1985 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1985 Illinois Fighting Illini football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 6–5–1 5–2–1 Mike White 6th David Williams Jack Trudeau Craig Swoope Chris White Memorial Stadium Peach Bowl L 29–31 vs. Army The 1985 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 1985 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth year under head coach Mike White, the Fighting Illini compiled a 6–5–1 record (5–2–1 in conference games), finished in third place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 303 to 275. They concluded the season with a loss to Army in the 1985 Peach Bowl.1985 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 25, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1985-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jack Trudeau (2,938 passing yards, 63.7% completion percentage), running back Thomas Rooks (718 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per carry), wide receiver David Williams (85 receptions for 1,047 yards), and kicker Chris White (73 points scored, 31 of 31 extra points, 14 of 20 field goals).1985 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 25, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1985.html Four Illinois players received first-team honors on the 1985 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Williams at wide receiver (AP-1, UPI-1); Jim Juriga at guard (AP-1, UPI-1; Guy Teafatiller at defensive line (UPI-1); and White at kicker (UPI-1).Soph White, Station, Unanimous Choices Toledo Blade (AP story) December 3, 1985 33 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19851203&id=og1PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0wIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6768,3394959Long nips Everett for UPI first team The Indianapolis Star November 26, 1985 22 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9509578/long_nips_everett_for_upi_first_team/ The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1985 AP September 7 l y 11 USC 6 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 10–20 76,369 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-no-6-southern-ca/170576436/ The Charlotte Observer No. 6 Southern Cal stops Illinois September 8, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com September 14 w y 19 Southern Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 28–25 76,330 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-siuc-scares-illi/160084118/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch SIUC scares Illini before falling 28–25 September 15, 1985 December 1, 2024 Newspapers.com September 21 l y y 20 Nebraska 18 Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 25–52 76,149 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-1985-nebraska-illinois/53777767/ Chicago Tribune Illinois gets humiliated September 22, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 w Ohio State 5 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 31–28 76,343 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-late-illini-fg-tips-ohi/170621258/ The Miami Herald Late Illini FG tips Ohio St. October 6, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 l y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 24–30 68,837 https://www.newspapers.com/article/anderson-herald-purdue-defense-saves-30/170619447/ Anderson Herald Purdue defense saves 30–24 win October 13, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 w y Michigan State Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 30–17 76,438 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-mistakes-haunt-spa/170620942/ Lansing State Journal Mistakes haunt Spartans October 20, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 w Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 38–25 76,395 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wausau-daily-herald-illini-runner-surpri/170602032/ Wausau Daily Herald Illini runner surprises UW October 27, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 t Michigan 4 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 3–3 76,397 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-kick-takes-wrong-b/170621845/ The Rock Island Argus Kick takes wrong bounce; Illini have to settle for tie November 3, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 l y Iowa 6 Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 0–59 66,120 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-long-hawkeyes-m/170621938/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Long, Hawkeyes make short work of Illini 59–0 November 10, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 w Indiana Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 41–24 78,805 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-1985-11-16-illinoi/165379341/ The Indianapolis Star Illinois 'Rooks and rolls' by I.U. November 17, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 w y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 45–20 33,054 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-ilini-top-wildcats-to-reach/170600872/ The Dispatch Ilini top Wildcats to reach Peach November 24, 1985 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com December 31 Tuesday l y y Army Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Atlanta, GA Peach Bowl 29–31 29,857 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-army-discharges/170221694/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Army discharges Illini 31–29 in soggy Peach January 1, 1986 April 18, 2025 Newspapers.com Game summaries No. 6 USC USC at Illinois No. 6 Trojans 14 3 3 0 No. 11 Fighting Illini 0 0 7 3 September 7 Memorial Stadium 76,639 90 F yes 1 2 USC Hank Norman 9-yard pass from Sean Salisbury (Don Shafer kick) USC 7–0 USC Randy Tanner 46-yard pass from Sean Salisbury (Don Shafer kick) USC 14–0 2 USC Don Shafer 46-yard field goal USC 17–0 3 2 USC Don Shafer 23-yard field goal USC 20–0 Illinois Cap Boso 83-yard pass from Jack Trudeau (Chris White kick) USC 20–7 4 Illinois Chris White 28-yard field goal USC 20–10 yes 1985 USC Trojans football team In a game that some considered a possible Rose Bowl preview, the Illini were doomed by 6 turnovers and found themselves in a 14–0 very early in the game. Illinois pulled to within 20–10 on a Chris White field goal early in the fourth quarter, but USC used ball control to grind out the clock – including 22 minutes of possession in the second half – and gain a big road win in the season opener for both teams.September 8, 1985 Upsets: UCLA Takes Bosco, and USC Hoists Champaign https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-08-sp-3026-story.html Los Angeles Times January 19, 2020 September 16, 1985 ...And Then They Had To Play https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/09/16/and-then-they-had-to-play https://web.archive.org/web/20210123093250/https://vault.si.com/vault/1985/09/16/and-then-they-had-to-play dead January 23, 2021 Sports Illustrated Rick Reilly July 17, 2022 At No. 18 Nebraska Illinois at Nebraska No. 20 Fighting Illini No. 18 Cornhuskers 0 10 0 15 14 10 21 7 September 21 Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska CST 76,149 1985 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team September 22, 1985 Nebraska Runs Over Illinois, 52-25 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-09-22-sp-18224-story.html Los Angeles Times July 23, 2022 No. 5 Ohio State Ohio State at Illinois No. 5 Buckeyes 0 14 14 0 Fighting Illini 14 0 7 10 October 5 Memorial Stadium 1985 Ohio State Buckeyes football team October 6, 1985 Illinois Leaves Behind Past Failures, Upsets No. 5 Ohio State https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-06-sp-5883-story.html The Los Angeles Times January 19, 2020 October 8, 1985 A CALL THAT MADE FATHER'S DAY https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-10-09-8503080841-story.html The Chicago Tribune July 17, 2022 At Michigan State 1985 Michigan State Spartans football team Wisconsin 1985 Wisconsin Badgers football team No. 4 Michigan No. 4 Wolverines 0 0 3 0 Fighting Illini 0 0 3 0 November 2 Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL 76,397 1985 Michigan Wolverines football team On November 2, 1985, Illinois played Michigan to a 3–3 tie at Memorial Stadium. Each team kicked a field goal in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Michigan drove the length of the field, but fullback Gerald White fumbled at the Illinois 12-yard line, with the Illini recovering at the nine-yard line. Illinois then drove the length of the field and, with time running out, Chris White lined up for what would have been a game-winning 37-yard field goal. Dieter Heren tipped the ball, which hit the cross-bar and bounced back, and the game ended in a tie. After the game, head coach White said, "I don't remember feeling worse after a game. . . . I'm devastated."U-M, Illinois fit to be tied Detroit Free Press November 3, 1985 D1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4095275/um_illinois_fit_to_be_tied/ At No. 6 Iowa Illinois at Iowa Fighting Illini 0 0 0 0 No. 6 Hawkeyes 35 14 0 10 November 9 Kinnick Stadium,Iowa City, Iowa 1:05 p.m. CST 3:20 66,120 ~45 F, Cloudy, rain, Wind NE 10-15 mph on Otho Kortz yes 1 11:54 IOWA R. Smith 49-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0 1 10:16 IOWA Hudson 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 14-0 1 7:28 IOWA R. Smith 43-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 21-0 1 4:36 IOWA Ronnie Harmon 46-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 28-0 1 0:59 IOWA Hudson 10-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 35-0 2 5:16 IOWA Flagg 1-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 42-0 2 2:31 IOWA Helverson 9-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 49-0 4 13:12 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 37-yard field goal IOWA 52-0 4 8:21 IOWA Goodman 16-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 59-0 yes 1985 Iowa Hawkeyes football team November 10, 1985 Iowa Hits Illini Early, Often https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/11/10/iowa-hits-illini-early-often/ Chicago Tribune January 19, 2020 Vs. Army (Peach Bowl) Illinois vs. Army Fighting Illini 3 13 7 6 Cadets 7 14 7 3 December 31 Fulton County Stadium,Atlanta, Georgia CST 29,857 Gary Bender and Steve Davis CBS 1985 Peach Bowl 1985 Army Cadets football team January 1, 1986 ARMY'S AIR ATTACK STUNS ILLINI https://www.nytimes.com/1986/01/01/sports/army-s-air-attack-stuns-illini.html The New York Times January 19, 2020 References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football