Last year, the Fighting Illini of Illinois had, by their standards, a dream season with the NCAAF future odds. A 10-win season is as good as it gets in Illinois. Now comes the high expectations that follow such a breakout season. Bielema has a career record of 125-80. However, he also has a track record of struggling to handle success. And that is the fear that gamblers have about Illinois in 2025. Can Bielema keep it going and take the next step, or is a massive market correction on the horizon?
2025 SBG College Football Futures: Illinois Fighting Illini
| Odds to Win National Championship: | +12500 |
|---|---|
| Odds to Win Big Ten Championship: | +3500 |
| Over/Under Win Total: | 7.5 |
2025 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule
- Aug 29 vs. Western Illinois
- Sep 6 at Duke
- Sep 13 vs. Western Michigan
- Sep 20 at Indiana
- Sep 27 vs. USC
- Oct 4 at Purdue
- Oct 11 vs. Ohio State
- Oct 18 OFF
- Oct 25 at Washington
- Nov 1 vs. Rutgers
- Nov 8 OFF
- Nov 15 at Maryland
- Nov 22 at Wisconsin
- Nov 29 vs. Northwestern
Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema is many things to many people. However, the 2022 and 2024 seasons served as an offshore betting reminder to everyone. Bielema is a talented and resourceful football coach. Previously, Illinois had not posted a winning season since 2011. And it had only two 2025 college football futures bowl berths in that span.
In his second year on the job, Bret Bielema led the 2022 Fighting Illini to a winning record and bowl berth. Additionally, Illinois even had a serious look at the Big Ten West Division title. Perhaps even sweeter for Bielema, he won his return game at Wisconsin against a Badger program he once led to three Rose Bowls. Next, in 2024, Illinois finished with a 10-3 record and ranked 20th nationally. The Illini went 6-3 in Big Ten games, their best performance since 2007.
The 1997 Fighting Illini went 0-11 in Ron Turner’s first season. In 2001, Turner’s team went 10-1 in the regular season and went to the Sugar Bowl. Hence, this marked a new era in Illinois football. Finally, the program was poised to make a breakthrough. However, Illinois went on to win a total of 13 games over its next five seasons.
Ron Zook led the 2007 team to the Rose Bowl. Although Illinois lost, Zook proved that it was possible to recruit in Champaign. Following that breakthrough. Illinois went 8-16 over the following two seasons. Through the end of the Zook run, to Tim Beckman, to Bill Cubit, to Lovie Smith, Illinois went 14 seasons without an eight-win season. And then came Bret Bielema. He brought the attitude and a style that grew into a 10-win season.
Now, in Year Five, he has a team that’s worthy of a preseason top 25 slot, probably top 15 in some circles. And the 2025 Illinois football program has a shot at back-to-back double-digit win seasons for the first time. The Illini must take advantage of the hand they’ve been dealt. Indeed, they have to face Ohio State, but that’s in Champaign. They miss Michigan, Oregon, and Penn State. This year, you don’t want Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska, and the Illini don’t get them.
Still, it is Illinois. Thus, it wouldn’t be the slightest bit shocking if it lost at Purdue and beat Ohio State a week later. Going to Duke is sneaky-nasty, making the trip to Indiana is no longer a given win, and a date at Washington is scary. To conclude a setback season would surprise nobody.