Illinois football season tickets sold out Wednesday for the first time in 20 years, the program announced.
“We set our expectations high and you met them,” the team posted on social media.
According to a press release from the Illinois athletic department, fans have purchased tickets for all seven home games, including key Big Ten matchups against Ohio State and USC.
“Illinois has sold over 34,000 public season tickets, which excludes students and premium seating numbers,” a portion of the release stated. “The Fighting Illini’s final season ticket total for kickoff against Western Illinois on Friday, Aug. 29, is expected to exceed 43,000.”
The sellout comes on the same day the Illini landed three recruits on the recruiting trail, including four-star dual-sport athlete Nasir Rankin from Morgan Park High School in Chicago and three-star defensive end King Liggins from Brother Rice High School.
With 16 commitments, Illinois now ranks No. 8 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings for the 2026 recruiting class.
This success aligns with coach Bret Bielema’s vision for the program’s future.
“I really do care what’s happened in the past [here] — but I don’t care,” Bielema said. “I am very respectful of everything that’s been built to come here, but I also think we’ve been weighted down by the past.”
The Illini open their season against Western Illinois in Champaign on Friday, August 29.
With 100 days until kickoff, expectations continue to build for what could be a breakthrough season for Illinois football.
We set our expectations high and you met them.
2025 season tickets are sold out. pic.twitter.com/kcfdJXj6Da
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) May 21, 2025
