CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Fresh off of a 10-win season and a Citrus Bowl victory, the Fighting Illini football team is entering 2025 inside the Top 15 of a major national poll.

USA Today announced the results of the preseason U.S. LBM Coaches’ Poll on Monday, with Illinois checking in at No. 12. It’s the first time since 2008 that the Illini are starting the season ranked in this poll, when they were ranked No. 19, and it’s the program’s highest preseason ranking in the Coaches’ Poll since 1990, when they were also ranked No. 12.

No. 12 is the second-highest preseason ranking the program has achieved in the history of the Coaches’ Poll, which began in 1978. Only the 1985 Illini were ranked higher at No. 10.

The 2025 Fighting Illini are returning 16 starters from a 2024 team that tied all-time program records with 10 wins in a season and four wins over a ranked opponent. 18 starters from the Citrus Bowl are returning, including quarterback Luke Altmyer and outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, who were both voted by the media to the Big Ten’s Preseason Honors list of the top 15 players in the conference.

The full preseason U.S. LBM Coaches’ Poll is listed below:

1. Texas
2. Ohio State
3. Penn State
4. Georgia
5. Notre Dame
6. Clemson
7. Oregon
8. Alabama
9. LSU
10. Miami (FL)
11. Arizona State
12. Illinois
13. South Carolina
14. Michigan
15. Ole Miss
16. SMU
17. Florida
18. Tennessee
19. Indiana
20. Kansas State
21. Texas A&M (tie)
22. Iowa State (tie)
23. BYU
24. Texas Tech
25. Boise State