1968 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1968 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1968-Illinois-football-mediaguide.jpg 240 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 1–9 1–6 Jim Valek 2nd Ellis Rainsberger 2nd Rich Johnson Carson Brooks Tony Pleviak Memorial Stadium The 1968 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 1968 Big Ten season. In their second year under head coach Jim Valek, the Illini compiled a 1–9 record (1–6 in conference games), finished in a tie for eighth place in the Big Ten, and were outcored by a total of 333 to 107.1968 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football June 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1968-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Bob Naponic (813 passing yards, 39.0% completion percentage), fullback Rich Johnson (973 rushing yards, 4.0 yards per carry), and wide receiver Doug Dieken (21 receptions for 223 yards).1968 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 26, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1968.html Johnson was also 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 The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Schedule 1968 AP September 21 l y Kansas Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 7–47 46,359 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-kansas-jumps-to-200-lead/183726998/ The Pantagraph Kansas jumps to 20–0 lead, rambles past Illinois, 47–7 September 22, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 l y Missouri Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 0–44 48,127 https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-mizzou-tops-illinois/183727080/ Southern Illinoisan Mizzou tops Illinois 44–0 September 29, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 l y Indiana Seventeenth Street Stadium Bloomington, IN rivalry 14–28 50,996 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-unimpressive-indiana/183725524/ The Courier-Journal Unimpressive Indiana rallies to tip Illinois 28–14 October 6, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 12 l y Minnesota Memorial Stadium Minneapolis, MN 10–17 49,864 https://www.newspapers.com/article/grand-forks-herald-gophers-top-illinois/183724835/ Grand Forks Herald Gophers top Illinois, 17–10, for homecoming October 13, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 l y y Notre Dame 6 Notre Dame Stadium Notre Dame, IN 8–58 59,075 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-nd-rips-illino/183707727/ The Philadelphia Inquirer ND rips Illinois, 58–8; Hanratty sets record October 20, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 l Ohio State 2 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL Illibuck 24–31 56,174 https://www.newspapers.com/article/springfield-news-sun-osu-near-season-wr/183723691/ Springfield News-Sun OSU, near season-wrecking tie, rallies to nip Illini October 27, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 2 l y Purdue 6 Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN rivalry 17–35 62,321 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kokomo-tribune-boilers-trip-illini/183724300/ The Kokomo Tribune Boilers trip Illini 'easily' November 3, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 l y Michigan 7 Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI rivalry 0–36 56,775 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bay-city-times-wolverines-near-showd/183727203/ The Bay City Times Wolverines near showdown November 10, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 w Northwestern Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 14–0 42,099 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-illini-finally-w/183727262/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Illini finally win one, 14–0 November 17, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 l Iowa Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 13–37 35,055 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-hawks-smash-illin/183726425/ The Sioux City Journal Hawks smash Illini, 37–13 November 24, 1968 October 26, 2025 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1968 Illinois) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/130168 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics October 26, 2025 Roster center|600px|Team photo of the 1968 Illinois Fighting Illini. 1968 Illinois Fighting Illini f 82 So Doug Dieken E y 12 Sr Bob Naponic QB y https://fightingillini.com/sports/2015/7/18/football_alltimerosters_1950_1974.aspx?#1968 *Jim Valek References 35em Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football