1974 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1974 Illinois Fighting Illini football Big Ten Conference Big Ten 6–4–1 4–3–1 Bob Blackman 4th Tom Hicks Jeff Hollenbach Ty McMillin Revie Sorey Memorial Stadium The 1974 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 1974 Big Ten season. In their fourth year under head coach Bob Blackman, the Fighting Illini compiled a 6–4–1 record (4–3–1 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 210 to 206.1974 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1974-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jeff Hollenbach (1,037 passing yards, 48.9% completion percentage), running back Chubby Phillips (772 rushing yards, 4.4 yards per carry, nine touchdowns), and wide receiver Joe Smalzer (29 receptions for 525 yards).1974 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1974.html Hollenbach and linebacker Tom Hicks were selected as the team's most valuable players.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 Hicks also received first-team honors on the 1974 All-Big Ten Conference football team.All-Big Ten selections The Daily Northwestern November 26, 1974 13 https://www.newspapers.com/image/38642016/?terms=griffin%2Blick%2Bperretta%2B%22associated%2Bpress%22 The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1974 AP September 14 w Indiana Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 16–0 40,911 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-illini-defense-ha/181496502/ The South Bend Tribune Illini defense halts Hoosiers September 15, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com September 21 w y y Stanford 19 Stanford Stadium Stanford, CA 41–7 47,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-cruz-sentinel-stanford-crushed-by/181475574/ Santa Cruz Sentinel Stanford crushed by Illini, 41–7 September 22, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 w y 16 Washington State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 21–19 40,594 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-south-bend-tribune-last-minute-illin/181477763/ The South Bend Tribune Last minute Illini win September 29, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 l y 14 California Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 14–31 54,378 https://www.newspapers.com/article/nevada-state-journal-bartkowski-rivera/181476228/ Nevada State Journal Bartkowski, Rivera combine to lead Bears October 6, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 w y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 27–23 63,174 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ann-arbor-news-illini-air-game-guns/181511558/ The Ann Arbor News Illini air game guns down Purdue October 13, 1974 September 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 t Michigan State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 21–21 55,677 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-msu-illini-battle/181512073/ The Kalamazoo Gazette MSU, Illini battle to tie October 20, 1974 September 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 l y Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA 12–14 49,400 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-hawkeyes-score-l/181498490/ Wisconsin State Journal Hawkeyes score late to tip Illini October 27, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 l y Ohio State 1 Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck 7–49 87,813 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-archie-flies-by/181512155/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Archie flies by Illini November 3, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 l Michigan 4 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 6–14 60,670 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-michigan-win-nets-big/181512250/ Omaha World-Herald Michigan win nets Big Ten lead November 10, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 w y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 17–14 31,423 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-duluth-news-tribune-last-minute-td-b/181511204/ The Duluth News Tribune Last-minute TD beats Gophers November 17, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 w Northwestern Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 28–14 33,753 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-illini-beat-wildcats/181497958/ Omaha World-Herald Illini beat Wildcats for a winning season November 24, 1974 September 21, 2025 Newspapers.com References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football