Illinois' magical playoff run (as told by EA College Football 26)

Yahoo

31-07-2025

In what is quickly becoming a national holiday for sports nerds, especially myself, EA Sports College Football '26 was released on Monday.
The game made its long-awaited return to glory last year, and it's back yet again.
Thankfully, this year's version is a lot kinder to Illinois than last year's.
Illinois is rated as the No. 25 overall team, but when you load into dynasty, they begin the season ranked No. 10.
Not too shabby for Bret Bielema & Co.
Gabe Jacas and Xavier Scott are the two highest-rated Illini in the game, with Jacas at a 92 and Scott at a 90. Quarterback Luke Altmyer checks in at an 89.
I'm going to give a quick breakdown of notable stats for each game. If you'd rather skip ahead, scroll to the bottom for end-of-season stats and results.
So, let's dive into the game-by-game predictions for the 2025–26 season.
Week 1: No. 10 Illinois def. Western Illinois 66-14
Luke Altmyer had a day throwing for 403 yards and 5 touchdowns. Aidan Laughery got it done on the ground with 105 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Collin Dixon had a breakout performance with 8 catches for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns.
An easy victory for Illinois over Western Illinois (FCS Midwest) week one.
Week 2: No. 7 Illinois def. Duke 30-20
Keelan Crimmins legacy game. His three punts pinned inside the 20 helped the Illinois defense hold Darian Mensah and Duke to just 20 points. Aidan Laughery and Collin Dixon both went for over 100 yards again, but Altmyer struggled mightily throwing two interceptions and only completing 34% of his passes.
Gabe Jacas and Leon Lowery both had two sacks apiece and Dylan Rosiek and Kaleb Patterson picked off Mensah once.
Week 3: No. 7 Illinois def. Western Michigan 38-7
A 3-0 start for the Illini as Luke Altmyer bounced back with 316 passing yards and two touchdowns, Dixon continued his electric start to the season with 7 catches for 112 yards, and Justin Bowick caught his first touchdown of the year.
Jacas and Lowery added a sack apiece, and the running back tandem of Laughery and Feagin combined for three rushing scores.
Week 4: No. 19 Indiana def. No. 7 Illinois 41-20
Ouch. Have a day, Illini defense!
Hoosier running back Roman Hemby ran for 150 yards, and the Illini offense was stifled by Indiana's defense.
Illinois dropped to No. 18 ahead of their week five matchup with USC.
Week 5: No. 21 USC def. No. 18 Illinois 41-14
Cue Free Fallin' by Tom Petty.
After a promising start, Illinois drops two in a row and gets dominated by USC.
Jayden Maiava torched the Illini defense with 295 yards and three touchdowns.
Illinois falls from top 10 to unranked in just two weeks.
Week 6: Illinois def. Purdue 30-21
Back on track.
Luke Altmyer throws for a touchdown and Aidan Laughery runs for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns. Hudson Clement had his breakout game in an Illinois uniform with 9 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown. Lowery continued his strong season with 1.5 sacks.
Illinois creeps back into the top 25 at No. 24.
Week 7: No. 24 Illinois def. No. 16 Ohio State 52-34
Andddd here's how you know this is a video game. Ohio State rolling into Champaign, ranked No. 16.
Dixon outdueled Jeremiah Smith with 12 receptions for 150 yards and four touchdowns, breaking the Illinois record for touchdown receptions in a game. Altmyer threw six touchdown passes, and the Illini outgained the Buckeyes 224–38 on the ground.
Champaign might burn down if this result happens in real life.
Week 9: No. 15 Illinois def. Washington 28-24
Altmyer had four total touchdowns, including three through the air and one on the ground— despite throwing for just 116 yards.
Kaleb Patterson picked off Demond Williams twice, and Illinois escaped Seattle with a narrow win.
Week 10: No. 13 Illinois def. Rutgers 26-21
Altmyer threw for 332 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Tanner Arkin had nine catches for 98 yards. Jacas and Tomiwa Durojaiye each added a sack as Illinois fended off the Scarlet Knights.
The Illini appeared in the top 12 of the College Football Playoff rankings with just three games remaining.
Week 12: No. 8 Illinois def. Maryland 31-26
Illinois jumped three spots in the CFP poll without playing a game, and they got the job done against a one-win Maryland team.
Unfortunately, Aidan Laughery got injured. In other news, grass is green, but Kaden Feagin picked up the slack with 17 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
Durojaiye added 1.5 sacks, and Patterson snagged another interception.
Week 13: No. 7 Illinois def. Wisconsin 26-25
Illinois snuck by the Badgers, and while Wisconsin fans jumped around in the fourth quarter, it was the Illini who were smiling and dancing when the clock struck zero.
Bielema moved to 2-0 at his old stomping grounds, and he was carried by a stellar performance from Altmyer, who had 303 yards and three touchdowns.
Collin Dixon added 9 catches, 133 yards, and a touchdown while Justin Bowick had two touchdown grabs.
Leon Lowery showed out against his former squad with two sacks.
Week 14: No. 7 Illinois def. Northwestern 44-14
Ending the year with a blowout victory of the kitties is always nice.
Kaden Feagin had himself a monster day with 216 yards and two touchdowns, and Altmyer added 284 yards through the air with two passing touchdowns.
Illinois ends the regular season at 10-2 (7-2), and was ranked No. 5 in the CFP poll, but won't play in the Big Ten title game.
All the Illini have to do is wait until Selection Sunday to see their logo pop up in the College Football Playoff.
Remember that early season win over Duke? Yeah, it held up nicely as the Blue Devils finished the regular season ranked No. 8.
Conference Championship Week
Iowa shocked the world and upset No. 1 Penn State to win the Big Ten title, thus securing its spot in the College Football Playoff. Miami dominated Duke, Texas Tech knocked off No. 1 Iowa State, and Florida defeated Georgia in the SEC title game.
Illinois headed into the College Football Playoff ranked No. 4 and would have a bye before facing the winner of No. 5 Iowa State and No. 12 Iowa.
Cotton Bowl (CFP Quarterfinal): No. 5 Iowa State def. No. 4 Illinois, 38–28
Illinois' first College Football Playoff appearance was short-lived. Rocco Becht threw for 361 yards and four touchdowns to lead Iowa State past the Illini.
For the Illini, Collin Dixon eclipsed 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns while Luke Altmyer set the single-season touchdown record for an Illinois quarterback with 28, adding two touchdown passes in the Cotton Bowl.
End of Season Recap
For those who skipped the game summaries—glad you're still here! For those who stuck with me through them, thank you!
Illinois finished 10–3, falling in the CFP quarterfinals to Iowa State. Dixon broke the single-game touchdown reception record, and Altmyer set the program's single-season passing touchdown mark.
If this happens in the fall? I'll have Josh Whitman on speed dial, begging him to build the statue of our savior, Bret Bielema.
A College Football Playoff appearance this season would be nothing short of magical and would put a surging Illinois program on the map nationally.
This was a lot of fun to do. Now, after a pure sim of the Illini (I seriously did not touch a thing), it's time for you and me to build a dynasty and take home some virtual national titles.
I'll leave my fellow sickos with some end-of-year stats below. Let's hope EA got it right. I-L-L.
End of Year Stats
QB Luke Altmyer: 3,343 yards, 28 TDs, 6 INTs
RB Kaden Feagin: 151 carries, 814 yards, 14 TDs
RB Aidan Laughery (9 games): 164 carries, 733 yards, 11 TDs
WR Collin Dixon: 71 receptions, 1,049 yards, 10 TDs
TE Tanner Arkin: 64 receptions, 636 yards, 2 TDs
WR Hudson Clement: 59 receptions, 616 yards, 2 TDs
WR Justin Bowick: 38 receptions, 416 yards, 8 TDs
LB Dylan Rosiek: 79 tackles, 1 INT
CB Xavier Scott: 71 tackles
EDGE Leon Lowery: 71 tackles, 16 TFLs, 12 sacks
CB Torrie Cox: 65 tackles, 2 INTs
CB Kaleb Patterson: 34 tackles, 4 INTs
EDGE Gabe Jacas: 38 tackles, 15 TFLs, 8.5 sacks
K David Olano: 15 of 18 FG, long of 53, 59 touchbacks
P Keelan Crimmins: 13 punts inside the 20, 46.5-yard average