1986 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1986 Illinois Fighting Illini football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 4–7 3–5 Mike White 7th Keith Jones Scott Davis Sam Ellsworth Mark Dennis Shane Lamb Memorial Stadium The 1986 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their seventh year under head coach Mike White, the Fighting Illini compiled a 4–7 record (3–5 in conference game), tied for sixth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 299 to 189.1986 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 25, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1986-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Shane Lamb (1,414 passing yards, 50.7% completion percentage), running back Keith Jones (534 rushing yards, 4.0 yards per carry), wide receiver Stephen Pierce (43 receptions for 602 yards), and kicker Chris Siambekos (61 points, 19 of 20 extra points, 14 of 19 field goals).1986 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 25, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1986.html The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1986 AP September 6 w y Louisville Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 23–0 72,822 https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-illini-trump-cards/170674321/ Quad-City Times Illini trump Cards September 7, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com September 13 l y y USC Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 16–31 51,496 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-southern-califor/170829095/ The Cincinnati Enquirer Southern California trips Illinois, 31–16 September 14, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com September 20 l y Nebraska 6 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 14–59 75,869 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star-huskers-take-fight/170802144/ Lincoln Journal Star Huskers take fight out of Illini September 21, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 4 l y Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck 0–14 90,030 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-ohio-st-shuts-out-the-i/170895984/ Chicago Tribune Ohio St. shuts out the Illini October 5, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 11 w Purdue Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 34–27 73,720 https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press-illinois-l/170892132/ Evansville Courier and Press Illinois' late TD subdues Boilers October 12, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 18 l Michigan State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 21–29 75,083 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-illini-drop-decision-to-m/170896102/ The Pantagraph Illini drop decision to Michigan State October 19, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com October 25 l y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 9–15 76,983 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-reporter-defense-keys-badgers-over-i/170891081/ The Reporter Defense keys Badgers over Illini October 26, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 1 l y Michigan 3 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 13–69 104,122 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-total-collapse-illini/170896212/ Herald and Review Total collapse: Illini blown out 69–13 November 2, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 w Iowa 16 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 20–16 75,190 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-hayden-frys-worry-is/170896305/ Omaha World-Herald Hayden Fry's worry is justified after Iowa upset by Illinois 20–16 November 9, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 w y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 21–16 34,572 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-spoilsport-illinois-bowl/170896414/ Chicago Tribune Spoilsport Illinois bowls over Indiana November 16, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com November 22 l Northwestern Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 18–23 70,568 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/131775443/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Northwestern defeats Illinois 23–18 November 23, 1986 April 22, 2025 Newspapers.com Games summaries No. 6 Nebraska Nebraska at Illinois [box score] No. 6 Cornhuskers Fighting Illini 28 10 14 7 0 7 0 7 September 20, 1986 Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois CDT 75,865 Skip Caray (play-by-play), Paul Hornung (analyst) Turner Sports 1986 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team At Ohio State Illinois at Ohio State Fighting Illini 0 0 0 0 Buckeyes 0 14 0 0 October 4 Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio EDT 90,030 At No. 3 Michigan Illinois at Michigan Fighting Illini 10 3 0 0 No. 3 Wolverines 7 20 21 21 November 1 Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan 104,122 yes 1 3 12:03 ILL Chris Siambekos 47-yard field goal ILL 3–0 5:24 MICH Jim Harbaugh 13-yard run (Mike Gillette kick) MICH 7–3 0:11 ILL Brian Menkhausen 3-yard run (Siambekos kick) ILL 10–7 2 5 9:38 MICH Gillette 20-yard field goal TIE 10–10 4:13 MICH Bob Perryman 1-yard run (Gillette kick) MICH 17–10 2:15 MICH Paul Jokisch 41-yard pass from Harbaugh (Gillette kick) MICH 24–10 0:26 MICH Gillette 52-yard field goal MICH 27–10 0:00 ILL Siambekos 44-yard field goal MICH 27–13 3 3 10:55 MICH Harbaugh 1-yard run (Gillette kick) MICH 34–13 8:12 MICH Perryman 25-yard run (Gillette kick) MICH 41–13 4:27 MICH Thomas Wilcher 8-yard run (Gillette kick) MICH 48–13 4 3 13:03 MICH Chris Zurbrugg 1-yard run (Gillette kick) MICH 55–13 10:10 MICH Zurbrugg 1-yard run (Gillette kick) MICH 62–13 2:26 MICH Taylor 6-yard run (Gillette kick) MICH 69–13 yes 1986 Michigan Wolverines football team MSU rocks and U-M rolls: Michigan nails Illini – 69-13 The Detroit Free Press Tommy George November 2, 1986 1D, 12D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/43584837/msu_rocks_and_um_rolls_michigan_nails/ Newspapers.com July 23, 2022 No. 16 Iowa Iowa at Illinois No. 16 Hawkeyes 3 7 0 6 Fighting Illini 0 0 7 13 November 8 Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois CST 75,190 yes 1 IOWA Houghtlin 36-yard field goal IOWA 3–0 2 IOWA Hudson 2-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 10–0 3 Illinois Pierce 54-yard pass from Menkhausen (Siambekos kick) IOWA 10–7 4 4 Illinois Menkhausen 1-yard run (Siambekos kick) Illinois 14–10 Illinois Siambekos 29-yard field goal Illinois 17–10 Illinois Siambekos 42-yard field goal Illinois 20–10 IOWA Harmon 3-yard run (pass failed) Illinois 20–16 yes 1986 Iowa Hawkeyes football team November 10, 1986 Illinois Remembers To Pay Back Iowa https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/11/10/illinois-remembers-to-pay-back-iowa/ Chicago Tribune July 23, 2022 References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football Category:Long stubs with short prose