1970 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1970 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1970 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 3–7 1–6 Jim Valek 4th Doug Dieken Kirk McMillin Doug Dieken Memorial Stadium The 1970 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 1970 Big Ten season. In their fourth and final year under head coach Jim Valek, the Fighting Illini compiled a 3–7 record (1–6 in conference games), finished in a tie for last place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 279 to 165.1970 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1970-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Mike Wells (906 passing yards, 41.8% completion percentage), running back Darrell Robinson (749 rushing yards, 3.9 yards per carry), and tight end Doug Dieken (39 receptions for 537 yards).1970 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1970.html Dieken was selected for the second consecutive year 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 Dieken also won first-team honors on the 1970 All-Big Ten Conference football team.Bucks, Michigan Top All-Big Ten Team Jacksonville (Ill.) Journal December 1, 1970 10 https://www.newspapers.com/image/59003663/?terms=adamle%2Bbrockington%2Bstaroba%2B%22associated%2Bpress%22Buckeyes place 6 on all-Big Ten team The Bryan Times (AP story) November 27, 1970 10 https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19701127&id=k1EwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TVIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4310,3497604 The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1970 AP September 19 w y Oregon Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 20–16 33,246 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QbRVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6534%2C3967887 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Cawood Neil Underdog Illinois hands Oregon 20-16 loss September 20, 1970 1B September 26 l y Tulane Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 9–23 27,864 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86342525/tulane-steals-five-passes-stings-wells/ Herald and Review Tulane steals five passes, stings Wells, Illinois, 23–9 September 27, 1970 October 1, 2021 Newspapers.com October 3 w y Syracuse Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 27–0 39,357 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-decatur-daily-review-illinoiss-grou/182558417/ Herald & Review Illinois's ground game clicks for 27–0 conquest of Syracuse October 4, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 10 l y Northwestern Dyche Stadium Evanston, IL rivalry 0–48 33,316 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-wildcats-wallop-i/183303164/ The Grand Rapids Press Wildcats wallop Illini, 48–0, for first victory October 11, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 17 l Indiana Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 24–30 42,708 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-indiana-overcomes-illini/183308011/ The Pantagraph Indiana overcomes Illini, 30–24 October 18, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 24 l Ohio State 1 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 29–48 46,208 https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-irate-illini-s/183302367/ Austin American-Statesman Irate Illini scare Bucks but bow October 25, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com October 31 w y Purdue Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 23–21 67,747 https://www.newspapers.com/article/palladium-item-troubles-illini-surprise/183308249/ Palladium-Item Troubled Illini surprise Purdue November 1, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 7 l y Michigan 5 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 0–42 70,781 U-M Rocks Outclassed Illini, 42-0 Detroit Free Press Curt Sylvester November 8, 1970 1C, 4C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/41387058/um_rocks_outclassed_illini_420/ Newspapers.com November 14 l Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 17–29 36,569 https://www.newspapers.com/article/evansville-courier-and-press-badgers-ove/183305150/ The Evansville Courier & Press Badgers overcome Illini November 15, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com November 21 l y Iowa Iowa Stadium Iowa City, IA 16–22 38,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-illini-finish-in/183304572/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Illini finish in last place November 22, 1970 October 19, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1970 Illinois) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/296543 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 19, 2025 Game summaries Oregon Oregon 0 7 0 9 Illinois 0 10 7 3 September 19 Memorial Stadium yes Q2 4:36 ILL Wells 1 yard run (Wells kick) ILL 7–0 Q2 1:37 ORE Newland 95 yard pass from Blanchard (Woody kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 0:01 ILL Wells 37 yard field goal ILL 10–7 Q3 12:51 ILL Dieken 26 yard pass from Wells (Wells kick) ILL 17–7 Q4 9:49 ILL Wells 22 yard field goal ILL 20–7 Q4 4:30 ORE Marshall 24 yard run (Woody kick) ILL 20–14 Q4 1:45 ORE Safety, Wells tackled by Reeves in end zone ILL 20–16 yes Eugene Register-Guard. 1970 Sep 20. Retrieved 2018-Nov-04. Roster 1970 Illinois Fighting Illini f 82 Sr Doug Dieken G y 54 So Larry McCarren T y 12 So Mike Wells Mike Wells (quarterback) QB y 52 So Larry Allen LB 29 Sr Steve Allen S https://fightingillini.com/sports/2015/7/18/football_alltimerosters_1950_1974.aspx?#1970 *Jim Valek References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football