With college football season starting to creep up, we’re running down Indiana’s schedule to preview all 12 opponents for 2025.
IU opens Big Ten play with a big test this season, at home against Illinois. The Fighting Illini are coming off their first 10-win season in 23 years, and have a lot of key pieces back from that squad. Bret Bielema’s team ranks fourth in the nation in overall returning production at 75 percent. This will be Curt Cignetti’s first matchup against Illinois — Indiana’s last game against the Fighting Illini came in 2023, in a disappointing 48-45 overtime loss.
- Opponent: Illinois
- Date/Time/TV: Saturday, September 20, time TBD
- Location: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Ind.
- 2024 record/postseason result: 10-3, 6-3 Big Ten, 21-17 Citrus Bowl win over South Carolina
Returning production, offense: 78 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (6th in the country)
Offensive outlook: Illinois finished 92nd in the country and ninth in the Big Ten in total offense last year, at 364.8 yards per game. The rushing offense and passing offense both also ranked near the middle of the pack in the conference.
Quarterback Luke Altmyer returns as a redshirt senior after completing 60.8 percent of his pass attempts for 2,717 yards with 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also ran for 217 yards on 99 attempts with four touchdowns. However, he may face competition for the starting job from Northern Illinois transfer Ethan Hampton, who threw for 1,600 yards last season with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions.
Leading rusher Josh McCray transferred to Georgia, so Bielema will turn to his second-leading rusher from 2024 in redshirt junior Aidan Laughery (589 yards on 97 carries for four touchdowns). UI also lost its two leading receivers, Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin. Senior Hank Beatty, junior Malik Elzy, and redshirt sophomore Collin Dixon, who all finished under 300 yards receiving last season, will need to step up. But West Virginia transfer Hudson Clement (741 yards, five touchdowns) should also play a prominent role.
All-Big Ten third team tackle J.C. Davis returns to anchor an experienced offensive line — the Fighting Illini have all five starters back on the line.
Returning production, defense: 72 percent (per Bill Connelly/ESPN) (11th in the country)
Defensive outlook: Illinois’ defense has typically been stronger than its offense under Bielema. But the Illini defense wasn’t completely lights out last year: they ranked 68th in the country and 14th in the Big Ten in total defense, allowing 373.2 yards per game. Their passing defense finished 78th in the country and 12th in the Big Ten (224.8 yards per game), and their rushing defense ranked 65th in the nation and 14th in the conference (148.4 yards per game).
Illinois has six returning starters on defense, including a fully intact secondary. All-Big Ten first team selection Xavier Scott is back at cornerback after recording four interceptions with one pick six last year, along with one forced fumble, six passes broken up, and one sack. Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas was named third team all-conference last year, leading the team with 13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, 10 QB hurries, three forced fumbles.
The Illini added three Wisconsin transfers in the front seven — redshirt senior James Thompson Jr., redshirt junior Curt Neal, and redshirt senior Leon Lowery Jr. — to bolster the defense. Florida State transfer Tomiwa Durojaiye could also be key.
Special teams outlook: Illinois has a new punter in Purdue transfer Keelan Crimmins. Placekicker David Olano returns as a junior; he went 17 for 20 on field goals and 38 for 39 on extra points last year. Beatty earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a return specialist in 2024 — he led the conference by averaging 14.1 yards per punt return. The Illini saw their main kick returner, Kenari Wilcher, transfer out in the offseason, so Beatty could be tasked with kickoff return duties as well this year.
Overall Outlook: This will be Indiana’s first real test of the season. Illinois out-performed some of its statistics last season, thanks to good coaching, some good fortune, and a relatively forgiving schedule (sixth-easiest in the Big Ten). The Fighting Illini will face a more difficult schedule this season, and there’s some potential for regression along with that. But it’s not far-fetched to see Bielema get the most out of his team once again.
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