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Big Ten football: Breaking down the conference’s initial CFP rankings

By Christopher Mangum

BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 08: Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines runs the ball during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on October 8, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, IN - OCTOBER 08: Blake Corum #2 of the Michigan Wolverines runs the ball during the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium on October 8, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 02: Devon Witherspoon #31 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts after a play during the first quarter in the game against the Indiana Hooisers at Memorial Stadium on September 02, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA – SEPTEMBER 02: Devon Witherspoon #31 of the Illinois Fighting Illini reacts after a play during the first quarter in the game against the Indiana Hooisers at Memorial Stadium on September 02, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

No. 16 Illinois

Illinois football is a team that no one saw coming this year, especially not after week 1. The Illini dropped their Week 1 game to Indiana — a team that will likely finish with three wins this year — before going on a massive seven-game winning streak.

Over the past seven weeks, Illinois has used a combination of strong defense and well-paced offense to overwhelm its opponents. In fariness, Illinois plays in the Big Ten West and has not beaten anyone decent yet, but the record is impressive, nonetheless. The Illini currently boast a few solid wins over Virginia (24-3), Wisconsin (34-10), Iowa (9-6), Minnesota (26-14), and at Nebraska (26-9).

The only currently ranked team Illinois will play all year will be Michigan in Ann Arbor. If the Illini can remain perfect before and after that game, I expect to see a 10-2 season with a trip to the Big Ten Championship game from Illinois this year.

Illinois football still has its work cut out for it before the Michigan game, though. The Illini will host Michigan State (who will be missing a few starters due to suspensions) and Purdue before heading to Ann Arbor. After Michigan, Illinois will end the regular season at Northwestern.

This Illinois squad is something we rarely see in Big Ten football, and personally I am all for it. With Wisconsin and Iowa going through a down period, Nebraska being Nebraska, and no other contenders in the west, why not Illinois? Big Ten football needs a solid contender in the West, and while I don’t think the Illini are a top-10 team by any means, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be top-15 by season’s end.

CFP and NY6 projections week 9. dark. Next

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