Illinois's College Football Playoff path: Three games HC Bret Bielema must win to contend

Under a month separates Illinois from attempting to continue its newfound momentum under fifth-year coach Bret Bielema, who is fresh off Illinois' first 10-win season since 2001 and returns 16 of 22 starters from last year's Citrus Bowl team.

With that success comes recognition from national media pundits. Whether positive or negative, it's clear the Illini are relevant across the college football landscape for the first time in quite some time, which includes analysts like ESPN's Bill Connelly. 

Connelly highlighted six teams, including Illinois, as possible College Football Playoff contenders.

Connelly seems to be impressed with everything he has seen during Bielema's rebuild in Champaign, but this fall may be the biggest yet. Despite Bielema's 28-22 record since 2021,  Illinois has followed one good season (8-5 in 2022) with one underwhelming one (5-7 in 2023), having not had back-to-back winning seasons in over a decade.

The Illini may have a manageable schedule with Memorial Stadium as the site of seven home games once again (Western Illinois, Western Michigan, USC, Ohio State, Rutgers, Maryland, Northwestern), but there are three particular games that could potentially go a long way in determining their playoff fate or failure.

Those games highlighted include trips to Duke and Indiana, followed by Illinois' conference home opener against the Trojans. If Bielema and Co. are unbeaten to begin October, which includes games against Purdue, Ohio State, and Washington in three of four weeks, Illinois' postseason chances should continue to elevate.

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"Win all three, and they're going to be in the playoff discussion for quite a while," Connelly wrote.

Some would argue being 5-1 in one-score games is a stroke of luck, but if anything, it proved to be the reason why Illinois won 10 games.

Its only loss? Minnesota, a team against which Bielema was unbeaten dating back to his Wisconsin tenure over a decade ago.

Before looking too far ahead, Illinois must worry about Game No. 1: Western Illinois. Kickoff is set for Friday, Aug. 29 at 6:30 p.m. CT on Peacock, as it has won all three series meetings.

Illinois' last head-to-head against the Leathernecks came in Sept. 2018, one of four wins during the season as it prevailed 34-14.