1965 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1965 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1965 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 6–4 4–3 Pete Elliott 6th Jim Grabowski Jim Grabowski Don Hansen Memorial Stadium The 1965 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1965 Big Ten season. In their sixth season under head coach Pete Elliott, the Fighting Illini compiled a 6–4 (4–3 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents 235 to 118.1965 Illinois Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1965-schedule.html Fullback Jim Grabowski led the Big Ten with 252 rushing carries and 1,258 rushing yards. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the most valuable player in the Big Ten and was a consensus pick for the 1965 All-America team.Fighting Illini Football Record Book University of Illinois 2015 December 29, 2016 155 http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf November 29, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201129040612/http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf dead2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2014 February 10, 2015 7 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/Awards.pdf December 22, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141222163944/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/Awards.pdf dead Grabowski, linebacker Don Hansen, and defensive back Ron Acks received first-team honors on the 1965 All-Big Ten Conference football team.Grabowski Big Ten Choice Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian November 24, 1965 3B https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19651121&id=LbcfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mdcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2758,5306529 Grabbo, Hansen, Acks All-Big 10 St. Louis Post-Dispatch November 24, 1965 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8695895/grabbo_hansen_acks_allbig_10/ The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Fred Custardo (1,124 passing yards, 52.9% completion percentage) and wide receiver John Wright (47 receptions for 755 yards).1965 Illinois Statistics Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1965.html The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1965 AP September 18 l y Oregon State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 10–12 34,149 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-deflected-pass-n/189721870/ The Des Moines Register Deflected pass nips Illini, 12–10 September 19, 1965 March 14, 2026 Newspapers.com September 25 w y SMU Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 42–0 45,175 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-illinois-bombs-s/168679391/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Illinois bombs SMU, 42–0 September 26, 1965 March 23, 2025 Newspapers.com October 2 l y Michigan State 9 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 12–22 71,237 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-msu-vs-illinois/170149399/ The State Journal Spartans' top effort tumbles Illini, 22–12 October 3, 1965 March 14, 2026 Newspapers.com October 9 l y Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck 14–28 83,712 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-bucks-rap-illi/193405591/ The Montgomery Advertiser Bucks rap Illini, 28–14 October 10, 1965 March 14, 2026 Newspapers.com October 16 w Indiana Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 34–13 61,257 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-illini-rap-iu-3413/193403041/ The Hammond Times Illini rap IU, 34–13 October 17, 1965 March 14, 2026 Newspapers.com October 23 w y Duke Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 28–14 47,077 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-illini-running-g/139208815/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Illini running game drops Duke, 28–14 October 24, 1965 March 14, 2026 Newspapers.com October 30 w Purdue 6 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 21–0 59,507 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-decatur-daily-review-illinois-smashe/193405724/ Herald and Review Illinois smashes Purdue's title hopes 21–0 in superb performance October 31, 1965 March 14, 2026 Newspapers.com November 6 l Michigan Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 3–23 50,136 M Beats Illini For Bump, As Usual, 23-3 Detroit Free Press Bob Pille November 7, 1965 1C, 2C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38845799/m_beats_illini_for_bump_as_usual_233/ Newspapers.com November 13 w y Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 51–0 55,192 https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-grabowski-leads-illinois/193404441/ Times-Democrat Grabowski leads Illinois 51–0 November 14, 1965 March 14, 2026 Newspapers.com November 20 w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 20–6 41,348 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-illinois-topples/193405196/ Wisconsin State Journal Illinois topples Wildcats, 20–6 November 21, 1965 March 14, 2026 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1965 Illinois) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/250975 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics March 14, 2026 All Time Scores http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/AllTimeScores.html University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics July 24, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120716221511/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/AllTimeScores.html 2012-07-16 dead Awards and honors Jim Grabowski (fullback) Chicago Tribune Silver Football Consensus All-American 1966 NFL draft Player Round Pick Position Club Jim Grabowski 1 9 Running back Green Bay Packers Don Hansen 3 42 Linebacker Minnesota Vikings Ron Acks 4 57 Defensive end Minnesota Vikings Sam Price 16 240 Defensive end New York Giants Gary Eickman 17 254 Defensive end New York Giants Kai Anderson18 268 Defensive end New York Giants Dale Greco 18 270 Defensive tackle Minnesota Vikings https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1966.htm dead https://web.archive.org/web/20071221231817/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1966.htm 2007-12-21 1966 NFL Draft Listing - Pro-Football-Reference.com Pro-Football-Reference.com Jim Grabowski was also the first pick overall in the 1966 American Football League draft. He was the first ever draft pick of the Miami Dolphins. References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football Category:Long stubs with short prose