Illinois football bowl projections 2025: Who will the Illini play?

CHAMPAIGN — The Illinois Fighting Illini have one game remaining, but will be playing in a bowl game come late December.

The Illini (7-4) have losses to Ohio State, Indiana, Washington and Wisconsin — and now close the regular season today vs. Northwestern.

Despite the loss, many experts still have the Illini facing an SEC in a late-December bowl game like the Music City Bowl or ReliaQuest Bowl. Others have them against Pitt or Utah in the Pinstripe or Las Vegas Bowl. Last season, the Illini won 10 games, including a 21-17 win over the SEC's South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl.

Here is where some of the top college football experts have coach Bret Bielema and the Illini playing in the postseason entering Week 14:

2025 Illinois football bowl projections ahead of Week 14

• Pinstripe Bowl: vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 27 | ESPN (Mark Schlabach)

• Pinstripe Bowl: vs. Wake Forest, Dec. 27 | Athlon Sports

• Music City Bowl: vs. Missouri, Dec. 30 | Sports Illustrated

• Music City Bowl: vs. Missouri, Dec. 30 | USA TODAY

• Music City Bowl: vs. LSU, Dec. 30 | Pro Football Network

• ReliaQuest Bowl: vs. Kentucky, Dec. 31 | ESPN (Kyle Bonagura)

• ReliaQuest Bowl: vs. Vanderbilt, Dec. 31 | CBS Sports

• ReliaQuest Bowl: vs. Vanderbilt Dec. 31 | Sports Grid

• Las Vegas Bowl: vs. Utah, Dec. 31 | On3Sports

• Las Vegas Bowl: vs. Utah, Dec. 31 | College Football News

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois football bowl projections: Illini bowl entering Northwestern game