As the Fighting Illini enter the bye week at 5-2, and one win away from being bowl eligible, you can not help but think, is there really any chance the Illini have to make the College Football Playoff?
Well I am here to tell you there is a path, and it is not one that is completely out of the realm of possibility.
And before anyone says anything in the comments, yes I know, there is a lot of season left — five games to be exact. But it is the bye week, it is fun to think of the what-ifs. So for the purpose of this story, just sit back, relax and marvel in the wonder that is the Fighting Illini’s playoff chances.
Step 1: Win out
It is as simple as that. The Illini must win their five remaining games for just a chance at being one of 12 final teams selected. Of course it’s easier said than done, but Illinois is through its toughest part of the schedule.
The five remaining opponents: Washington Huskies, Rutgers, Maryland, Wisconsin and Northwestern.
Washington is the most formidable foe, especially because the Illini must travel to Seattle to play the Huskies. Coming into Saturday, they have one loss, only to No. 1 Ohio State.
Rutgers and Maryland are always hit or miss. It feels as if the Illini always play a close game against the east coast schools. The last matchup against Rutgers resulted in this improbable Pat Bryant touchdown to win in the final seconds.
And the last time Maryland and Illinois met, the Illini won on a walkoff field goal from Caleb Griffin.
Both of those games are at home, giving the Illini an advantage in that category.
Wisconsin is a bit of a mess. The Luke Fickell experiment has not gone quite to plan, and there is a chance he will not be the Badgers head coach when Illinois heads up to Camp Randall.
The season finale is at Gies Memorial Stadium against Northwestern, who has also underwhelmed in 2025.
So it is possible to run the table, but of course it is much easier to say than to do. Without a 5-0 finish, you can all but kiss the playoff hopes goodbye.
Step 2: Who do you root for?
This is where it gets a bit more interesting. As much as your team’s results matter in college football, you also must watch everyone around you.
What does this mean? It means Illinois fans will becomes fans of other teams. Yes, it sounds bizarre, but the Illini need a couple teams to keep winning, and a couple teams to start losing.
Here are the teams Illinois wants to win: No.1 Ohio State and No.3 Indiana. These are both of the Illini’s losses this season, and if both teams could end up undefeated and in the Big Ten Championship, it can boost the Illini’s resume.
You can also throw Duke into this category. A 45-19 win on the road is starting to age well for the Illini. The Blue Devils are undefeated in ACC play coming into Saturday, and if they keep rattling off wins, it again boosts the Illini’s resume.
And then there is a bit of an odd one: USC.
The Illini beat the Trojans with a walkoff field goal earlier this season for a 34-32 win. The Trojans play Notre Dame on Saturday, and with a USC win the Irish are all but eliminated from the playoffs with three losses.
So just to recap, Illinois fans will now become Ohio State, Indiana, Duke, and USC (for now).
Step 3: Who to root against?
This is where it gets fun. If all goes according to plan to this point, including the Illini going undefeated and Ohio State and Indiana finish their season on a highnote, then Illinois is going to need a couple of teams to lose.
First, is No. 13 Notre Dame. The Irish already have two losses, to Miami and Texas A&M. With no conference championship for them to play in, if they drop one more game, they would likely be eliminated from contention. Four losses for the Irish would all but confirm their elimination.
Second, is 2-loss Big Ten teams that the Illini do not play in 2025. As of right now that would include Michigan, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa. These teams all play each other at one point in the season, so losses will start to make appearances.
Third, is USC. This is why the Trojans are a bit of an odd one. With a win over Notre Dame Saturday night, they can eliminate one foe fighting for a playoff spot. But by doing that, they themselves turn into a team fighting for a playoff spot. If the Trojans suffer one more loss, and both the Illini and USC end the season with two losses, the Illini have the theoretical tiebreaker with the head-to-head win.
Fourth, all SEC teams. I don’t love the politics that goes on behind the scenes between the SEC teams and the Big Ten teams, but I do know one thing: If the final spot came down to a two loss Illinois and a two-loss SEC team, chances are the SEC team would get selected. And boy, would that set Illini Twitter ablaze.
As you can see, it is not out of the realm of possibility. However, a lot has to go the Illini’s way including the hardest part, the 5-0 finish. But never say never.
