Last week, the AP included the Fighting Illini in their top 25 – checking in at No. 24 – for the first time since December 2014. Thanks to the Orange and Blue winning their lone game this past week, it looks like we are moving on up in the world.
After that win and a few others taking losses, Illinois is now ranked No. 21 in the nation in the latest AP poll which was released on Monday afternoon. This is a three-spot bump for the Illini, and I look for an even bigger bump if we can get through this week unscathed.