CHAMPAIGN - While coach Ron Zook is trying to keep the blitz of attention and accolades at arm's length, others around the country are elevating the University of Illinois football team to the highest levels of college football.

Five victories in a row and a jump to No. 18 in the Associated Press poll have people talking about the Illini, and some apparently feel the team's 5-1 record is no fluke. Some must think Illinois is just getting warmed up.

On the Fox Sports Web site this week, where it regularly updates its 2007 bowl predictions, Illinois is projected to meet Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.

Fox concludes that Ohio State will meet LSU in the national championship game Jan. 7 in New Orleans and is guessing that the Rose Bowl would invite an Illini team that hasn't visited Pasadena since Jan. 2, 1984.

Chew on that for a minute, Illini fans.

Illini vs. USC. Rose Bowl. Jan. 1, 2008.

CBS isn't quite so bold but foresees an Illinois vs. South Carolina matchup in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla. That would make for a spicy storyline, pairing Zook against Steve Spurrier, the man he replaced as head coach at the University of Florida.

This is the time of year when publications and Web sites publish lists such as "Coaches on the hot seat," and, "Who's Under Fire?," so it's nice when a team can land on a list that projects New Year's Day bowls.

All of which makes Zook shake his head. The entire business of looking ahead and speculating on the future runs contrary to the message he's driving home to his team as it prepares to play Saturday at Iowa.

"All we talk about is Iowa," Zook said. "Like I told our players, if someone asks you something aside from Iowa, the answer is Iowa."

Zook admits Illinois' rush of success has thrown more demands his way. There are more national media requests, more letters and more e-mails, some of which have pleased him a great deal.

"One of the things I like best is that I get e-mails from former players I don't know and haven't had an opportunity to meet yet," Zook said Tuesday. "It's all about the Illini football program, about the people who have played here.

"(Ron) Guenther is my boss, but he also played here in a great era. He's excited about it as well."

While Zook, his staff and his players try to stay focused on this week's opponent, some university officials have no choice but to look ahead to the following game, Oct. 20 at home against Michigan.

ESPN already has contacted Illinois about the possibility of bringing its popular GameDay show to Champaign. And while nothing is certain, a visit from hosts Chris Fowler, Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard would bring a rock-show atmosphere to Memorial Stadium.

Kent Brown, Illinois' assistant athletic director for media relations, said the GameDay group would likely set up its stage inside Memorial Stadium for its morning show while Illinois figured out a way to inspire 10,000 or so students and fans to pack in around the stage.

The stage would be dismantled and taken out of the stadium in time for the evening's activities to begin prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff.

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No. 18 Illinois vs. Iowa

When: 11:10 a.m., Saturday

Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City

Records: Illinois 5-1, 3-0; Iowa 2-4, 0-3

TV/radio: ESPN2, WTRX-FM (93.7), WPXN-FM (104.9), WJEZ-FM (98.9)