1966 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1966 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1966 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 4–6 4–3 Pete Elliott 7th Ron Guenther Bo Batchelder Kai Anderson Memorial Stadium The 1966 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1966 Big Ten season. In their seventh year under head coach Pete Elliott, the Fighting Illini compiled a 4–6 record (4–3 in conference games), tied for third place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 193 to 173.1966 Illinois Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1966-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Bob Naponic (998 passing yards, 43.2% completion percentage), running back Bill Huston (420 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per carry), and wide receiver John Wright (60 receptions for 831 yards).1966 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1966.html Guard Ron Guenther was selected as the team's most valuable player.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 dead Defensive end Ken Kmiec and defensive back Bruce Sullivan received first-team honors on the 1966 All-Big Ten Conference football team.MSU Dominates All-Big Ten Team The Pantagraph November 23, 1966 13 https://www.newspapers.com/image/70624233/?terms=%22big%2B10%22%2Bgriese%2Bvolk%2B%22united%2Bpress%22Eight Spartans, Six From Michigan All Big Ten The Holland, Michigan Evening Sentinel November 23, 1966 17 https://www.newspapers.com/image/34649945/?terms=griese%2Bdetwiler%2B%22upi%22 The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1977 AP September 17 l y y SMU Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX 7–26 28,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-times-smu-shocks-illini-i/168681584/ The Corpus Christi Caller-Times SMU shocks Illini in 26–7 upset win September 18, 1966 March 23, 2025 Newspapers.com September 24 l y Missouri Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 14–21 55,378 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-times-whittttakers-60-yyard/193174331/ Daily Herald-Telephone Whittaker's 60 yard sprint leads Mizzou over Illini September 25, 1966 March 11, 2026 Newspapers.com October 1 l Michigan State 1 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 10–26 57,747 Battling Illini Beaten: Michigan State Thwarts Upset Bid, 26–10 Chicago Tribune Roy Damer October 2, 1966 1, 3 (sports) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-battling-illini-beaten/167401728/ Newspapers.com October 8 w Ohio State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 10–9 51,069 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-ohio-state-drops-109/193172811/ The Times Recorder Ohio State drops 10–9 Big 10 decision at Illinois October 9, 1966 March 11, 2026 Newspapers.com October 15 w y Indiana Seventeenth Street Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 24–10 39,339 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-illini-outgrab-iu/193165249/ The Courier-Journal Illini 'outgrab' IU 24–10 October 16, 1966 March 11, 2026 Newspapers.com October 22 l y Stanford Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 3–6 56,561 https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-stanford-rallies-to-tip-ill/184276829/ The Minneapolis Tribune Stanford rallies to tip Illinois October 23, 1966 March 11, 2026 Newspapers.com October 29 l y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 21–25 61,643 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-griese-heroic-as/193174121/ The South Bend Tribune Griese heroic as Purdue rebounds October 30, 1966 March 11, 2026 Newspapers.com November 5 w y Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 28–21 59,322 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-pete-elliott-wins-in/193174018/ Omaha World-Herald Pete Elliott wins in brother act November 6, 1966 March 11, 2026 Newspapers.comPete Wins 1st From Bump In 28–21 Upset Detroit Free Press November 6, 1966 Jack Saylor 1C, 4C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15554714/pete_wins_1st_from_bump_in_2821_upset/ Newspapers.com November 12 w Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 49–14 53,645 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-illinois-trample/193166476/ Wisconsin State Journal Illinois tramples Badgers, 49–14 November 13, 1966 March 11, 2026 Newspapers.com November 19 l y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 7–35 37,625 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-journal-wildcats-rip-illini-357/193167091/ News Journal Wildcats rip Illini, 35–7 November 20, 1966 March 11, 2026 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1966 Illinois) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/295968 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics March 11, 2026 References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football