1959 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1959 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1959 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 12 13 5–3–1 4–2–1 Ray Eliot 18th Bill Burrell Bill Burrell Memorial Stadium The 1959 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 1959 Big Ten season In their 18th and final year under head coach Ray Eliot, the Fighting Illini compiled a 5–3–1 record (4–2–1 in conference games), finished in a tie for third place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 111 to 93. They were ranked No. 13 in the final AP poll.1959 Illinois Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 27, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1959-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Mel Meyers (495 passing yards, 50.8% completion percentage), Bill Brown (504 rushing yards, 5.7 yards per carry), and Johnny Counts (19 receptions for 314 yards, 16.5 yards per reception). Guard Bill Burrell was selected as the team's most valuable player, received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the Big Ten's most valuable player,Fighting Illini Football Record Book University of Illinois 2015 December 28, 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 and was a consensus first-team All-American.Football Award Winners National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2016 October 21, 2017 9 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/awards.pdf Burrell and tackle Joe Rutgens received first-team honors on the 1959 All-Big Ten Conference football team.Lanphear Unanimous AP All-Big Ten Choice Charles Chamberlain The LaCrosse Tribune November 24, 1959 12 https://www.newspapers.com/image/88126640/?terms=look%2Bjeter%2Bhouston4 Northwestern gridders make UPI all-Big 10 team; Norton, Jeter place Ed Sainsbury Globe-Gazette, Mason City, Iowa November 27, 1959 12 https://www.newspapers.com/image/725343/?terms=look%2Bjeter%2Bhouston%2Bcoaches The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1959 AP September 26 l y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 0–20 18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-journal-register-indiana-jolts/200806244/ Illinois State Journal Indiana jolts Illinois 20–0 September 27, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com October 3 w y Army 4 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 20–14 64,891 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-illinois-in-upset-o/200800638/ The Sacramento Union Illinois in upset over Army October 4, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com October 10 w y 20 Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck 9–0 82,980 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-illini-surprise-buckeye/200806337/ The Saginaw News Illini surprise Buckeyes, 9–0 October 11, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com October 17 w 13 Minnesota Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 14–6 57,485 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-fighing-illini-wa/200806430/ The South Bend Tribune Fighing Illini wallop fumbling Minnesota, 14–6 October 18, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com October 24 l y y 13 Penn State 8 Cleveland Stadium Cleveland, OH 9–20 15,045 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-plain-dealer-penn-state-wins-209/200801529/ Cleveland Plain Dealer Penn State wins, 20–9 October 25, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com October 31 t Purdue 11 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 7–7 42,553 https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-illini-miss-purdue-v/200805892/ Southern Illinoisan Illini miss Purdue victory by four inches November 1, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com November 7 l Michigan Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 15–20 45,573 Michigan Spoils Illinois' Rose Bowl Hopes, 20-15 The Sunday Pantagraph November 8, 1959 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30057500/michigan_spoils_illinois_rose_bowl/ Newspapers.com November 14 w y Wisconsin 7 Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 9–6 56,028 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-houston-post-illinois-upsets-wiscons/200804888/ The Houston Post Illinois upsets Wisconsin, 9–6 November 15, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com November 21 w Northwestern 8 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 28–0 32,390 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-star-illinois-gives-eliot-28/200806578/ Peoria Journal Star Illinois gives Eliot 28–0 finale win November 22, 1959 July 2, 2026 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1959 Illinois) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/214228 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics July 2, 2026 Awards and honors Bill Burrell (offensive guard) Chicago Tribune Silver Football Consensus All-American, (guard) References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football