Illinois Fighting Illini

The School

On July 2, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act. As a result the Illinois Industrial University enrolled its first student in March 1868. 22 years later they played their first season of football.

The Mascot

The first known use of "Illini" dates to around 1874, and "Fighting Illini" to 1911. The University has since trademarked the term. While the logo uses Native American imagery, some say it is not in reference to the tribes that lived there.

At A Glance

Last Game

Next Game

Bret Bielema
623-625-50
15
5
Nov 25, 2023
Northwestern
43-45 L
Memorial Stadium (IL)
No Games Scheduled

Season Summary

Season Record Week 1
Rank (AP)
Final Rank
(AP/CFP)
Conf
Champs
Nat
Champs
2023 5-7
2022 8-5
2021 5-7
2020 2-6
2019 7-6
2018 4-8
2017 2-10
2016 3-9
2015 5-7
2014 7-6
2013 4-8
2012 2-10
2011 7-6
2010 7-6
2009 3-9
2008 5-7
2007 10-3
2006 2-10
2005 2-9
2004 3-8
2003 1-11
2002 5-7
2001 10-2
2000 5-6
1999 8-4
1998 3-8
1997 0-11
1996 2-9
1995 4-6 #25
1994 8-5
1993 5-6
1992 6-5
1991 6-6
1990 8-4
1989 9-3 #11/-
1988 6-5
1987 3-7
1986 4-7
1985 6-5
1984 7-4
1983 10-2
1982 7-5
1981 6-5
1980 3-7
1979 2-8
1978 1-8
1977 3-8
1976 5-6
1975 5-6
1974 6-4
1973 5-6
1972 3-8
1971 5-6
1970 3-7
1969 0-10
1968 1-9
1967 4-6
1966 4-6
1965 6-4
1964 6-3
1963 8-1
1962 2-7
1961 0-9
1960 5-4
1959 5-3
1958 4-5
1957 4-5
1956 2-5
1955 5-3
1954 1-8
1953 7-1
1952 4-5
1951 9-0
1950 7-2
1949 3-4
1948 3-6
1947 5-3
1946 8-2
1945 2-6
1944 5-4
1943 3-7
1942 6-4
1941 2-6
1940 1-7
1939 3-4
1938 3-5
1937 3-3
1936 4-3
1935 3-5
1934 7-1
1933 5-3
1932 5-4
1931 2-6
1930 3-5
1929 6-1
1928 7-1
1927 7-0
1926 6-2
1925 5-3
1924 6-1
1923 8-0
1922 2-5
1921 3-4
1920 5-2
1919 6-1
1918 5-2
1917 5-2
1916 3-3
1915 5-0
1914 7-0
1913 4-2
1912 3-3
1911 4-2
1910 7-0
1909 5-2
1908 5-1
1907 3-2
1906 1-3
1905 5-4
1904 9-2
1903 8-6
1902 10-2
1901 8-2
1900 7-3
1899 3-5
1898 4-5
1897 6-2
1896 4-2
1895 4-2
1894 4-3
1893 3-2
1892 7-4
1890 0-1
Team
The Team. The Team. The Team.