2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football Fighting Illini logo.svg 125 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 12 12 10–2 7–1 Ron Turner 5th Pro-style Mike Cassity 1st 4–3 Memorial Stadium Big Ten champion Sugar Bowl L 34–47 vs. LSU The 2001 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 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth season under head coach Ron Turner, the Illini compiled a 10–2 record (7–1 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 356 to 238. They were invited to the 2002 Sugar Bowl, losing to LSU, 47–34. The Illini were ranked No. 7 at the end of the regular season, but dropped to No. 12 in the final poll issued after the bowl games.2001 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/2001-schedule.html Senior quarterback Kurt Kittner led the Big Ten with 2,944 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He completed 207 of 374 passes for a 55.3% completion percentage.2001 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/2001.html The team's other statistical leaders included wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (60 receptions for 1,006 yards), running back Antoineo Harris (626 rushing yards), and kicker Peter Christofilakos (61 points, 12 of 13 field goals, 25 of 25 extra points). Ten Illinois players were recognized on the 2001 All-Big Ten Conference football team: guard Jay Kulaga (Coaches-1, Media-1); tackle Tony Pashos (Coaches-1, Media-1); Kittner at quarterback (Coaches-2, Media-2); Lloyd at receiver (Coaches-2, Media-2); center Luke Butkus (Coaches-2, Media-2); linebacker Jerry Schumacher (Media-2); defensive backs Bobby Jackson (Coaches-2), Christian Morton (Media-2), and Eugene Wilson; and kicker Christofilakos (Media-2).Brewer, Johnson and Utecth Named To All-Big Ten Teams University of Minnesota December 4, 2001 March 3, 2015 http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120401aaa.html https://web.archive.org/web/20171231204555/http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120401aaa.html December 31, 2017 dead The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 2001 AP Central September 1 2:30 pm w y y California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA FSN 44–17 38,160 Illinois at California http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/090101aab.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics September 1, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030858/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/090101aab.html 2014-11-29 dead September 8 11:00 am w y Northern Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ESPN Plus 17–12 45,674 Northern Illinois at Illinois http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/090801aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics September 8, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030906/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/090801aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead September 22 11:00 am w y Louisville 25 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ESPN 34–10 43,232 Louisville at Illinois http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/092201aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics September 22, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030907/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/092201aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead September 29 2:30 pm l y 22 Michigan 17 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry ABC 20–45 107,085 Wolverines stomp Illinois: Defense smothers Kittner The Detroit News Angelique S. Chengelis September 30, 2001 1D https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-wolverines-stomp-illi/177392127/ Newspapers.comMichigan 45, Illinois 20 http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/092901aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics September 29, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030900/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/092901aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead October 6 11:00 am w Minnesota Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ESPN Plus 32–14 53,225 Minnesota at Illinois http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/100601aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics October 6, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030902/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/100601aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead October 13 12:00 pm w y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, Indiana rivalry 35–14 31,116 Illinois 35, Indiana 14 http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/101301aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics October 13, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030855/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/101301aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead October 20 11:00 am w y Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ESPN 42–35 70,904 Wisconsin at Illinois http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/102001aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics October 20, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030904/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/102001aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead November 3 11:00 am w y 21 Purdue 20 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry ESPN 38–13 61,568 Illinois 38, Purdue 13 http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/110301aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics November 3, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030854/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/110301aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead November 10 2:30 pm w 15 Penn State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ABC 33–28 70,904 Penn State at Illinois http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/111001aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics November 10, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030852/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/111001aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead November 17 11:00 am w y 12 Ohio State 25 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck ESPN 34–22 104,407 OSU kept at arm's length: Buckeyes feel Bellisari's absence in loss to Illini The Plain Dealer Bruce Hooley November 18, 2001 C1, C7 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-osu-kept-at-arms-lengt/177391690/ Newspapers.comIllinois 34, Ohio State 22 http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/111701aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics November 17, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030909/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/111701aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead November 22 11:00 am w 10 Northwestern Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry ESPN2 34–28 45,755 No. 10 Illinois 34, Northwestern 28 http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/112201aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics November 24, 2001 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030911/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/112201aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead January 1 7:30 pm l y y 7 LSU 12 Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, LA Sugar Bowl ABC 34–47 77,688 Belly up on bayou Chicago Tribune Gary Reinmuth January 2, 2012 1 (section IV) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-belly-up-on-bayou/177390214/ Newspapers.comLouisiana State 47, Illinois 34 http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/010102aaa.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics January 1, 2002 November 20, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141129030849/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/010102aaa.html 2014-11-29 dead Roster 2001 Illinois Fighting Illini f 71 Sr Luke Butkus C y 24 So Carey Davis FB y 64 Jr David Diehl G y 15 Sr Kurt Kittner QB y 17 Jr Greg Lewis Greg Lewis (wide receiver) WR y 6 Sr Brandon Lloyd WR y 86 Jr Aaron Moorehead WR y 79 Sr Tony Pashos G y 75 Fr Duke Preston C y 18 Jr Walter Young Walter Young (American football) QB/RB y 96 Sr Brandon Moore Brandon Moore (guard) DT y 44 Fr Matt Sinclair LB y 28 Jr Eugene Wilson Eugene Wilson (American football) DB y 22 So Peter Christofilakos K y 37 Fr Steve Weatherford P y https://fightingillini.com/sports/2015/7/18/football_alltimerosters_2000.aspx?#2001 *Ron Turner References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Category:Big Ten Conference football champion seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football