CHAMPAIGN - No more sneaking under the radar, no more lurking in the shadows.

The University of Illinois officially marched into the spotlight of college football's elite Sunday, rising to No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Illinois checked in at No. 19 in the USA Today coaches' poll, bringing consensus to the belief that in the third year of a rebuilding project being shaped by head coach Ron Zook, Illinois is now among the 20 best teams in America.

Even Zook, who votes in the coaches' poll, reluctantly admitted he included his team on this week's ballot after Illinois defeated fifth-ranked Wisconsin 31-26 on Saturday.

"I did vote us in," Zook said Sunday during his weekly "day-after" teleconference. "I don't think it matters where. Really, any time you are ranked, it's an honor, a privilege. But it doesn't really mean anything until it's over.

"Like I told our team after the game, it's very, very important you understand what you've accomplished, but at the same time we really haven't accomplished anything. None of our goals have been met yet. We still have a long, long way to go."

It's the first time the Illini have found a spot in the Top 25 since the 2001 season. Illinois was ranked No. 7 after winning the outright Big Ten Conference title that year, then finished the season ranked No. 12 after losing to LSU in the Sugar Bowl.

Illinois is 5-1 overall, 3-0 in the Big Ten and is riding a five-game winning streak heading into this week's game at Iowa. That includes consecutive victories over nationally ranked teams (No. 21 Penn State and No. 5 Wisconsin).

Illinois' only loss came in the season opener, 40-34, to a Missouri team that improved to 5-0 Saturday night with an impressive 41-6 victory over Nebraska.

Missouri climbed to No. 11 in this week's Associated Press poll.

"I watched the end of the Missouri game last night," Zook said, "and told my wife, 'I told you these guys are good.' "

When Zook arrived at Illinois before the 2005 season, he had just been fired at Florida and signed a five-year contract with the promise to improve the athleticism and attitude of an Illini program that sagged badly after that 2001 championship run.

Illinois won just two games and was routinely beaten badly in 2005, then became much more competitive in 2006, even though the victory total again reached just two.

Now, with outstanding recruiting classes beginning to return dividends, and at 5-1 halfway through the 2007 season, it makes sense that Illini Director of Athletics Ron Guenther talk contract extension with Zook.

Zook said Sunday that conversation already is underway.

"We have talked," Zook confirmed. "The way I understand it, I'll have the opportunity to be here a long time, and that's what I want. I also understand they want production, and that's what we tell our players; it's a production-based business."

Zook is signed through 2009 but said a lack of an extension should not affect recruiting.

"People realize our program is on pretty stable ground. We're all going to be around here for a while.

"The contract issue is not something I'm going to even think about now," Zook said. "It's the least of my worries because I know it's going to be handled."

Zook was upbeat Sunday and said he'd already met with many of his players, including a number who were banged up in the physical battle that ended the Badgers' 14-game winning streak.

They include quarterback Juice Williams (hyperextended knee) and receiver Rejus Benn (sprained shoulder), both of whom Zook said he expects to play against Iowa.

"They're both a little sore," Zook said. "That was as physical a game as I've been involved with. I think both teams are pretty banged up. (Receiver) Brian Gamble has a sore ankle. (Defensive back) Chris Duvalt has a sore shoulder. (Safety) Justin Harrison has a sore back. But I think we're in pretty good shape, really."

Now that Illinois is in the Top 25, Zook made it clear there's a new theme for all Illini football players to embrace: Celebrate where you are, but never forget where you were and what it took to get here.

Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com or 421-7983.