2011 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2011 Illinois Fighting Illini football Fighting Illini logo.svg 125 Big Ten Conference Big Ten Leaders Division 7–6 2–6 Ron Zook 7th regular season Vic Koenning interim; bowl game Paul Petrino 2nd Multiple Vic Koenning 2nd 4–3 Memorial Stadium Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl champion Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl W 20–14 vs. UCLA The 2011 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their seventh and final season under head coach Ron Zook, the Fighting Illini compiled a 7–6 record (2–6 in conference games), finished in fifth place out of six teams in the Big Ten's Leaders Division, and outscored opponents by a total of 294 to 255. After opening the season with six victories, the Illini lost the last six games of the regular season. They concluded the season in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl where they defeated UCLA, 20–14.2011 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 25, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/2011-schedule.html At the end of the regular season, Zook was fired, as were most of the assistant coaches.Big Price Tag Attached to Zook's Firing Chuck Goudie https://abc7chicago.com/archive/8447417/ WLS Chicago November 28, 2011 November 20, 2014 https://archive.today/20120712163729/http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/iteam&id=8447417 July 12, 2012 live Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning stayed on as interim head coach for the bowl game. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase led the team in both passing (2,110 yards) and rushing (624 yards). The team's other statistical leaders included wide receiver A. J. Jenkins (90 receptions for 1,276 yards) and kicker Derek Dimke (64 points scored, 34 of 34 extra points, 10 of 12 field goals).2011 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 25, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/2011.html The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 2011 AP Central September 3 2:30 pm w y Arkansas State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL BTN 33–15 45,154Cumulative Season Statistics http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/teamcume.html University of Illinois Department of Athletics July 19, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20130725095121/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-footbl/stats/2011-2012/teamcume.html July 25, 2013 dead mdy-all September 10 11:00 am w y South Dakota State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL BTN 56–3 42,212 September 17 6:00 pm w y Arizona State 22 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL BTN 17–14 50,843 September 24 2:30 pm w y 24 Western Michigan Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL BTN 23–20 43,684 October 1 11:00 am w y 22 Northwestern Land of Lincoln Trophy Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ESPN2 38–35 53,243 October 8 1:30 pm w y 19 Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry BTN 41–20 41,665 October 15 2:30 pm l 16 Ohio State Illibuck Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ABC/ESPN 7–17 55,229 October 22 11:00 am l y 23 Purdue Purdue Cannon Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN ESPN2 14–21 45,146 October 29 2:30 pm l y Penn State 19 Beaver Stadium University Park, PA ABC/ESPN2 7–10 97,828Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Penn State Nittany Lions Box Score https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=313020213 ESPN October 29, 2011 October 29, 2011 November 12 2:30 pm l Michigan 22 rivalry Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ABC/ESPN 14–31 60,670 November 19 11:00 am l Wisconsin 15 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ESPN2 17–28 54,633 November 26 2:30 pm l y Minnesota TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN BTN 7–27 41,549 December 31 12:30 pm w y y UCLA Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl AT&T Park San Francisco, CA ESPN 20–14 29,8782011-2012 Bowl Game Attendance Flint Harris http://www.holyturf.com/2011/12/bowl-attendance-2011-2012/ HolyTurf December 23, 2011 January 1, 2012 Game summaries Arkansas State 2011 Arkansas State Red Wolves football team Arkansas State at Illinois Arkansas State Illinois 0 8 0 7 7 10 13 3 September 3 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL CST 2:37 p.m. 3:10 45,154 96°, Sunny Mike Cannon Tom Hart, Chris Martin & Rebecca Haarlow BTN Illinois opened the year at home for the first time since 2006. The opener was the first of eight home games for the Illini. After a slow start and falling behind 8–7 with 2:50 left in the 2nd quarter, the Illini scored a touchdown and a late field goal to take a 17 8 halftime lead. The offense continued to roll in the 2nd half as Illinois extended the lead to win the contest 33 15. Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase led the Illini offense, finishing 16 for 23 on pass attempts totaling in 267 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Jenkins was a favorite target for Scheelhaase, grabbing 11 receptions for 148 yards and 1 TD. Darius Millines also hauled in a TD and finished with 119 yards on 5 receptions. Jason Ford led the rushing attack with 86 yards on 22 carries and 2 touchdowns. South Dakota State 2011 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team South Dakota State at Illinois South Dakota State Illinois 0 3 0 0 21 14 14 7 September 10 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL Kevin Kugler, Kelly Stouffer & Tony Banks BTN Arizona State 2011 Arizona State Sun Devils football team Arizona State at Illinois #22 Arizona State Illinois 7 0 0 7 10 0 0 7 September 17 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL Eric Collins, Chris Martin & Dionne Miller BTN Western Michigan 2011 Western Michigan Broncos football team Western Michigan at Illinois Western Michigan #24 Illinois 3 10 0 7 7 3 10 3 September 24 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL Wayne Larrivee, Jon Jansen & Lisa Byington BTN Northwestern 2011 Northwestern Wildcats football team Northwestern at Illinois Northwestern #24 Illinois 0 14 14 7 7 3 7 21 October 1 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL Beth Mowins & Mike Bellotti ESPN2 yes 1 2:28 ILL A.J. Jenkins 14-yard pass from Nathan Scheelhaase (Derek Dimke kick) ILL 7-0 2 12:31 NW Drake Dinsmore 6-yard pass from Dan Persa (Jeff Budzien kick) Tied 7-7 2 2:08 NW Jeremy Ebert 3-yard pass from Dan Persa (Jeff Budzien kick) NW 14-7 2 0:00 ILL Derek Dimke 49-yard field goal NW 14-10 3 11:42 NW Jeremy Ebert 39-yard pass from Dan Persa (Jeff Budzien kick) NW 21-10 3 7:11 NW Jeremy Ebert 4-yard pass from Dan Persa (Jeff Budzien kick) NW 28-10 3 3:51 ILL A.J. Jenkins 33-yard pass from Nathan Scheelhaase (Derek Dimke kick) NW 28-17 4 14:53 ILL A.J. Jenkins 50-yard pass from Nathan Scheelhaase (run failed) NW 28-23 4 6:53 ILL Donovonn Young 1-yard run (Nathan Scheelhaase to Spencer Harris pass) ILL 31-28 4 1:15 NW Jacob Schmidt 6-yard run (Jeff Budzien kick) NW 35-31 4 0:13 ILL Nathan Scheelhaase 1-yard run (Derek Dimke kick) ILL 38-35 yes Illinois Completes Comeback in Final Minute to Defeat Rival Northwestern https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=312740356 https://web.archive.org/web/20160915035837/http://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=312740356 dead September 15, 2016 ESPN October 1, 2011 November 20, 2014 Indiana 2011 Indiana Hoosiers football team Illinois at Indiana #19 Illinois Indiana 14 13 7 7 10 3 0 7 October 8 Memorial StadiumBloomington, IN Eric Collins & Chris Martin BTN Ohio State 2011 Ohio State Buckeyes football team Ohio State at Illinois Ohio State #16 Illinois 3 0 7 7 0 0 0 7 October 15 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL Bob Wischusen, Bob Davie & Heather Cox ABC/ESPN Purdue 2011 Purdue Boilermakers football team Illinois at Purdue #23 Illinois Purdue 0 0 0 14 7 14 0 0 October 22 Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN Beth Mowins & Mike Bellotti ESPN2 Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Purdue Boilermakers Box Score https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore?gameId=312952509 ESPN October 22, 2011 October 22, 2011 Penn State 2011 Penn State Nittany Lions football team Illinois at Penn State Illinois #19 Penn State 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 10 October 29 Beaver StadiumUniversity Park, PA Carter Blackburn & Brock Huard ABC/ESPN2 Michigan 2011 Michigan Wolverines football team Michigan at Illinois #22 Michigan Illinois 7 7 3 14 0 0 7 7 November 12 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL Justin Kutcher & Craig James ABC/ESPN Wisconsin 2011 Wisconsin Badgers football team Wisconsin at Illinois Wisconsin Illinois 0 7 14 7 0 17 0 0 November 19 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL EST Beth Mowins & Mike Bellotti ESPN2 Minnesota 2011 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team Illinois at Minnesota Illinois Minnesota 0 0 7 0 0 20 7 0 November 26 Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL Tom Hart, Derek Rackley & Lisa Byington BTN UCLA (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl) 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (December) 2011 UCLA Bruins football team Illinois at Bruins Illinois Bruins 0 3 7 10 0 7 0 7 December 31 AT&T ParkSan Francisco, California Carter Blackburn & Brock Huard ESPN The Bruins, with a losing record, were granted a waiver to play in a bowl game by the NCAA on November 30, 2011 since their seventh loss was played in the post-season Pac-12 Championship Game.https://archive.today/20130105150605/http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/113011aaa.html UCLA Bowl Waiver Approved By NCAA, UCLABruins.com, November 30, 2011 The Bruins were coached by interim head coach Mike Johnson, who replaced Rick Neuheisel. Second Quarter scoring: UCLA – Taylor Embree 16-yard pass from Kevin Prince (Tyler Gonzalez kick); ILL – Derek Dimke 36-yard field goal Third Quarter scoring: ILL – T. Hawthorne 39-yard interception return (Dimke kick) Fourth Quarter scoring: ILL – Dimke 37-yard field goal; ILL – A. J. Jenkins 60-yard pass from N. Scheelhaase (Dimke kick); UCLA – Nelson Rosario 38-yard pass from Prince (Gonzalez kick) Rankings 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings 15 6 7 NR NR NR NR NR NR 24 RV 24 22 19 16 16 15 14 23 21 20 23 RV RV RV NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Category:Redbox Bowl champion seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football