Fueled by five takeaways, the Fighting Illini put on a second-half masterclass. They outscored Duke 31-6 after the break, leaning on that defense while quarterback Luke Altmyer threw for 296 yards and three scores. Illinois is lurking as a threat to top-tier Big Ten programs Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon.

ESPN bowl gurus Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are projecting every postseason matchup, including their breakdowns of how the playoff will play out, and we'll be back every week of the season until the actual matchups are set. Friday, Dec. 19/Saturday, Dec. 20

There are still eight weeks before the College Football Playoff (CFP) Committee releases their first rankings for the 2025 season, but already there have been t