The MRI
2026 · Week 2

Illinois

Big Ten · 1–1 · MRI Classic #65

Power+8.0#41 of 138
Résumé-0.26#129 · wins above average
Movement-10down from #31 last week
Best winUAB (42–23)
Worst lossDuke (27–31)
Schedule faced-3.8 avg opponent
Schedule ahead+5.5 avg opponent

Results

Expected is the margin the model's ratings imply for that matchup and site. Perf is how far the actual margin beat it — the number that moves a rating, rather than the win or loss alone.

WkOpponentResult ExpectedPerf
1 vs UAB W 42–23 +31.0 -12.0
2 vs Duke L 27–31 +1.1 -5.1

Remaining schedule

WkOpponent ProjectedWin prob
3 vs Southern Illinois FCS +46.9 100%
4 at Ohio State -28.9 4%
5 vs Purdue +20.2 89%
6 at Michigan State +2.0 55%
8 vs Oregon -7.8 32%
9 at Maryland -3.7 41%
10 vs Nebraska +1.9 55%
11 at UCLA -1.9 46%

Season by season

Best finish: #20 in 2022. 23 rated seasons. Two ratings appear here and their numbers are not comparable; the rank is. Season links open that year's game log.

25ClassicMRI 2.0 1 150 2003: #104 of 117 (1-11)2004: #98 of 117 (3-8)2005: #112 of 119 (2-9)2006: #90 of 119 (2-10)2007: #37 of 120 (9-4)2008: #62 of 120 (5-7)2009: #93 of 120 (3-9)2010: #31 of 120 (7-6)2011: #62 of 120 (7-6)2012: #113 of 124 (2-10)2013: #93 of 126 (4-8)2014: #98 of 128 (6-7)2015: #72 of 128 (5-7)2016: #108 of 128 (3-9)2017: #112 of 130 (2-10)2018: #109 of 130 (4-8)2019: #72 of 130 (6-7)2020: #92 of 128 (2-6)2021: #73 of 130 (5-7)2022: #20 of 131 (8-5)2023: #63 of 133 (5-7)2024: #36 of 134 (10-3)2025: #26 of 136 (9-4) 2003 2025

Finishing rank, best at the top, on an axis running to 150 — this team's own range, not the size of the field. Each row below says what its rank was out of. Hover a point for the season.

SeasonRankRec Rating 
2025 26 of 136 9–4 12.42 Power
2024 36 of 134 10–3 8.97 Power
2023 63 of 133 5–7 1.04 Power
2022 20 of 131 8–5 12.85 Power
2021 73 of 130 5–7 0.05 Power
2020 92 of 128 2–6 -5.88 Power
2019 72 of 130 6–7 12.27 MRI
2018 109 of 130 4–8 -28.25 MRI
2017 112 of 130 2–10 -28.11 MRI
2016 108 of 128 3–9 -23.81 MRI
2015 72 of 128 5–7 16.52 MRI
2014 98 of 128 6–7 -8.57 MRI
2013 93 of 126 4–8 -8.09 MRI
2012 113 of 124 2–10 -36.49 MRI
2011 62 of 120 7–6 24.59 MRI
2010 31 of 120 7–6 54.09 MRI
2009 93 of 120 3–9 -3.82 MRI
2008 62 of 120 5–7 23.18 MRI
2007 37 of 120 9–4 49.76 MRI
2006 90 of 119 2–10 -1.96 MRI
2005 112 of 119 2–9 -37.62 MRI
2004 98 of 117 3–8 -13.05 MRI
2003 104 of 117 1–11 -31.64 MRI