Illinois Football Preview 2025: Fighting Illini Prediction, Win Total, Top 10 Players, Keys to the Season

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2025 Illinois Preview
Illinois Offense Breakdown
Illinois Defense Breakdown  

Illinois Fighting Illini Key to the Season

The defensive front has to get into the backfield.
Illinois has the guys, and now the pressure has to come.

The 2022 defense lived behind the line, making 81 tackles for loss and 28 sacks. The 2023 bunch stalled a bit too often - 24 sacks and 57 tackles for loss - and last year, despite all of the success, the line managed just 54 tackles for loss and 24 sacks.

Illinois Fighting Illini Key Player

Malik Elzy, WR Jr.
The Illini have defensive options to get behind the line. What they don't have is a sure-thing No. 1 target to make defenses worry.

There's talent and depth to be fine overall as a corps, but it would be a huge help if Elzy, who has all the tools in the box to be special, can blow up on the outside.

Illinois Fighting Illini Top Transfer, Biggest Transfer Loss

Top Transfer In: James Thompson Jr.
Out last year banged up, the 6-6, 300-pound former Wisconsin Badger made five sacks and 52 tackles in his previous two seasons. One of the top linemen in the portal, he's a 3-4 NFL-caliber end who can stuff things up inside, too.

Top Transfer Out: Josh McCray, RB Sr.
The Illini have options, but losing a 240-pound veteran back who averaged over five yards per carry with ten scores last year isn't a plus. McCray is off to Georgia.

Illinois Fighting Illini Key Game

at Washington, Oct. 25
Illinois might have dreams of playing for the Big Ten Championship, and those aren't wrong. But big picture, get to 10-2, get into the College Football Playoff.

Beating Ohio State would obviously be huge, but that's a massive lift. After that, there's a week off, and then comes a trip to Seattle. Get through that - it's the first meeting since a 44-19 loss in 2014 - and there's a real shot at something big.
- 2025 Illinois Schedule Breakdown

Illinois Fighting Illini Top 10 Players

1. Gabe Jacas, LB Sr.
2. Xavier Scott, S Sr.
3. Luke Altmyer, QB Sr.
4. JC Davis, OT Sr.
5. Matthew Bailey, S Jr.
6. Melvin Priestly, OT Sr.
7. Josh Kreutz, C Sr.
8. Miles Scott, S Sr.
9. James Thompson, EDGE Sr.
10. David Olano, PK Jr.

Illinois Fighting Illini 2024 Fun Stats

- Yards Per Game: Opponents 373.8, Illinois 364.8

- Touchdowns Scored: Illinois 45, Opponents 33

- First Quarter Scoring: Illinois 82, Opponents. 59

Illinois Fighting Illini 2025 Season Prediction, Win Total, What Will Happen

The Illini have got to take advantage of the hand they've been dealt.

Yeah, they have to face Ohio State, but that's in Champaign. They miss Michigan, Oregon, and Penn State. This year, you don't want Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska, and the Illini don't get them.

But it's Illinois. It wouldn't be the slightest bit shocking if it lost at Purdue and beat Ohio State a week later.

Going to Duke is sneaky-nasty, making the trip to Indiana is no longer a given win, and a date at Washington is scary.

Rutgers is dangerous, and Wisconsin should be better ... maybe. USC is still a restaurant quality program, going to Washington won't be a speed bump, and ...

If Illinois is the real deal, it should win ten games again.

Set The Illinois Fighting Illini Win Total At … 8

Likely Wins: at Purdue, Western Illinois, Western Michigan

50/50 Games: at Duke, at Indiana, Maryland, Northwestern, Rutgers, USC, at Washington, at Wisconsin

Likely Losses: Ohio State 

2025 Illinois Preview
Illinois Offense Breakdown
Illinois Defense Breakdown