ILLINOIS
FOOTBALL
FIGHTING ILLINI
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OFFENSE
DEFENSE
Peters started five games last season, throwing for 429 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 136 rushing yards and one score.
BIG 10 FOOTBALL
HOW ILLINOIS COMPARES
Historical statistical comparison (2000-2020)
Number of wins each season
Points
AP rank
Wins
Wins
Points
AP rank
Memorial Stadium
Opened: November, 1923
Top crowd: 78,297, Illinois versus Missouri, October 1984
History of the stadium video
- Memorial Stadium hosted the first Farm Aid concert, held in 1985.
Did you know?
AUG 28
Nebraska
VS
UTSA
VS
SEP 4
Virginia
AT
SEP 11
Maryland
VS
SEP 17
Purdue
AT
SEP 25
Charlotte
VS
OCT 2
Penn State
AT
OCT 23
Wisconsin
VS
OCT 9
North-
westerm
VS
NOV 27
Minnesota
AT
NOV 6
Rutgers
VS
OCT 30
Iowa
AT
NOV 20
FIGHTING ILLINI history
Seasons: 130 (1892 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, Western, Ind
Conf. championships: 15
Bowl record: 19 Bowls, 8-11
Seasons: 10 (2012 to 2021)
Conferences: CUSA, WAC
Conference championships: 0
Bowl record: 2 Bowls, 0-2
UTSA Roadrunner history
Seasons: 118 (1890 to 2021)
Conferences: ACC, Southern, Ind
Conference championships: 2
Bowl record: 212 Bowls, 8-13
Virginia Cavaliers history
Seasons: 133 (1889 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, Western, MVIAA, Ind
Conference championships: 12
Bowl record: 33 Bowls, 17-15-1
Iowa Hawkeyes history
Seasons: 105 (1917 to 2021)
Conf: Big Ten, ACC, Southern, Ind
Conference championships: 11
Bowl record: 27 Bowls, 11-14-2
Maryland Terrapins history
Seasons: 107 (1869 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, American, Big East, Ind
Conference championships: 1
Bowl record: 10 Bowls, 6-4
Rutgers Scarlet Knights history
Illinois
Nebraska
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
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Rutgers
Nebraska
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers
AP rank
AP rank
Points
Points
Wins
Wins
Average points scored each game
Illinois
Nebraska
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers
Nebraska
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers
AP rank
AP rank
Points
Points
Wins
Wins
Highest ranking in Associated Press poll
Illinois
Nebraska
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers
Nebraska
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers
Drag a jersey number to the correct player
JERSEY NUMBER QUIZ
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Brown led the Illini in rushing last season with 104 carries for 540 yards and three touchdowns, including back-to-back 100-yard games against Rutgers and Nebraska.
Gay, who has been a defensive end throughout his college career, will now play at linebacker. He recorded 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season.
Adams played most of last season at safety due to injuries but will return to his normal position at cornerback. He has snagged five interceptions in his college career.
CLICK
PLAYER
Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press
Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press
TAP
SOURCES: Herald & Review research; Herald & Review file photos; FightingIllini.com; Associated Press photos; bigten.org; sports-reference.com
SOURCES: Herald & Review research; Herald & Review file photos; FightingIllini.com; Associated Press photos; bigten.org; sports-reference.com
Fun fact
The Grange Rock is in honor of Harold E. "Red" Grange, who had six touchdowns in an October 1924 game against Michigan.
Seasons: 128 (1892 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, Western, Ind
Conference championships: 8
Bowl record: 16 Bowls, 6-10
Northwestern Wildcats history
Seasons: 7 (2015 to 2021)
Conferences: CUSA
Conference championships: 0
Bowl record: 1 Bowls, 0-1
Charlotte 49ers history
Seasons: 130 (1892 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, Western, Ind
Conference championships: 14
Bowl record: 32 Bowls, 17-15
Wisconsin Badgers history
Seasons: 128 (1889 to 221)
Conferences: Big Ten, Ind
Conference championships: 4
Bowl record: 50 Bowls, 30-18-2
Penn State Nittany Lions history
Watch video
- Names of 200 World War I casualties from Illinois are listed on columns
Illinois
Illinois
Number of wins each season
The Herald & Review’s James Boyd is on the field and in the press box. Get updates to your inbox.
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Hansen initially declared for the 2021 NFL Draft but decided to return for another year of college. His 10 forced fumbles are tied for the third-most in Illini history.
Seasons: 130 (1892 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, Western, Ind
Conference championships: 18
Bowl record: 21 Bowls, 9-12
Minnesota Golden Gophers history
Seasons: 130 (1892 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, Western, Ind
Conference championships: 8
Bowl record: 19 Bowls, 10-9
Purdue Boilermakers history
Seasons: 122 (1900 to 2021)
Conf: Big Ten, Big 12, Big 8, Big 7, Big 6, MVIAA, Ind
Conference championships: 43
Bowl record: 53 Bowls, 26-27
Nebraska Cornhuskers history
Nebraska
VS
AUG 28
UTSA
VS
SEP 4
Virginia
AT
SEP 11
Maryland
VS
SEP 17
Wisconsin
VS
OCT 9
Purdue
AT
SEP 25
Charlotte
VS
OCT 2
Penn State
AT
OCT 23
Rutgers
VS
OCT 30
Minnesota
AT
NOV 6
Iowa
AT
NOV 20
North-
westerm
VS
NOV 27
Seasons: 10 (2012 to 2021)
Conferences: CUSA, WAC
Conference championships: 0
Bowl record: 2 Bowls, 0-2
UTSA Roadrunner history
Seasons: 118 (1890 to 2021)
Conferences: ACC, Southern, Ind
Conference championships: 2
Bowl record: 212 Bowls, 8-13
Virginia Cavaliers history
Seasons: 105 (1917 to 2021)
Conf: Big Ten, ACC, Southern, Ind
Conference championships: 11
Bowl record: 27 Bowls, 11-14-2
Maryland Terrapins history
Seasons: 7 (2015 to 2021)
Conferences: CUSA
Conference championships: 0
Bowl record: 1 Bowls, 0-1
Charlotte 49ers history
Seasons: 130 (1892 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, Western, Ind
Conference championships: 14
Bowl record: 32 Bowls, 17-15
Wisconsin Badgers history
Seasons: 128 (1889 to 221)
Conferences: Big Ten, Ind
Conference championships: 4
Bowl record: 50 Bowls, 30-18-2
Penn State Nittany Lions history
Seasons: 107 (1869 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, American, Big East, Ind
Conference championships: 1
Bowl record: 10 Bowls, 6-4
Rutgers Scarlet Knights history
Seasons: 133 (1889 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, Western, MVIAA, Ind
Conference championships: 12
Bowl record: 33 Bowls, 17-15-1
Iowa Hawkeyes history
Seasons: 128 (1892 to 2021)
Conferences: Big Ten, Western, Ind
Conference championships: 8
Bowl record: 16 Bowls, 6-10
Northwestern Wildcats history
Peters started five games last season, throwing for 429 yards and three touchdowns to go along with 136 rushing yards and one score.
HOMETOWN
AVON, IN
HEIGHT
6'5"
WEIGHT
220 LBS
#18 Brandon Peters
Holly Har/Associated Press
YEAR
Senior
POSITION
Quarterback
Brown led the Illini in rushing last season with 104 carries for 540 yards and three touchdowns, including back-to-back 100-yard games against Rutgers and Nebraska.
HOMETOWN
London, Ontario
HEIGHT
5'11"
WEIGHT
200 LBS
Adam Hunger/Associated Press
YEAR
Sophomore
POSITION
Running
back
#2 Chase Brown
Barker is Illinois’ top returning receiver. He totaled 19 receptions for 268 yards and two touchdowns last year.
HOMETOWN
Fort Lauderdale, Fl
HEIGHT
6'4"
WEIGHT
250 LBS
Bruce Kluckhohn/Associated Press
YEAR
Junior
POSITION
Tight end
#87 Daniel Barker
Hansen initially declared for the 2021 NFL Draft but decided to return for another year of college. His 10 forced fumbles are tied for the third-most in Illini history.
HOMETOWN
Tarpon Springs, Fl
HEIGHT
6'1"
WEIGHT
230 LBS
Jim Bowling/Herald & Review
YEAR
SEnior
POSITION
Linebacker
#35 Jake Hansen
Gay, who has been a defensive end throughout his college career, will now play at linebacker. He recorded 19 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season.
HOMETOWN
Nashville, NC
HEIGHT
6'3"
WEIGHT
240 LBS
Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press
YEAR
SEnior
POSITION
Linebacker
#92 Isaiah Gay
Adams played most of last season at safety due to injuries but will return to his normal position at cornerback. He has snagged five interceptions in his college career.
HOMETOWN
Belleville, Il
HEIGHT
6'0"
WEIGHT
200 LBS
Darron Cummings/Associated Press
YEAR
SEnior
POSITION
Defensive back
#6 Tony Adams
Barker is Illinois’ top returning receiver. He totaled 19 receptions for 268 yards and two touchdowns last year.
