It’s the offseason. It’s officially time to start taking a look at what next season might hold. And we’re going to go ahead and get a head start on that by taking a look around the Big Ten to further evaluate what the entirety of this very large conference holds for this coming season.
And we’re going to start things off by taking a look at what a best case scenario for one of Washington’s more intriguing 2025 opponents might look like.
Enter the Illinois Fighting Illini football team.
Fresh off of a breakthrough season with Bret Bielema leading things, the Illinois Fighting Illini are looking to continue building momentum as they move forward and contend in the very loaded (and arguably overpacked) Big Ten.
Illinois managed to have a lot of fun last season and, in a best case scenario, that could certainly continue this coming season. While a true “best case scenario” would include nothing bad potentially happening at all, let’s take a slightly more grounded look at things, shall we?
Do Bret Bielema and the Illinois Fighting Illini have a shot to cause chaos in the Big Ten this season?
As Bielema rolls into his fifth season, he’s got things pretty much established systems wise. And that was certainly evident last season as Luke Altmyere threw for over 2700 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. He wasn’t the most impressive QB ever, but he was consistent and accomplished what Illinois needed him to. Thus, a 10-win season and a Citrus Bowl victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks.
So, what would a best case scenario look like for this season? Well, it would likely include at least matching, if not improving upon that record. Maybe getting to double digits in the regular season instead of needing a bowl win over an SEC opponent?
Competing for a Big Ten championship? A top 12 ranking and a trip into the College Football Playoffs? Chaos and frustration (for opponents) and a smothering defense stifling every single opposing offense along the way?
2025 Illinois football schedule preview: Best Case scenario for Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini
Okay, yes, we are looking at the best case scenario, but it’s important to remember that this isn’t going to be something off the rails or crazy. We’re still somewhat grounded in reality around here. So, let’s take a look at Illinois’ schedule in that light and go from there.
Like against Western Illinois, a team that should offer the Fighting Illini a very, very comfortable win. Or a trip to take on the Duke Blue Devils, one of the oddest (and also pretty underwhelming) teams in the ACC from a season ago. That should also be a solid win. Oh, same with Western Michigan. They’re not impressive.
Then a trip to face the Indiana Hoosiers. That could be tough. But they’re not made of magic. Let’s give Illinois a Big Ten win there. Same with a home game against the USC Trojans, who haven’t been all that impressive despite having absurd amounts of talent.
Purdue is definitely beatable, but the Ohio State Buckeyes? That’s, uh, a bit of a stretch. The Fighting Illini follow that up with a bye week and will then take on the Washington Huskies in Seattle (which, as we all know, is a really tough place to play). Back-to-back losses for Illinois.
But, those are the only losses I’m going to expect here in a “best case” scenario.
- Western Illinois vs Illinois - Aug. 30 - W
- Illinois at Duke - Sept. 6 - W
- Western Michigan vs Illinois - Sept. 13 - W
- Illinois at Indiana - Sept. 20 - W
- USC vs Illinois - Sept. 27 - W
- Illinois at Purdue - Oct. 4 - W
- Ohio State vs Illinois - Oct. 11 - L
- Illinois at Washington - Oct. 25 - L
- Rutgers vs Illinois - Nov. 1 - W
- Maryland vs Illinois - Nov. 15 - W
- Illinois at Wisconsin - Nov. 22 - W
- Northwestern vs Illinois - Nov. 29 - W
Generally speaking, that is certainly a manageable schedule for a team that looked as steady and impressive as it did a season ago. And we’re talking about a head coach that is a little odd, but certainly innovative. Jedd Fisch and Washington will need to keep an eye on this team when they’re in town late October.