1964 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1964 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1964 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 16 6–3 4–3 Pete Elliott 5th Dick Butkus Dick Butkus George Donnelly Memorial Stadium The 1964 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 1964 Big Ten season. In their fourth year under head coach Pete Elliott, the Fighting Illini compiled a 6–3 record (4–3 in conference games), tied for fourth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 142 to 100. They were ranked No. 2 in the AP poll in week 3 but dropped out of the poll after losing to Ohio State.1964 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1964-schedule.html Center and linebacker Dick Butkus was a unanimous pick for the 1964 All-America team.2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 2014 February 10, 2015 7 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/Awards.pdf December 22, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141222163944/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2014/Awards.pdf dead He was also named the American Football Coaches Association Player of the Year, finished third in Heisman Trophy balloting, and 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 Two other Illinois players received first-team All-America honors: guard Archie Sutton and fullback Jim Grabowski. Grabowski led the Big Ten with 186 carries, 1,004 rushing yards, and 10 rushing touchdowns. The team's other statistical leaders included quarterback Fred Custardo (1,012 passing yards, 54.1% completion percentage), and wide receiver Bob Trumpy (28 receptions for 428 yards).1964 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1964.html The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule AP 1964 September 26 w y y 3 California California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, CA 20–14 45,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-union-illini-stave-off-be/189688588/ The Sacramento Union Illini stave off Bears 20–14 September 27, 1964 March 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 3 w y 3 Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 17–6 52,062 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wisconsin-state-journal-illini-trip-wild/193591337/ Wisconsin State Journal Illini trip Wildcats in sizzling air duel October 4, 1964 March 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 10 l 2 Ohio State 4 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 0–26 71,227 OSU Pulverizes Illini, 26–0 The Cincinnati Enquirer Dick Forbes October 11, 1964 1E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38643498/osu_pulverizes_illini_260/ March 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 17 w y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 14–0 60,475 Bristling Illini Bury Minnesota Minneapolis Tribune October 18, 1964 Sports 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38254238/bristling_illini_bury_minnesota/ March 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 24 w y UCLA Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 26–7 68,727 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-breeze-illini-smash-bruins-26/189686300/ The Daily Breeze Illini smash Bruins, 26–7 October 25, 1964 March 17, 2026 Newspapers.com October 31 l y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 14–26 59,425 Purdue Upsets Illini, 26–14; Rose Bowl Stock Goes Up The Indianapolis Star November 1, 1964 IV-1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38119217/purdue_upsets_illini_2614_rose_bowl/ Newspapers.com November 7 l y Michigan Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 6–21 62,415 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-star-michigan-tops-illini-2/193592759/ Rockford Morning Star Michigan tops Illini, 21–6 November 8, 1964 March 17, 2026 Newspapers.com November 14 w Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 29–0 55,077 https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-illinois-back-hits-ba/193591006/ Omaha World-Herald Illinois back hits Badgers November 15, 1964 March 17, 2026 Newspapers.com November 21 w Michigan State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 16–0 32,000 State's 'Champaign Party' Goes Down Drain: Grabowski, Butkus Help Sing Spartans Again, 16 to 0 Lansing State Journal Bob Hoerner November 22, 1964 1F https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-states-champaign/177595298/ March 17, 2026 Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-michigan-state-han/193592279/ Enquirer and News Michigan State handed 16 to 0 loss by Illinois November 22, 1964 March 17, 2026 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1964 Illinois) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/295399 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics March 17, 2026 Awards and honors Center/linebacker Dick Butkus won numerous honors in 1964, including: He was a unanimous pick for the 1964 All-America team with first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP),Dick Butkus Leads AP All-America Selections Streator Times-Press December 4, 1964 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-dick-butkus-leads-ap-all-ameri/177595805/ Newspapers.com United Press International (UPI), American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), Central Press (CP), Football News (FN), Time magazine,Frederickson Makes 'Time' All-America At Fullback The Montgomery Advertiser November 28, 1964 8 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montgomery-advertiser-time-all-ameri/177598291/ Newspapers.com and The Sporting News (TSN). He was selected by the AFCA and Sport Magazine as the college football player of the year.Nation's Coaches Surprise With Selection of Two Quarterbacks For 75th Annual "Diamond Jubilee" All-America Football team The Mendocino Beacon December 25, 1964 21 https://www.newspapers.com/article/mendocino-coast-beacon/177597832/ Newspapers.comSport Magazine Picks Butkus As Top Gridder The Decatur Daily Review January 7, 1965 13 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-decatur-daily-review-butkus/177597249/ Newspapers.com He finished third in Heisman Trophy balloting.Huarte Wins Heisman Gridiron Trophy Chicago Tribune November 25, 1964 1 (section 3) https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-huarte-wins-heisman-grid/177596638/ Newspapers.com Others receiving All-America honors included: Defensive back George Donnelly won first-team honors from The Sporting News and Time magazine. Fullback Jim Grabowski won first-team honors from the UPI and Football News. Grabowski was later inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Guard Archie Sutton won first-team honors from Time magazine. 1965 NFL draft Player Round Pick Position Club Dick Butkus 1 3 Linebacker Chicago Bears George Donnelly 1 13 Back San Francisco 49ers Archie Sutton 2 15 Tackle Minnesota Vikings Gregg Schumacher 13 170 End San Francisco 49ers Dave Powless 17 225 Guard New York Giants Dick Butkus was also drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 1965 American Football League draft.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, 0-7611-2480-2, p. 394 References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football