1989 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1989 Illinois Fighting Illini football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 10 10 10–2 7–1 John Mackovic 2nd Gene Dahlquist 2nd Lou Tepper 2nd Mike Bellamy Moe Gardner Craig Schneider Steve Glasson Mike Bellamy Moe Gardner Memorial Stadium Florida Citrus Bowl champion Florida Citrus Bowl W 31–21 vs. Virginia The 1989 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach John Mackovic, the Fighting Illini compiled a 10–2 record (7–1 in conference games), finished in second place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 301 to 161. Illinois concluded its season in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl, defeating Virginia by a 31–21 score. They were ranked No. 10 in the final AP and UPI polls.1989 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1989-schedule.html Quarterback Jeff George led the Big Ten with 216 completions, 348 pass attempts, 2,417 passing yards, and 19 passing touchdowns. George won the Sammy Baugh Trophy as the best quarterback in college football. The team's other statistical leaders included fullback Howard Griffith (654 rushing yards, 66 points scored) and wide receiver Mike Bellamy (51 receptions for 761 yards).1989 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1989.html Nine Illinois players received first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press International (UPI) on the 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team: George at quarterback (AP-1, UPI-1); Bellamy at wide receiver (AP-2, UPI-1); center Curt Lovelace (AP-1); defensive linemen Mel Agee (AP-1, UPI-1) and Moe Gardner (AP-1, UPI-1); linebacker Darrick Brownlow (AP-1, UPI-1): and defensive backs Henry Jones (AP-1, UPI-1) and Marlon Primous (AP-2, UPI-1).Indiana's Thompson heads All-Big Ten team The Daily Reporter (AP story) November 30, 1989 5 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1926&dat=19891129&id=l2UrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_tkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1360,7396547&hl=enUPI All-Big Ten team Detroit Free Press November 30, 1989 6F https://freep.newspapers.com/clip/3746151/upi_all_big_ten_team/ Schedule 1989 AP Central September 4 7:00 pm w y y 22 USC 5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC 14–13 54,622 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-news-illinois-rally-jolts-so/174072977/ The Courier-News Illinois rally jolts Southern California September 5, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com September 16 2:30 pm l y y 10 Colorado 8 Folsom Field Boulder, CO CBS 7–38 46,747 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-colorado-hopes-to-climb-a/174119265/ The Tennessean Colorado hopes to climb after scaling Illinois September 17, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com September 23 1:00 pm w y 20 Utah State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 41–2 61,553 https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-illini-have-it-their-way/174091190/ Quad-City Times Illini have it their way with Aggies September 24, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com October 7 2:30 pm w 18 Ohio State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck ABC 34–14 69,088 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-mail-illini-pass-and-catch-whi/174181795/ Sunday Herald-Times Illini pass-and-catch whips Buckeyes, 34–14 October 8, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com October 14 1:00 pm w y 16 Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 14–2 41,101 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kokomo-tribune-positive-akers-please/174182019/ The Kokomo Tribune Positive Akers pleased with his Boilermakers October 15, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com October 21 11:30 am w y 13 Michigan State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI ESPN 14–10 76,216 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-spartans-fumble-sets-u/174182137/ The Saginaw News Spartan's fumble sets up Illini victory October 22, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com October 28 1:00 pm w y 8 Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 32–9 64,856 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-illinois-remains-on-top/174182273/ Star Tribune Illinois remains on top October 29, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com November 4 2:30 pm w y 8 Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA ABC 31–7 67,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-illini-get-well-rounded-e/174182369/ The Pantagraph Illini get well-rounded effort in win over Iowa November 5, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com November 11 2:30 pm l 8 Michigan 3 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry ABC 10–24 73,069 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-victory-puts-mic/174181192/ Wisconsin State Journal Victory puts Michigan in driver's seat November 12, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com November 18 2:30 pm w 12 Indiana Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry ABC 41–28 53,368 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-republic-by-george-iu-whipped/174182482/ The Republic By George, IU whipped November 19, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com November 25 2:00 pm w y 11 Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 63–14 31,017 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-illini-roar-into-citru/174182619/ Herald and Review Illini roar into Citrus Bowl bid November 26, 1989 June 9, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1 12:30 pm w y y 11 Virginia 16 Florida Citrus Bowl Orlando, FL Florida Citrus Bowl ABC 31–21 60,016 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-illinois-just-too-strong/140156187/ St. Petersburg Times Illinois just too strong for Virginia in 31–21 win January 2, 1990 February 3, 2024 Newspapers.com Rankings 1989 NCAA Division I-A football rankings Game summaries Ohio State Illibuck Illinois Fighting Illini 2; text-align:center collapsed Ohio State Buckeyes (2–1) at #18 Illinois Fighting Illini (2–1) October 7 2:30 p.m. CST Ohio St 0 7 7 0 Illinois 7 3 14 10 Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois 69,088 Sunny, 54 F C Gil Marchman ABC Box Score First quarter ILL – Howard Griffith 1-yard run (Doug Higgins kick), 1:01. Illinois 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 45 yards, 1:59. Second quarter OSU – Carlos Snow 7-yard run (Pat O'Morrow kick), 13:31. Tie 7–7. Drive: 7 plays, 66 yards, 2:30. ILL – Doug Higgins 26-yard field goal, 9:07. Illinois 10–7. Drive: 11 plays, 49 yards, 4:24. Third quarter ILL – Howard Griffith 5-yard run (Chris Siambekos kick), 8:57. Illinois 17–7. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 3:49. OSU – Jeff Graham 66-yard punt return (Pat O'Morrow kick), 4:22. Illinois 17–14. ILL – Mike Bellamy 34-yard pass from Steve Williams (Chris Siambekos kick), 3:30. Illinois 24–14. Drive: 3 plays, 60 yards, 0:52. Fourth quarter ILL – Chris Siambekos 36-yard field goal, 14:49. Illinois 27–14. Drive: 7 plays, 11 yards, 2:26. ILL – Ken Thomas 36-yard run (Chris Siambekos kick), 3:27. Illinois 34–14. Drive: 10 plays, 99 yards, 4:17. Top passers OSU – Greg Frey – 13/25, 137 yards, INT ILL – Jeff George – 12/20, 130 yards, 2 INT Top rushers OSU – Carlos Snow – 21 rushes, 97 yards, TD ILL – Howard Griffith – 20 rushes, 117 yards, 2 TD Top receivers OSU – Jeff Graham – 5 receptions, 71 yards ILL – Mike Bellamy – 10 receptions, 152 yards, TD At Purdue Purdue Cannon Illinois Fighting Illini 2; text-align:center collapsed #16 Illinois Fighting Illini (3–1) at Purdue Boilermakers (1–3) October 14, 1989 Illinois 7 0 0 7 Purdue 0 0 0 2 Ross–Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana 41,101 Jeff George made his first appearance at Purdue since transferring following the 1986 seasonhttps://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/10/14/Jeff-George-threw-a-3-yard-touchdown-pass-to-Frank/3427624340800/ Illinois 14, Purdue 2 Slater Jim October 14, 1989 UPI Archives December 23, 2022 https://historicalnewspapers.lib.purdue.edu/?a=d&d=PE19891016-01.1.24&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN--------1 Purdue Defense Shines in Loss Tatlock David October 16, 1989 The Purdue Exponent Archives December 23, 2022 https://historicalnewspapers.lib.purdue.edu/?a=d&d=PE19891016-01.1.24&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN--------1 Boiler Defense Goes to Waste as Illinois Wins Youmans Matt October 16, 1989 The Purdue Exponent Archives December 23, 2022 left Illinois Fighting Illini Illinois Purdue Boilermakers Purdue Jeff George 24/42, 254 Yds, TD Howard Griffith 24 Rush, 94 Yds, TD Jeff Lesniewicz 9/22, 82 Yds ILL PUR collapsed 1 9:49 Illinois 16 80 RecTD Frank Hartley Jeff George 3 good run/pass good/failed/incomplete 7 0 4 12:13 Purdue SafetyOther Safety, Craig Davisson blocked punt by Brian Menkhausen out of end zone 7 2 4 0:36 Illinois 80 RushTD Howard Griffith 1 good run/pass good/failed/incomplete 14 2 14 2 Florida Citrus Bowl (vs. Virginia) Illinois vs. Virginia No. 11 Fighting Illini 7 10 7 7 No. 16 Cavaliers 0 7 7 7 January 1 Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Florida EST 60,016 ABC 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl 1989 Virginia Cavaliers football team Roster 1989 Illinois Fighting Illini f Kameno Bell RB 2 Sr Mike Bellamy WR y Victor Bowlay-Williams RB Darren Boyer RB Dan Donovan TE Steve Feagin RB Jeff Finke TE 11 Jr Jeff George QB y 29 Jr Howard Griffith RB y 82 Jr Frank Hartley Frank Hartley (American football) TE y 79 So Brad Hopkins OT y Jeff Kinney QB Tony Laster OL Wagner Lester RB Curt Lovelace OL Gus Palma WR Cam Pepper OL Luke Petraitis WR Alfred Pierce RB Dino Pollock WR Craig Schneider OL Errol Shavers RB Dave Silva WR 69 So Tim Simpson Tim Simpson (American football) C y Art Slowinski RB Ken Thomas RB Jason Verduzco QB Shawn Wax WR Steve Williams WR 96 Jr Mel Agee DT y Romero Brice LB Julyon Brown LB 48 Jr Darrick Brownlow LB y 95 Jr Moe Gardner DT y Steve Glasson LB 33 Jr Chris Green Chris Green (American football) DB y Jason Guard LB Mike Hopkins Michael S. Hopkins DB 18 Jr Henry Jones Henry Jones (American football) DB y 37 Jr Steve Nelson DB Quintin Parker DB Marlon Primous DB Sean Streeter DL Brian Williams LB Doug Higgins K Brian Menkhausen P Chris Siambekos K *John Mackovic 2015-12-20 Awards and honors Jeff George, Sammy Baugh Trophyhttp://www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com/Awards.htm#SAMMY Awards www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com https://web.archive.org/web/20110717080156/http://www.touchdownclubofcolumbus.com/Awards.htm live 2011-07-17 1990 NFL draft Player Round Pick Position Club Jeff George 1 1 Quarterback Indianapolis Colts Mike Bellamy 2 50 Wide receiver Philadelphia Eagles https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1990.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071220211214/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1990.htm 2007-12-20 1990 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com Pro-Football-Reference.com References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Category:Citrus Bowl champion seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football Category:Long stubs with short prose