Illinois head coach Bret Bielema made a tongue-in-cheek remark about his team's standing after the Illini improved to 6-3 with a 24-13 victory over Nebraska on Friday night.
The win extended Illinois' winning streak to four games following a 2-3 start that featured one of the nation's worst defenses. A defensive coordinator change and a timely bye week helped the unit allow just 13.3 points per game over the last three wins, down from over 34 points per game through the first six weeks.
"If we were in the SEC, we'd probably be a top-15 team," Bielema said, referencing the first College Football Playoff rankings that favored Southeastern Conference teams. He noted the program has reached bowl eligibility for a third consecutive season.
Several three-loss teams — including No. 21 South Carolina, No. 23 Oregon and No. 24 Florida — have cracked the top 25. While a playoff berth this year remains unlikely for Illinois, the upcoming expansion to a 24-team field in 2027 could give the Illini a realistic path to their first playoff appearance.
Bielema has built Illinois into a perennial top-25 contender, and the Illini face UCLA and Iowa in their next two games as they aim to extend their winning streak to seven.
