Current Programs & Conferences
2026 FBS football and 2026–27 NCAA Division I basketball. Historical title affiliations appear with the sourced program history below.
| Program | Current Affiliation | Sources & References |
|---|---|---|
| Football · FBS | Big Ten Conference | Sources & References |
| Men’s Basketball · Division I | Big Ten Conference | |
| Women’s Basketball · Division I | Big Ten Conference |
The Bigger Picture · Football
Where Illinois Finished
Final AP rankings after the postseason. Coverage: 1989 through 2025.
Football · Conference Titles
15 Big Ten Championships
- 1910*
- 1914
- 1915*
- 1918*
- 1919
- 1923*
- 1927*
- 1928
- 1946
- 1951
- 1953*
- 1963
- 1983
- 1990*
- 2001
* Shared conference title
Sources & References
- Top 25 Finishes
- 6 / 37 seasons
- Top 10 Finishes
- 1 / 37 seasons
- Best Final Ranking
- #10
- Last Ranked Finish
- #16 in 2024
Summary covers 1989 through 2025.
Higher bars mean a higher finish. NR = Not Ranked in the final Top 25, including teams receiving votes. Gold marks a school-recognized FBS / major-college national championship; an AP No. 1 finish alone is not treated as a championship.
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- #16
- NR
View Every Final Ranking (1989–2025)
| Year | Final AP Result | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2024 | #16 | Source ↗ |
| 2023 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2022 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2021 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2020 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2019 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2018 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2017 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2016 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2015 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2014 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2013 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2012 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2011 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2010 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2009 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2008 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2007 | #20 | Source ↗ |
| 2006 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2005 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2004 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2003 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2002 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 2001 | #12 | Source ↗ |
| 2000 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 1999 | #24 | Source ↗ |
| 1998 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 1997 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 1996 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 1995 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 1994 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 1993 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 1992 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 1991 | Not Ranked (NR) | Source ↗ |
| 1990 | #25 | Source ↗ |
| 1989 | #10 | Source ↗ |
Sources & References
- College Poll Archive · Final 1989 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 1990 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 1991 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 1992 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 1993 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 1994 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 1995 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 1996 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 1997 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 1998 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 1999 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2000 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2001 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2002 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2003 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2004 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2005 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2006 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2007 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2008 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2009 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2010 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2011 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2012 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2013 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2014 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2015 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2016 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2017 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2018 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2019 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2020 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2021 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2022 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2023 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2024 AP poll ↗
- College Poll Archive · Final 2025 AP poll ↗
The Bigger Picture · Women’s basketball
Where Illinois Finished
Final AP rankings. Poll timing varies by season; the full table identifies whether the poll came before or after the NCAA tournament. Coverage: 1989–90 through 2025–26.
Women’s basketball · Conference Titles
1 Big Ten Conference regular-season championship
- 1996–97*
* Shared conference title
Sources & References
The 1996–97 regular-season title was shared with Michigan State and Purdue. Illinois’s 2024 WBIT title and early state/regional tournament results are separate from conference championships.
- Top 25 Finishes
- 2 / 37 seasons
- Top 10 Finishes
- 0 / 37 seasons
- Best Final Ranking
- #16
- Last Ranked Finish
- #16 in 1997–98
Summary covers 1989–90 through 2025–26.
Higher bars mean a higher finish. NR = Not Ranked in the final Top 25, including teams receiving votes. Gold marks a school-recognized national championship; an AP No. 1 finish alone is not treated as a championship.
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
- NR
View Every Final Ranking (1989–90–2025–26)
| Year | Final AP Result | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | Not Ranked (NR)After NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2024–25 | Not Ranked (NR)After NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2023–24 | Not Ranked (NR)After NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2022–23 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2021–22 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2020–21 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2019–20 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2018–19 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2017–18 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2016–17 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2015–16 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2014–15 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2013–14 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2012–13 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2011–12 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2010–11 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2009–10 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2008–09 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2007–08 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2006–07 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2005–06 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2004–05 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2003–04 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2002–03 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2001–02 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 2000–01 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1999–00 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1998–99 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1997–98 | #16Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1996–97 | #16Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1995–96 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1994–95 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1993–94 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1992–93 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1991–92 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1990–91 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
| 1989–90 | Not Ranked (NR)Before NCAA tournament | Source ↗ |
Sources & References
- NCAA 2026 Women’s Division I Records · Complete final AP tables, native PDF pp. 64–67 ↗
- Associated Press · Post-tournament final polls begin with the 2023–24 season ↗
- Florida 2004–05 Women’s Basketball Season Review · Complete AP Top 25 dated March 14, 2005, PDF p. 5; corroborated by UConn NCAA guide p. 6 ↗
- Texas · Complete Associated Press women’s Top 25 dated March 14, 2016; corroborated by Texas NCAA notes p. 6 and Big Ten March 29 postseason release p. 2 ↗
- Indiana · Complete Associated Press women’s Top 25 dated March 12, 2018, WNIT notes PDF p. 7; corroborated by Baylor March 23 and October 26 notes ↗
- illinois · Official women’s programme illinois-wbb-2025-26-native-book-pdf ↗
- illinois · Official women’s programme illinois-wbb-2026-final-notes-wrapper-pdf ↗
- illinois · Own historical Division I conference alignment, NCAA native p. 22 ↗
Beyond the Ballot
Meet the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a public land-grant university spanning the neighboring cities of Urbana and Champaign. Founded in 1867, it is home to the Fighting Illini.
- Location
- Urbana and Champaign, Illinois
- University Type
- Public · Land-grant
- Founded
- 1867
- Undergraduate Enrollment
- 38,572Fall 2025 · CDS undergraduate headcount
- Nickname
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Football Conference
- Big Ten ConferenceReviewed affiliation · 2026
- FBS / Major College Football National Championships
- 5School-Recognized Titles1914 · 1919 · 1923 · 1927 · 1951
- Football Big Ten Championships
- 151910 · 1914 · 1915 · 1918 · 1919 · 1923 · 1927 · 1928 · 1946 · 1951 · 1953 · 1963 · 1983 · 1990 · 2001
- Women’s basketball Big Ten Conference regular-season championship
- 11996–97
Sources & References
- Illinois · Big Ten championship history ↗
- Illinois · National championship history ↗
- Illinois · University history and facts ↗
- Illinois · Team and current conference ↗
- NCAA · Complete Division I women’s championship history through 2025 ↗
- UCLA · 2026 NCAA women’s national championship, April 5, 2026 ↗
- NCAA · CIAW, DGWS and all AIAW championship tiers through 1982 ↗
- NCAA · Complete Division II women’s national championship history through 2026 ↗
- NCAA · Complete Division III women’s national championship history through 2026 ↗
- NAIA · Complete women’s national champions, 1981–1991, PDF p. 67 / printed p. 63 ↗
- NCAA · Complete Big Ten regular-season and tournament winners through 2024–25 ↗
- UCLA · Sole 2025–26 Big Ten regular-season and tournament champions, March 20, 2026 ↗
- illinois · Official women’s programme illinois-wbb-2025-26-native-book-pdf ↗
- illinois · Own historical Division I conference alignment, NCAA native p. 22 ↗
- michigan-state · Official women’s programme msu-wbb-2025-26-native-guide-pdf ↗
- Illinois · Fall 2025 · CDS undergraduate headcount ↗
Men’s Basketball Titles
Championship history has not been added for this program. No title total is inferred from the current membership record.
Available AP Poll Analysis
These dated views describe specific poll editions and seasons; they are separate from school facts and championship history.
- Football · 2026 Ranking History
- Men’s Basketball · 2025–26 Final Poll AnalysisSaved on this device. No account needed.
- Women’s Basketball · 2025–26 Final Poll AnalysisSaved on this device. No account needed.
Football AP Poll Analysis
Existing Football ranking history and individual voter analysis.
2026 AP Football Poll
Illinois · Week 5
Ranked in 0 of 6 published polls this season.
Latest poll:
Coverage: –
AP Result
NRStill not ranked
Compared with Week 4
Voter Support
Of the 70 available ballots, 0 ranked Illinois and 70 left the team unranked.
- Ranked Illinois
- 0
- Left unranked
- 70
- Highest Vote
- —
- Lowest Ranked Vote
- —
No ranked votes available
No ranked votes available
2026 Games & Scores
Full Schedule & Results →Upcoming matchups and recent results, with game statistics and AP voter context.
2026 Season at a Glance
AP rank and voter agreement across available polls.
| Poll | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 · Preseason | NR | 9 | 4%3/69 Voters | 2.16 |
| 2026 · Week 1 | NR | 6 | 4%3/69 Voters | 0.00 |
| 2026 · Week 2 | NR | 0 | 0%0/68 Voters | — |
| 2026 · Week 3 | NR | 0 | 0%0/69 Voters | — |
| 2026 · Week 4 | NR | 0 | 0%0/70 Voters | — |
| 2026 · Week 5 | NR | 0 | 0%0/70 Voters | — |
A Look at the Individual Votes
Week 5 · First 10 of 70 voters, sorted by highest vote. Open the weekly view for the complete list.
| Voter | Vote | |
|---|---|---|
| Creg Stephenson | NR | Both Unranked |
| Jerry Humphrey | NR | Both Unranked |
| Cameron Cox | NR | Both Unranked |
| Tom Murphy | NR | Both Unranked |
| Haley Sawyer | NR | Both Unranked |
| Jon Wilner | NR | Both Unranked |
| Kirk Kenney | NR | Both Unranked |
| Brian Howell | NR | Both Unranked |
| Joe Arruda | NR | Both Unranked |
| Jamal St. Cyr | NR | Both Unranked |
Ballot Distribution
Every complete ballot for Illinois.
0% · 0 of 70 Voters
Average When Ranked: — · 70 Unranked
View Exact Distribution
| Rank | Voters |
|---|---|
| 1 | 0 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 3 | 0 |
| 4 | 0 |
| 5 | 0 |
| 6 | 0 |
| 7 | 0 |
| 8 | 0 |
| 9 | 0 |
| 10 | 0 |
| 11 | 0 |
| 12 | 0 |
| 13 | 0 |
| 14 | 0 |
| 15 | 0 |
| 16 | 0 |
| 17 | 0 |
| 18 | 0 |
| 19 | 0 |
| 20 | 0 |
| 21 | 0 |
| 22 | 0 |
| 23 | 0 |
| 24 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| NR | 70 |
