Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois Fighting Illini football
	Current season:; 2025 Illinois Fighting Illini
First season	1890
Head coach	Bret Bielema
	4th year, 18–19 (.486)
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium (Champaign)
Stadium capacity	60,670; Record: 78,297
Stadium surface	FieldTurf
Location	Champaign, Illinois
Conference	Big 10
Division	West
	All-time history
Illinois Fighting Illini Historical Teams
All-time record	609–597–50 (.505)
Postseason bowl record	8–11 (.421)
Claimed national titles	5 (1914, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1951)
Conference titles	15 (1910, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1919, 1923, 1927, 1928, 1946, 1951, 1953, 1963, 1983, 1990, 2001)
Rivalries	Northwestern Wildcats (rivalry); Missouri Tigers (rivalry); Purdue Boilermakers (rivalry); Ohio State Buckeyes (rivalry)
Consensus All-Americans	24
	Current uniform
Colors	Orange and Blue ;
Fight song	Illinois Loyalty and Oskee Wow Wow
Marching band	Marching Illini
Outfitter	Nike
Website	fightingillini.com

The Illinois Fighting Illini football team represents the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign located in Champaign, Illinois. The Fighting Illini are a member of the NCAA FBS Big Ten Conference and play their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. The Illini are currently coached by Bret Bielema.

Seasons[]

2020s[]

Season	Coach	Record
2025	Bret Bielema
2024	Bret Bielema	10-3
2023	Bret Bielema	5-7
2022	Bret Bielema	8-5
2021	Bret Bielema	5-7
2020	Lovie Smith	2-6

2010s[]

Season	Coach	Record
2019	Lovie Smith	6-7
2018	Lovie Smith	4-8
2017	Lovie Smith	2-10
2016	Lovie Smith	3-9
2015	Tim Beckman; Bill Cubit	5-7
2014	Tim Beckman	6-7
2013	Tim Beckman	4-8
2012	Tim Beckman	2-10
2011	Ron Zook; Vic Koennig	7-6
2010	Ron Zook	7-6

2000s[]

Season	Coach	Record
2009	Ron Zook	3-9
2008	Ron Zook	5-7
2007	Ron Zook	9-4
2006	Ron Zook	2-10
2005	Ron Zook	2-9
2004	Ron Turner	3-8
2003	Ron Turner	1-11
2002	Ron Turner	5-7
2001	Ron Turner	10-2
2000	Ron Turner	5-6

1990s[]

Season	Coach	Record
1999	Ron Turner	8-4
1998	Ron Turner	3-8
1997	Ron Turner	0-11
1996	Lou Tepper	2-9
1995	Lou Tepper	5-5-1
1994	Lou Tepper	7-5
1993	Lou Tepper	5-6
1992	Lou Tepper	6-5-1
1991	John Mackovic; Lou Tepper	6-6
1990	John Mackovic	8-4

1980s[]

Season	Coach	Record
1989	John Mackovic	10-2
1988	John Mackovic	6-5-1
1987	Mike White	3-7-1
1986	Mike White	4-7
1985	Mike White	6-5-1
1984	Mike White	7-4
1983	Mike White	10-2
1982	Mike White	7-5
1981	Mike White	7-4
1980	Mike White	3-7-1

Notable Alumni[]

Dick Butkus, NFL Hall of Famer
Jeff George, Former NFL QB
Red Grange, College & NFL Hall of Famer
Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers RB

Logos/Uniforms/Helmets[]

Image gallery[]

Rivalries[]

Illinois has four series against teams that generally are considered their rival in some form, with three of their rivals being in the Big Ten Conference, Northwestern, Purdue, and Ohio State, with the first two being in the same division as the Fighting Illini. Illinois briefly had a protected rivalry with Indiana in the pre-expansion Big Ten, but the rivalry is much more prevalent in basketball.

Northwestern[]

Main article: Illinois–Northwestern rivalry

Of the four rivalries, the one between them and Northwestern has had the most matchups, with 111. The original trophy was the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk, until it was replaced with the Land of Lincoln Trophy. The Fighting Illini have had periods of dominance in the series, notably winning eleven of twelve matchups from 1908 to 1928. Illinois leads the series 55–51–5 as of 2017, although Northwestern has won the last three games between the two.

Missouri[]

Main article: Illinois–Missouri rivalry

The rivalry between Illinois and Missouri is modeled after the two schools' longstanding basketball rivalry, and it garners the most interest around St. Louis, with both schools having alumni and fans in the area. It has not been played annually, with 24 matchups occurring from 1896 to 2010, with Missouri leading the series 17–7.

Between 2000 and 2010, the schools met in St. Louis six times, with Missouri winning each time. In 2026, the series will be renewed for a four-year period, to be played on campus sites.

Purdue[]

Main article: Illinois–Purdue rivalry

The rivalry with Purdue is the oldest of the four, with their first meeting being in 1890. Illinois has had varied success, such as winning eleven out of twelve games played between 1900 and 1911 and winning six straight from 1988 to 1993. Illinois leads the series 44–43–6, although Purdue has won the last two games.

Ohio State[]

Main article: Illibuck Trophy

The rivalry with Ohio State has occurred since 1902, with the Illibuck trophy (a carved wooden trophy) being a reflection of its longevity, being the 2nd oldest trophy awarded for a Big Ten rivalry game. Ohio State leads the series 68–30–4 (not including the 2010 vacated win), with Ohio State having won the last eight games played. They were members of the same Division (Leaders) upon expansion in 2011, but they were separated in 2014, meaning that they do not meet up each year, although they are guaranteed to meet at least once in a four-year period. Illinois has had varied success in this rivalry, notably winning five straight from 1988 to 1992, although they have not beaten Ohio State since 2007, when Illinois beat #1 Ohio State in Columbus.

External Links[]

Illinois Fighting Illini football article at Wikipedia
Official team site