Indiana Hoosiers vs Illinois Fighting Illini Prediction & Picks - NCAA

Prediction published on 9/20/25, 4:13 PM  by Travis Pulver | Modified on 10/15/25 at 8:15 AM in NCAA Picks

Five years ago, had you asked anyone that an undefeated, top-ten Illinois football team would travel to Bloomington, IN, to face an undefeated and ranked Indiana football team, people would have laughed at you—but that’s what’s happening on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. EST. The No. 9 Fighting Illini will be taking on the No. 19 Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium.

The Hoosiers have taken advantage of an easy schedule to post some gaudy numbers: 591.7 total yards/game on offense (third in the country), 284 passing (27th), 307.7 rushing (3rd), and 52 points per game (7th). They’ve been tough on the defensive side of the ball, too. But when you play poor FBS and FCS teams, that’s going to happen. As for Illinois, the numbers haven’t been as gaudy, but the impact has been the same. The Illini crushed their FCS opponent (Western Illinois, 52-3), dominated Duke (45-19) when many thought the Blue Devils would win, and crushed Western Michigan 38-0.

Both finished the 2024-25 season ranked; Indiana was No. 10 and Illinois No.16, so expectations and hopes were high for both teams entering the season. Now that Big Ten play is getting underway, fans can find out whether their team is as good as advertised.