Illinois football misses 2026 preseason coaches poll despite last season's success
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 4, 2026, 5:22 PM
Last updated Aug 4, 2026
The Illinois Fighting Illini were excluded from the 2026 US LBM preseason college football Coaches Poll released on August 4. The team finished the previous season with a 9-4 record and participated in the Music City Bowl. Five other teams from the Big Ten, including Ohio State and Indiana, secured spots in the top 25 rankings. Illinois ranked fourth among the teams receiving votes, tallying 62 points, behind TCU and Louisville. The poll's results reflect ongoing competition in the college football as teams prepare for the upcoming season.
- •Illinois was not ranked in the top 25 preseason poll.
- •The team earned a 9-4 record last season and played in the Music City Bowl.
- •Ohio State topped the poll with 38 first-place votes.
- •Illinois received 62 points, ranking fourth among teams not in the top 25.
- •Five Big Ten teams, including Indiana and Michigan, made the top 25.
- 5:22 PMYahoo Sports — Illinois football team snubbed in 2026 preseason coaches poll
"The Illinois Fighting Illini were not selected in the 2026 college football top 25 preseason coaches poll, but five other Big Ten teams made it.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- NCAAF•Aug 4, 2026, 6:47 PMRanking Duke's 2026 opponents from easiest to hardest
NCAAF•Aug 4, 2026, 6:42 PMBuckeyes, Ducks lead off preseason coaches poll- NCAAF•Aug 4, 2026, 6:20 PM5 Thoughts on the 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll: The SEC Makes a Statement
NCAAF•Aug 4, 2026, 6:11 PMCollege Football Playoff expansion talks heat up with 16-, 24-team formats taking center stage- NCAAF•Aug 4, 2026, 5:29 PMOle Miss debuts in top 10 of USA Today coaches poll
- NCAAF•Aug 4, 2026, 5:29 PMOklahoma Sooners inside top 10 of preseason US LBM Coaches Poll
