1990 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1990 Illinois Fighting Illini football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 24 25 8–4 6–2 John Mackovic 3rd Gene Dahlquist 3rd Lou Tepper 3rd Howard Griffith Curtis Lovelace Howard Griffith Moe Gardner Darrick Brownlow Memorial Stadium Big Ten co-champion Hall of Fame Bowl L 0–30 vs. Clemson The 1990 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 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach John Mackovic, the Illini compiled an 8–4 record (6–2 in conference games), finished in a four-way tie for first place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 293 to 216. They concluded the season in the 1991 Hall of Fame Bowl, losing to Clemson. Ranked No. 16 in the AP poll at the end of the regular season, they dropped to No. 25 in the final poll issued after the bowl games.1990 Illinois Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football December 16, 2015 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1990-schedule.html Quarterback Jason Verduzco led the Big Ten with 213 completions, a 64.5% completion percentage, and 2,446 passing yards. Other statistical leaders included fullback Howard Griffith with 1,056 rushing yards and 90 points scored, and wide receiver Shawn Wax with 54 receptions for 863 yards.1990 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 24, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1990.html Nose guard Moe Gardner was a consensus pick on the 1990 All-American team, and linebacker Darrick Brownlow received first-team honors from Football News (second-team from the AP and UPI). Five players received first-team honors on the 1990 All-Big Ten Conference football team: defensive linemen Gardner (AP-1, Coaches-1) and Mel Agee (AP-1, Coaches-1); linebacker Brownlow (AP-1, Coaches-1); receiver Shawn Wax (AP-1, Coaches-2); and center Curt Lovelace (AP-1).Hawks dominate AP's All-Big Ten The Daily Iowan November 28, 1990 1B http://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1990/di1990-11-28.pdf. Leaders dominate AP All-Big Ten team The Daily Reporter November 28, 1990 6 https://books.google.com/books?id=618rAAAAIBAJ&dq=1990+All-Big+Ten+Conference+football+team&pg=PA5&article_id=2372,7602326Michigan, Iowa tops in balloting The Argus-Press (AP story) November 27, 1990 9 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19901127&id=WnAiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Sq0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=4590,2196191&hl=en Schedule 1990 AP Central September 8 8:00 pm l y y 11 Arizona Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 16–28 53,330 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-turnovers-hurt-n/190183638/ Wisconsin State Journal Turnovers hurt No. 11 Illinois September 9, 1990 January 31, 2026 Newspapers.com September 15 2:30 pm w y 21 Colorado 9 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ABC 23–22 64,351 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-illini-rallies-to-upend-colo/190241422/ The Waterloo Courier Illini rallies to upend Colorado September 16, 1990 January 31, 2026 Newspapers.com September 22 2:30 pm w y 15 Southern Illinois Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 56–21 64,469 Batterson Steve Griffith levels Salukis https://www.newspapers.com/clip/91529868/quad-city-times/ December 31, 2021 Quad-City Times September 23, 1990 1E Newspapers.com October 6 2:30 pm w y 13 Ohio State 20 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck ABC 31–20 89,404 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marion-star-lateral-helps-illini-t/190250904/ The Marion Star 'Lateral' helps Illini top OSU October 7, 1990 January 31, 2026 Newspapers.com October 13 12:00 pm w 11 Purdue Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 34–0 60,604 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-illinois-defense-controls/190251034/ The Pantagraph Illinois defense controls Purdue October 14, 1990 January 31, 2026 Newspapers.com October 20 2:30 pm w y 8 Michigan State 24 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ABC 15–13 70,398 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-spartans-rose-bowl-cha/190249811/ The Saginaw News Spartans' Rose Bowl chances gone, 15–13 October 21, 1990 January 31, 2026 Newspapers.com October 27 1:00 pm w y 5 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 21–3 67,746 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-illini-stop-wiscon/190251211/ Lansing State Journal Illini stop Wisconsin, 21–3 October 28, 1990 January 31, 2026 Newspapers.com November 3 2:30 pm l 5 Iowa 13 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ABC 28–54 72,714 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-iowa-outfoxes-illinois/190251349/ Herald & Review Iowa outfoxes Illinois November 4, 1990 January 31, 2026 Newspapers.com November 10 11:00 am l y 17 Michigan 19 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 17–22 105,343 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-u-m-holds-on-to-be/190248980/ The Kalamazoo Gazette U-M holds on to beat Illinois November 11, 1990 January 31, 2026 Newspapers.com November 17 11:30 am w 22 Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 24–10 44,639 https://www.newspapers.com/article/journal-and-courier-illini-dash-hoosiers/190251539/ Journal and Courier Illini dash Hoosiers' Peach Bowl plans, 24–10 November 18, 1990 January 31, 2026 Newspapers.com November 24 1:00 pm w 22 Northwestern Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 28–23 32,383 https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-illinois-wins-to-tie-for/190251720/ Quad-City Times Illinois wins to tie for first place November 25, 1990 January 31, 2026 Newspapers.com January 1 12:00 pm l y y 16 Clemson 14 Tampa Stadium Tampa, FL Hall of Fame Bowl NBC 0–30 63,154 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-clemson-d-gains-fame/140190995/ The Tampa Tribune Clemson 'D' gains Fame in 30–0 win January 2, 1991 February 3, 2024 Newspapers.com 1990 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football January 31, 2026 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1990-schedule.html Game summaries Colorado #9 Colorado at #21 Illinois Buffaloes 7 10 2 3 Fighting Illini 3 7 7 6 October 6 Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL CDT 64,351 ABC yes Q1 3 ILL Doug Higgins 29-yard field goal ILL 3–0 COL George Hemingway 2-yard run (Harper kick) COL 7–3 Q2 3 COL Harper 54-yard field goal COL 10–3 COL Michael Simmons 32-yard pass from Darian Hagan (Harper kick) COL 17–3 0:28 ILL Elbert Turner 8-yard pass from Jason Verduzco (Higgins kick) COL 17–10 Q3 2 2:28 ILL Shawn Wax 4-yard pass from Jason Verduzco (Higgins kick) Tied 17–17 COL Safety, Greg Biekert tackled Griffith in end zone COL 19–17 Q4 2 12:44 COL Harper 26-yard field goal COL 22–17 1:18 ILL Howard Griffith 1-yard run (conversion failed) ILL 23–22 yes 1990 Colorado Buffaloes football team Illinois 23, Colorado 22 United Press International https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/09/15/Illinois-23-Colorado-22/9703653371200/ September 15, 1990 January 1, 2019 Iowa 1990 Iowa Hawkeyes football team Michigan 1990 Michigan Wolverines football team Illinois–Michigan football rivalry Indiana 1990 Indiana Hoosiers football team Northwestern 1990 Northwestern Wildcats football team Illinois–Northwestern football rivalry Clemson (Hall of Fame Bowl) 1991 Hall of Fame Bowl 1990 Clemson Tigers football team Roster 1990 Illinois Fighting Illini f 29 Sr Howard Griffith RB y 82 Sr Frank Hartley Frank Hartley (American football) TE y 79 So Brad Hopkins T y 69 Jr Tim Simpson Tim Simpson (American football) C y 96 Sr Mel Agee DT y 48 Sr Darrick Brownlow LB y 95 Sr Moe Gardner DT y 33 Sr Chris Green Chris Green (American football) DB y 18 Sr Henry Jones Henry Jones (American football) DB y 37 Sr Steve Nelson DB *John Mackovic Award winners Darrick Brownlow - linebacker (1st-team All-America pick by Football News; 1st-team all-Big Ten pick by AP) Moe Gardner - defensive lineman (consensus 1st-team All-American; 1st-team all-Big Ten pick by AP) Howard Griffith - fullback (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP) Doug Higgins - placekicker (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP) Henry Jones - defensive back (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP) Marlon Primous - defensive back (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP) Tim Simpson -offensive guard (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP) Shawn Wax - receiver (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP) References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football