As we continue looking at Big Ten teams in their offseason, it’s time to examine how the Illinois Fighting Illini will fare during the 2025 season (in a worst case scenario that is actually still slightly possible). And what I mean from this is that injuries happen, the Fighting Illini don’t ever hit their stride, the offense is underwhelming, and the team falls apart.
Not that I truly expect any of that to happen. But, I mean, it’s semi-realistic and could theoretically happen. And that could make things intriguing for the Washington Huskies when they meet up in late October this season.
Also, we’ve already addressed what a Best Case scenario probably looks like for Illinois football in 2025. So, what would a worst case scenario look like for Bret Bielema and the Illinois Fighting Illini? I mean, we’re talking about a team that experiences some serious regression, if that’s actually plausible.
2025 Illinois Schedule Preview: Worst-Case Scenario for Bret Bielema and the Fighting Illini
In a worst case scenario, we’re probably talking about following up a 10-3 season that included a 6-3 stretch in Big Ten play and a Citrus Bowl win over the South Carolina Gamecocks out of the Southeastern Conference with what is (purely in theory, of course) a team that could (totally theoretically) struggle in 2025.
I mean, maybe that involves losing a bunch of Big Ten games that Illinois otherwise won last season. Or we get a defensive efficiency regressing, dropping from holding foes to 21.7 points per game to somewhere around 30 points per game.
Or third down conversions! Maybe we see third down conversions drop from nearly 46 percent! Or the offense just totally stops producing points because of injuries and dumb mistakes and suddenly we see a team with a very forgettable feeling.
2025 Illinois schedule preview: Worst Case scenario for Bielema, Fighting Illini
Again, this is a worst case scenario, but it’s theoretically one that is still semi-realistic. So, that season opener against Western Illinois, expect that one to end up as a win for the Huskies. But, following that up, a road trip to Duke! That could be a problem if Manny Diaz is on top of things there.
Back to facing overmatched teams from the Midwest and another win as Illinois tries to take on Western Michigan. But that could conceivably be the last Illinois win for a few weeks. Both the Indiana Hoosiers and the USC Trojans should have talented rosters and good offenses and that could be bad for the Fighting Illini.
A game against Purdue though? Winnable! A game against Ohio State? Probably not.
- Illinois vs Western Illinois - August 30, 2025 - W
- Illinois at Duke - September 6, 2025 - L
- Illinois vs Western Michigan - September 13, 2025 - W
- Illinois at Indiana - September 20, 2025 - L
- Illinois vs USC - September 27, 2025 - L
- Illinois at Purdue - October 4, 2025 - W
- Illinois vs Ohio State - October 11, 2025 - L
- Illinois at Washington - October 25, 2025 - L
- Illinois vs Rutgers - November 1, 2025 - L
- Illinois vs Maryland - November 15, 2025 - L
- Illinois at Wisconsin - November 22, 2025 - L
- Illinois vs Northwestern - November 29, 2025 - W
Generally speaking, this is a schedule that Illinois should be able to navigate, but that may not happen. Maybe Illinois runs into issues this coming season? Maybe we see the Fighting Illini out of bowl game this coming season?