2007 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 2007 Illinois Fighting Illini Fighting Illini logo.svg 125 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 18 20 9–4 6–2 Ron Zook 3rd Mike Locksley 3rd Spread option Dan Disch 1st Curt Mallory 1st 4–3 J Leman Rashard Mendenhall Kevin Mitchell Martin O'Donnell Memorial Stadium Rose Bowl L 17–49 vs. USC The 2007 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their third season under head coach Ron Zook, the Illini compiled a 9–4 record (6–2 in conference games), tied for second place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 362 to 283. On November 10, the Fighting Illini upset the then No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The Illini concluded the season representing the Big Ten in the 2008 Rose Bowl, where they lost to USC by a 49–17 score. The Illini were ranked No. 13 in the AP poll at the end of the regular season but dropped to No. 20 after losing the Rose Bowl.2007 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 25, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/2007-schedule.html It was Illinois' first winning season since 2001. Running back Rashard Mendenhall tallied 1,681 rushing yards on 262 carries (6.4 yards per carry), caught 34 passes for 318 yards, and scored 19 touchdowns. He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the most valuable player in the Big Ten. The team's other statistical leaders included quarterback Juice Williams (1,743 passing yards) and wide receiver Arrelious Benn (54 receptions, 676 receiving yards).2007 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 25, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/2007.html Senior linebacker Jeremy Leman was a consensus first-team pick on the 2007 All-America team. The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 2007 AP Central September 1 2:30 pm l y y Missouri Arch Rivalry Edward Jones Dome St. Louis, MO ESPN2 34–40 62,352http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/stats/2007-2008/ill.html Big Ten Conference The Automated Scorebook October 5, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20141223051846/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/stats/2007-2008/ill.html December 23, 2014 dead September 8 6:00 pm w y Western Illinois 24 (FCS) Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL BTN 21–0 48,301 September 15 11:00 am w y y Syracuse Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY ESPNU 41–20 34,188 September 22 11:00 am w y Indiana Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry BTN 27–14 34,707 September 29 11:00 am w Penn State 21 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL BTN 27–20 57,078 October 6 11:00 am w Wisconsin 5 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ESPN 31–26 57,078 October 13 11:00 am l y 18 Iowa Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA ESPN2 6–10 70,585 October 20 7:00 pm l Michigan 24 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry ABC 17–27 57,078 October 27 11:00 am w y y Ball State Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL BTN 28–17 55,578 November 3 7:00 pm w y Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN BTN 44–17 46,604 November 10 2:30 pm w y Ohio State 1 Illibuck Trophy Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH ABC 28–21 105,453 November 17 11:00 am w 20 Northwestern Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL ESPN 41–22 54,516 January 1 3:30 pm l y y 13 USC 6 Rose Bowl) (College GameDay Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA ABC 17–49 93,923 Rankings 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings AP 0 15 NR NR NR NR NR RV 18 RV NR RV RV 20 18 15 13 20 Coaches Poll 0 15 NR NR NR NR NR RV 19 RV RV RV RV 21 18 14 13 18 Harris 4 14 RV RV 19 RV RV RV RV 20 18 14 13 BCS 7 14 NR NR NR NR 19 17 15 13 Game summaries Vs. Missouri 2007 Missouri Tigers football team Tigers 7 16 14 3 40 Fighting Illini 6 0 21 7 41 The Illini scored first off a Vontae Davis blocked-punt return. Quarterback Juice Williams looked sharp in the first quarter before leaving due to injury in the second. Mizzou jumped out to a 37–13 lead late in the third quarter, before backup quarterback Eddie McGee led the Illini to 21 straight points. A late fourth-quarter interception sealed the game for the Tigers. McGee ended the day 17–31 for 257 yards with a TD, but lost 2 fumbles and threw 2 interceptions. The loss increased Illinois' losing streak to 8 games. No. 24 (FCS) Western Illinois 2007 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team No. 24 (FCS) Leathernecks 0 0 0 0 0 Fighting Illini 0 7 7 7 21 The Illini returned to Memorial Stadium to face FCS Western Illinois in the home opener. Illinois built upon a 7–0 halftime lead with a Juice Williams touchdown run in the third quarter and a Rashard Mendenhall touchdown run in the fourth. Mendenhall finished the day with 142 yards. At Syracuse 2007 Syracuse Orange football team Fighting Illini 14 3 17 7 41 Orange 0 0 10 10 20 Illinois looked to secure its first road win at the Carrier Dome. After one quarter, the Illini led 14–0 off a Juice Williams touchdown pass and a Rashard Mendenhall touchdown run. Syracuse got on the board in the third quarter with a field goal, and eventually cut the deficit to 20–10. But big plays hurt the Orange in the second half. Arrelious Benn ran for 23 yards on one play, and one drive later, Rashard Mendenhall ran for 50. He finished the day with 150 rush yards and 3 TD's. 378 of Illinois' total yards came on the ground, and they outgained Syracuse 508–286 overall. At Indiana 2007 Indiana Hoosiers football team Fighting Illini 6 14 0 7 27 Hoosiers 0 7 0 7 14 Illinois opened their Big Ten season at Indiana. Two Jason Reda field goals put the Illini on the board before Juice Williams found Michael Hoomanawanui in the endzone. They led 20–7 at the half. After a Rashard Mendenhall touchdown put Illinois up 27–7 in the fourth quarter, Indiana QB Kellen Lewis drove down the field to find James Bailey for a 30-yd touchdown, Lewis' second TD on the day. But with a minute left, Vontae Davis picked off Lewis in the endzone, securing a 27–14 Illinois victory, their first in a Big Ten opener since 1993 and their first in Bloomington since 2001. Mendenhall finished the day with a career-high 214 rush yards. Tracy Porter picked off two Juice Williams passes, and Williams finished a disappointing passing effort 13–28 with a TD. No. 21 Penn State 2007 Penn State Nittany Lions football team No. 21 Nittany Lions 10 7 3 0 20 Fighting Illini 14 7 3 3 27 The Illini faced ranked opposition for the first time in 2007 when the #19 Nittany Lions came to Memorial Stadium. Penn State scored first with a field goal, but Arrelious Benn returned the ensuing kick-off 90 yards for a touchdown, putting Illinois up 7–3. They did not relinquish the lead. Their defense intercepted Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli 3 times, and allowed the Nittany Lions to score only 3 times out of 6 red zone possessions. A Kevin Mitchell interception with 9 seconds on the clock ended Penn State's comeback hopes. Illinois' victory marked their first over a ranked opponent since the 2001 season and gives the Illini a 4-game win streak, also their longest since 2001. No. 5 Wisconsin 2007 Wisconsin Badgers football team No. 5 Badgers 0 6 13 7 Fighting Illini 7 10 7 7 Going into the game, the unranked Fighting Illini were actually favored by oddsmakers to beat the #5 Badgers, who entered the game undefeated but having had numerous close games against unranked opponents, including a close game against The Citadel. The Illini won in a game not as close as the score.Zook Scoffs at Illini's Favored Status Terry Bannon https://www.chicagotribune.com/2007/10/03/zook-scoffs-at-illinis-favored-status/ Chicago Tribune October 2, 2007 October 2, 2007 At Iowa 2007 Iowa Hawkeyes football team No. 18 Fighting Illini 3 0 3 0 Hawkeyes 0 3 7 0 The #18 Fighting Illini suffered their first Big Ten loss of the season at Kinnick Stadium. In the fourth quarter, trailing 10–6, Eddie McGee appeared to complete an 82-yard pass for a touchdown, but an ineligible receiver downfield penalty negated the would-be go-ahead score. With two minutes left, Eddie McGee drove the Illini to the Iowa 11-yard line, but threw an interception to seal the win for the Hawkeyes. No. 24 Michigan 2007 Michigan Wolverines football team No. 24 Wolverines 3 14 0 10 Fighting Illini 7 7 3 0 Illinois fumbled a punt late in the fourth quarter and ultimately lost the game. Ball State 2007 Ball State Cardinals football team Cardinals 0 3 14 0 Fighting Illini 0 7 14 7 At Minnesota 2007 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team Fighting Illini 14 20 3 7 Golden Gophers 0 10 0 7 At No. 1 Ohio State 2007 Ohio State Buckeyes football team Fighting Illini 14 7 7 0 No. 1 Buckeyes 14 0 7 0 With their win over the Buckeyes, the Illini defeated a No. 1 ranked team for the first time since 1956, and for the first time ever on the road. Juice Williams completed 12 out of 22 passes for only 140 yards, but four receptions were caught for touchdowns. With the win, the Illini damaged the Buckeyes' national title hopes, though Ohio State eventually reached the national championship game due to insufficient winning by other teams. The Illibuck was returned to Champaign in 2008. This was arguably one of the greatest victories in the history of Illinois football.September 2009 As of 2018, this is the last time Illinois has beaten Ohio State, as the Buckeyes have won the last 9 games in the series, including the last 4 in Columbus. Northwestern 2007 Northwestern Wildcats football team Wildcats 0 7 7 8 No. 20 Fighting Illini 14 7 14 6 Coming off the Ohio State upset, the Illini faced the Northwestern Wildcats. After jumping out to a 14–0 lead, the Illini played redshirt freshmen for the remainder of the game cruising to a 44–22 victory. Vs. No. 6 USC (Rose Bowl) 2007 USC Trojans football team 2008 Rose Bowl No. 13 Fighting Illini 0 3 7 7 No. 6 Trojans 14 7 14 14 The Illini ended the 2007 season by participating in the 2008 Rose Bowl, held on New Year's Day in the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. Although it traditionally hosts the champions of the Big Ten and Pac-10 conferences, the 2007 Big Ten Champion, Ohio State, was ranked #1 in the final BCS poll and instead participated in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game. The rules governing BCS bowl selections allowed the Rose Bowl to select a BCS "at-large" team from the top fourteen teams ranked in the BCS Standings that have at least nine wins. Keeping with its traditional bowl ties, the Rose Bowl selected #13-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini (9–3), under third-year head coach Ron Zook.USC-Illinois Accents Rose Bowl Tradition Gary Klein https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-03-sp-rose3-story.html Los Angeles Times December 3, 2007 December 3, 2007 The Illini entered the Rose Bowl after a Cinderella season where they won nine games, including an upset victory over at-the-time #1 Ohio State, after winning a total of four games the previous two seasons.Underdog Role Suits Illini David Wharton http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-illinirep17dec17,1,209591.story Los Angeles Times December 17, 2007 December 18, 2007 It was Illinois' first bowl game since winning the 2001 Big Ten Championship and playing in the 2002 Sugar Bowl. The Illini offense was led by sophomore quarterback "Juice" Williams, who in the regular season passed for 13 touchdowns and ran for seven, junior running back Rashard Mendenhall, who averaged 127 yards rushing per game and scored 18 touchdowns, and freshman receiver Arrelious Benn, who caught 49 passes and had 158 yards in 32 carries. For taking Illinois to the Rose Bowl a year after going 2–10, Zook won both national and Big Ten coach of the year honors. Illini's Zook wins coach of year award, Associated Press, December 29, 2007. The Illini entered the game 13.5-point underdogs, the biggest of any of the season's 32 bowl games.(6) USC 49, (13) Illinois 17 Eddie Pells https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap?gid=200801010062 Yahoo! Sports Associated Press January 1, 2008 January 2, 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080103042130/http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap?gid=200801010062 January 3, 2008 The Trojans defeated the Illini 49–17 before a sold out Rose Bowl crowd. Roster (as of 8/30/2007) Quarterbacks 14 Ryan Baise – freshman 12 Billy Garza – junior 19 Phil Haig – freshman 10 Eddie McGee – freshman  7 Isiah Williams – sophomore Running backs 22 Daniel Dufrene – sophomore 36 Maurice Haney – junior  5 Rashard Mendenhall – junior 34 Walter Mendenhall – junior 49 Tyler Pacha – junior 29 Troy Pollard – freshman 30 Rahkeem Smith – sophomore 41 Russ Weil – senior Wide receivers 18 Kevin Bailey – freshman  9 Arrelious Benn – freshman 17 Jeff Cumberland – sophomore 23 Jack Eastman – sophomore 21 Kyle Hudson – junior  6 Chris James – sophomore 82 Frank Lenti Jr. – senior 86 Greg McClendon – junior 11 Joe Morgan – sophomore  8 DaJuan Warren – senior  3 Marques Wilkins – sophomore 83 Jacob Willis – senior Tight ends 16 Michael Hoomanawanui – sophomore 85 C.J. Jackson – sophomore 87 John Stock – freshman 89 Tom Sullivan – sophomore Offensive line 52 Jon Asamoah – sophomore 63 Will Bergen – sophomore 62 Eric Block – junior 73 Jack Cornell – freshman 68 Xavier Fulton – junior 57 Mike Garrity – freshman 66 Randall Hunt – freshman 75 Mark Jackson – freshman 74 Brandon Jordan – freshman 39 Tad Keely – freshman 49 Kyle Knezetic – senior 61 Cole Knuth – freshman 60 Ryan McDonald – junior 69 Akim Millington – senior 58 Dan Motuliak – junior 76 Charles Myles – senior 65 Mike Nabolotny – junior 64 Martin O'Donnell – senior 78 Ryan Palmer – freshman 79 Craig Wilson – freshman Defensive line 98 Daryle Ballew – freshman 92 Josh Brent – freshman 99 Jerry Brown – freshman 81 Will Davis – junior 90 Antonio James – sophomore 94 David Lindquist – junior 93 D'Angelo McCray – freshman 96 Chris Norwell – senior 97 Clay Nurse – freshman 95 Doug Pilcher – sophomore 91 Derek Walker – junior 76 Mike Ware – senior 58 Bryson Whalen – sophomore 56 Sirod Williams – junior Linebackers 43 Sam Carson III – junior 39 Conor Gillen – sophomore 55 Anterio Jackson – freshman 53 Dustin Jefferson – freshman 47 J Leman – senior 44 Brit Miller – junior 45 Rodney Pittman – junior 48 Erique Roberts – freshman 40 Antonio Steele – senior 38 Ian Thomas – freshman 51 Anthony Thornhill – senior  2 Martez Wilson – freshman Defensive backs 31 Travon Bellamy – sophomore 18 Nate Bussey – freshman 1 Vontae Davis – sophomore 15 Chris Duvalt – sophomore 20 Garrett Edwards – freshman 24 Bo Flowers – freshman 26 Brian Gamble – freshman 27 Antonio Gully – freshman 32 Justin Harrison – senior 28 Dere Hicks – sophomore 13 Will Judson – junior 30 Mike Locksley Jr. – freshman 23 Drew McMahon – senior 22 Drew Harweger − Sophomore 42 Kevin Mitchell – senior 33 Mike Mucha – sophomore 19 Tony Petruzzello – freshman 35 Darius Purcell – freshman 46 Tyler Rouse – junior 25 Justin Sanders – senior 14 Marcus Thomas – freshman Kickers 36 Jared Bosch – sophomore 38 Matt Brandabur – freshman 35 Mike Cklamovski – sophomore 84 Matt Eller – freshman 13 Jason Reda – senior 87 Anthony Santella – freshman 37 Kyle Yelton – sophomore Awards and honors Rashard Mendenhall (Running back) Chicago Tribune Silver Football All-American, (running back) Martin O'Donnell (Offensive Guard) All-American, (offensive guard) Jeremy Leman (Linebacker) All-American, (linebacker) Four Illinois players received first-team honors on the 2007 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Mendenhall at running back (Coaches-1, Media-1); guard Martin O'Donnell (Coaches-1, Media-1); linebacker Jeremy Leman (Coaches-1, Media-1); and defensive back Vontae Davis (Coaches-1, Media-2).Big Ten Announces 2007 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors Big Ten Conference November 19, 2007 March 3, 2015 http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111907aaj.html https://web.archive.org/web/20150329223900/http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/111907aaj.html March 29, 2015 dead References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football