2025 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

2025 Illinois Fighting Illini football
2025 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	0–0 (0–0 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bret Bielema (5th season);
Offensive coordinator	Barry Lunney Jr. (4th season)
Defensive coordinator	Aaron Henry (3rd season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Terrance Jamison (3rd season)
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
	Seasons ← 2024 2026 →

2025 Big Ten Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Illinois	0	–	0	0	–	0
Indiana	0	–	0	0	–	0
Iowa	0	–	0	0	–	0
Maryland	0	–	0	0	–	0
Michigan	0	–	0	0	–	0
Michigan State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Minnesota	0	–	0	0	–	0
Nebraska	0	–	0	0	–	0
Northwestern	0	–	0	0	–	0
Ohio State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Oregon	0	–	0	0	–	0
Penn State	0	–	0	0	–	0
Purdue	0	–	0	0	–	0
Rutgers	0	–	0	0	–	0
UCLA	0	–	0	0	–	0
USC	0	–	0	0	–	0
Washington	0	–	0	0	–	0
Wisconsin	0	–	0	0	–	0
Championship: December 6, 2025
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant As of June 22, 2025 Rankings from CFP Rankings

The 2025 Illinois Fighting Illini football team will represent the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Fighting Illini are led by Bret Bielema in his fifth season as the team's head coach. They play home games at Memorial Stadium located in Champaign, Illinois.

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

Player	Position	Destination
Declan Duley	P	Central Michigan
Zylon Crisler	IOL	Colorado
Demetrius Hill	S	FIU
Kenari Wilcher	WR	Florida A&M
Enyce Sledge	DL	Florida Atlantic
Steven Scott III	OT	Fresno State
Josh McCray	RB	Georgia
Cal Swanson	QB	Holy Cross
Alex Bray	DE	Kansas
Henry Boyer	TE	Kentucky
Joep Engbers	IOL	Liberty
Fabrizio Pinton	K	McNeese
Chase Canada	CB	North Texas
Zach Aamland	OL	Rutgers
Donovan Leary	QB	Tulane
Carlos Orr-Gillespie	WR	Utah State
Nate Guinn	TE	Utah Tech
Kevin Wigenton II	OL	Virginia
Ethan Moczulski	K	Washington
Hunter Whitenack	OL	Western Michigan
Kirkland Michaux	QB	Unknown
Hugh Robertson	P	Unknown
Jake Furtney	TE	Unknown
Tyler Strain	DB	Withdrawn

Incoming

Player	Position	Previous school
Christian Abney	TE	Ball State
Justin Bowick	WR	Ball State
Eli Coenen	DL	Bemidji State
Tomiwa Durojaiye	DL	Florida State
Ayden Knapik	OL	Idaho
Nathan Knapik	OT	Idaho
Lucas Osada	K	North Carolina
Ethan Hampton	QB	Northern Illinois
Carter Hewitt	DL	Northern Iowa
Keelan Crimmins	P	Purdue
Davin Stoffel	TE	South Dakota State
Tyler McMillan	OL	Southeast Missouri State
Lars Rau	P	Texas State
Murphy Clement	RB	West Virginia
Hudson Clement	WR	West Virginia
Leon Lowery Jr.	DE	Wisconsin
James Thompson Jr.	DL	Wisconsin
Curt Neal	DL	Wisconsin

^[1]^[2]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV
August 29	6:30 p.m.	Western Illinois*	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	Peacock
September 6	11:00 a.m.	at Duke*	Wallace Wade Stadium Durham, NC	ABC or ESPN
September 13	6:00 p.m.	Western Michigan*	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	FS1
September 20		at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN (rivalry)
September 27		USC	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL
October 4		at Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (rivalry)
October 11		Ohio State	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (Illibuck)
October 25		at Washington	Husky Stadium Seattle, WA
November 1		Rutgers	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL
November 15		Maryland	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL
November 22		at Wisconsin	Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI
November 29		Northwestern	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry)
*Non-conference game Homecoming All times are in Central time

^[3]^[4]

Game summaries

vs Western Illinois (FCS)

Pregame line	Over/under

Western Illinois Leathernecks (FCS) (0–0) vs Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Leathernecks (FCS)			0
Fighting Illini			0

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois

Date: August 29
Game time: 6:30 p.m.
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers (Peacock):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WIU	ILL
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Duke

Pregame line	Over/under

Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) at Duke Blue Devils (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Fighting Illini			0
Blue Devils			0

at Wallace Wade Stadium • Durham, North Carolina

Date: September 6
Game time: 11:00 a.m.
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers (ABC/ESPN):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ILL	DUKE
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Duke	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Western Michigan

Pregame line	Over/under

Western Michigan Broncos (0–0) vs Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Broncos			0
Fighting Illini			0

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois

Date: September 13
Game time: 6:00 p.m.
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers (FS1):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	WMU	ILL
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Western Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Indiana (rivalry)

Pregame line	Over/under

Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) at Indiana Hoosiers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Fighting Illini			0
Hoosiers			0

at Memorial Stadium • Bloomington, Indiana

Date: September 20
Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers ( ):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ILL	IU
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Indiana	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs USC

Pregame line	Over/under

USC Trojans (0–0) vs Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Trojans			0
Fighting Illini			0

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois

Date: September 27
Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers ( ):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	USC	ILL
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
USC	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Purdue (rivalry)

Pregame line	Over/under

Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) at Purdue Boilermakers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Fighting Illini			0
Boilermakers			0

at Ross–Ade Stadium • West Lafayette, Indiana

Date: October 4
Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers ( ):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ILL	PUR
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Purdue	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Ohio State (Illibuck)

Pregame line	Over/under

Ohio State Buckeyes (0–0) vs Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Buckeyes			0
Fighting Illini			0

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois

Date: October 11
Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers ( ):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	OSU	ILL
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Ohio State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Washington

Pregame line	Over/under

Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) at Washington Huskies (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Fighting Illini			0
Huskies			0

at Husky Stadium • Seattle, Washington

Date: October 25
Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers ( ):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ILL	WASH
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Washington	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Rutgers

Pregame line	Over/under

Rutgers Scarlet Knights (0–0) vs Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Scarlet Knights			0
Fighting Illini			0

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois

Date: November 1
Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers ( ):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	RUTG	ILL
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rutgers	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Maryland

Pregame line	Over/under

Maryland Terrapins (0–0) vs Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Terrapins			0
Fighting Illini			0

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois

Date: November 15
Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers ( ):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MD	ILL
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Maryland	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Wisconsin

Pregame line	Over/under

Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) at Wisconsin Badgers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Fighting Illini			0
Badgers			0

at Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wisconsin

Date: November 22
Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers ( ):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	ILL	WISC
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Wisconsin	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs Northwestern (rivalry)

Pregame line	Over/under

Northwestern Wildcats (0–0) vs Illinois Fighting Illini (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	Total
Wildcats			0
Fighting Illini			0

at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, Illinois

Date: November 29
Game time:
Game weather:
Game attendance:
Referee:
TV announcers ( ):

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	NU	ILL
First downs
Plays–yards
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passing: comp–att–int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Northwestern	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Illinois	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

^ "Illinois Football Transfer Portal". ON3.
^ "Illinois Fighting Illini 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.
^ Neveau, James (December 11, 2024). "Illinois football schedule 2025 set as Illini will battle Ohio State, Indiana". NBC5.com. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
^ "2025 Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 20, 2024.

[1] "Illinois Football Transfer Portal". ON3.

[2] "Illinois Fighting Illini 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.

[3] Neveau, James (December 11, 2024). "Illinois football schedule 2025 set as Illini will battle Ohio State, Indiana". NBC5.com. Retrieved December 20, 2024.

[4] "2025 Illinois Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 20, 2024.

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v t e Illinois Fighting Illini football
Venues	Illinois Field (1890–1922) Memorial Stadium (1923–present) Soldier Field (1994–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Indiana Michigan Missouri Northwestern Ohio State: Illibuck Purdue
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