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Joel Klatt names team with best shot to make first-ever CFP appearance in 2025
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Joel Klatt is ready to name the team he has with the best chance to make their first-ever trip to the College Football Playoff, and that team hails from the Big Ten.
On Monday, his latest episode of The Joel Klatt Show tackled the top 10 teams in the country with the best shot to reach the Playoff field for the first time. That includes Illinois in the No. 1 spot, a team others have already begun predicting as “this year’s Indiana,” a traditional afterthought program with a chance to compete at the highest level this fall.
Klatt’s prediction revolves around the foundation built in Champaign and a team loaded with returning production. The Illini certainly have plenty of momentum rolling into 2025, and it could lead to a special season.
“Bret Bielema has built this team into what he wants. Physical, tough, they won against South Carolina in the bowl game, they showed the level they can get to. That team that won that game is essentially all back,” said Klatt. “16 starters are back, 9 on offense… (QB) Luke Altmyer is back for his 3rd season, we’ve seen what returning production, returning experience does, in particular at the QB position. Altmyer being back is huge, the entire offensive line is back in front of him. The question is at wide receiver… The defense should be solid.”
With the roster not a major concern, Klatt turned his attention to the schedule. In that regard, the Illini also receive a favorable draw, missing some of the top teams in the league altogether and getting its biggest game at home.
“They don’t have to play Penn State, Oregon or Michigan, and they get Ohio State at home. So of Big Ten schedules, they’ve got kind of the Missouri-esque Big Ten schedule. I think they’ve hit the lottery in the Big Ten,” Klatt explained.
Despite Klatt’s glowing prediction, BetMGM is not as high on the Illini. According to those odds, Illinois is just +550 to reach the final Playoff field and is -900 to miss the cut. Fans can track all the action in the Ohio betting apps.
We’ll see if Bielema and his group can flip those odds around and make a push to the Playoff.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.