Feb. 21—***
As part of its look ahead to the 2025 college football season, the busy folks at ESPN have designated a season-defining game for each team in its way-too-early Top 25.
Checking in at No. 13, Illinois’ season-defining game is listed as the Sept. 20 game at Indiana.
The choice makes a lot of sense. Indiana is coming off a surprise season that included a spot in the College Football Playoff.
In Bret Bielema’s breakout 2022 season as coach, his team lost an early night game at Indiana 23-20. Illinois bounced back from the disappointment to win eight games.
That Indiana team wasn’t nearly as talented or confident as the 2025 model will be. Second-year coach Curt Cignetti has the Hoosiers thinking big.
My argument against putting this game at the top of the “must” list for Illinois is that Indiana suffered major graduation losses. The team has reloaded thanks to the portal, but it is difficult to imagine it will be able to repeat the success of 2024.
Actually, the game at the top of the Illinois list should be Oct. 11 against defending national champion Ohio State. Too obvious, so let’s go another direction.
Put me down for the Sept. 6 game at Duke. Manny Diaz has the Blue Devils rolling, with the team coming off a nine-win season. He added former Tulane standout quarterback Darian Mensah from the portal.
A win against Duke on the road early in the season would give Illinois a leg up in its push to reach the CFP. Clip and save. If the Blue Devils are as good as I think they will be, a win against them will score points with the CFP selection committee.
