images
Illinois Fighting Illini Climb in CFB Rankings 1

The Illinois Fighting Illini are climbing in the AP Top 25 college football rankings again this week after their overtime victory in Lincoln over the Nebraska Cornhuskers Friday night. The Fighting Illini eked into the Top 25 last week ahead of their first Big Ten conference game of the season. Checking in at 24th in the land, the Illinois Fighting Illini upset Dylan Raiola and the Huskers 31-24 in overtime. Impressed by the performance, the AP bumped the Fighting Illini up five spots to 19th.

The win over Nebraska was the Illinois Fighting Illini’s second win against a ranked opponent of the year. Two weeks earlier the Illini downed Jalon Daniels and the Kansas Jayhawks, who entered that game ranked 19th in the country. After a pair of upset victories over ranked opponents, Illinois will try to make it three next weekend when they take on Drew Allar and the Penn State Nittany Lions. The Nittany Lions come into the game ranked ninth in the country.

The Illinois Fighting Illini will look to reach some feats they haven’t achieved as a program in 17 years. Their rank of 19th is their highest since 2007 when they reached as high as 16th. 2007 was also the last year they defeated a top-ten opponent on the road when they beat top-ranked Ohio State at The Shoe. If they can upset Penn State in Happy Valley, it will also be the first time the Illini is down three ranked opponents in one season since 2007 when they beat the Buckeyes, as well as Iowa and Wisconsin.

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