The Big Question: Will Illinois Football Have a Top-15 Defense in 2025?

The much-anticipated arrival of Illinois’ 2025 football season is nearly here, with the Illini set to kick off against Western Illinois on a Friday night only a few weeks from now (August 29). Just over seven months removed from a Citrus Bowl victory over South Carolina that capped a 10-3 season, Illinois is seeking to one-up last year’s success with a run to the College Football Playoff.But in order to do that, the Illini will need their defense to take a big step forward this fall – from an occasionally brilliant playmaking unit to a stalwart every-week machine that locks down opposing offenses. Is defensive coordinator Aaron Henry's group ready for the leap? Let’s take a look.

A look back

In 2024, the Illini were solid defensively, allowing opponents to score 21.7 points per game – a number that ranked 31st in the country and ninth in the Big Ten. But they certainly weren’t consistent. One game after holding a powerhouse offense in Penn State to just 21 points – seven of which came in the final minutes after a Luke Altmyer interception – Illinois astonishingly gave up 49 to a Purdue team whose only win on the season came against an FCS squad. To add insult to injury, those 49 points scored by the Boilermakers were more than they scored in their final six games combined.

Then, in the Citrus Bowl, Illinois held a scorching-hot South Carolina offense, which came into the game averaging 35.6 points over its six-game winning streak, to just 17 points. Hot and cold was the name of the game for Henry’s crew last year. That needs to change this season for the Illini to reach their goals.

Looking forward