1957 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1957 Illinois Fighting Illini football 1957 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg 285 Big Ten Conference Big Ten 4–5 3–4 Ray Eliot 16th Ron Hanson Dale Smith Memorial Stadium The 1957 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 1957 Big Ten season. In their 16th year under head coach Ray Eliot, the Illini compiled a 4–5 record (3–4 in conference games), finished in seventh place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 167 to 133.1957 Illinois Schedule and Results Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 27, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1957-schedule.html The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Tom Haller (675 passing yards, 51.0% completion percentage), fullback Ray Nitschke (514 rushing yards, 6.5 yards per carry), and end Rich Kreitling (12 receptions for 203 yards).1957 Illinois Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/College Football July 27, 2025 https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1957.html End Ron Hanson was selected as the team's most valuable player.Fighting Illini Football Record Book University of Illinois 2015 December 28, 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 1957 AP September 27 Friday l y y UCLA Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA 6–16 48,714 Wolf Al 48,714 see Bruins defeat Illinois, 16–6: Invaders beaten decisively Bruins hand Big Ten foe decisive loss The Los Angeles Times September 28, 1957 167193208 October 5 w y Colgate Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 40–0 41,594 Illinois Triumphs, 40 to 0; Nitschke Gets 3 Touchdowns Against Colgate Bert Bertine October 6, 1957 17 Decatur Sunday Herald and Review Decatur, Ill. Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/68068301/1957-colgate-illinois/ October 12 l y Ohio State Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH Illibuck 7–21 82,239 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kalamazoo-gazette-ohio-state-downs-i/201233114/ The Kalamazoo Gazette Ohio State downs Illinois, 21–7, before 82,239 fans October 13, 1957 July 8, 2026 Newspapers.com October 19 w Minnesota 4 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL 34–13 69,619 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-illinois-surprises/201232400/ The Pittsburgh Press Illinois surprises Minnesota, 34–13, before 69,619 fans October 20, 1957 July 8, 2026 Newspapers.com October 26 l y 16 Michigan State 8 Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI 14–19 64,353 Kowalczyk's late touchdown gives Spartans 19–14 victory Lansing State Journal George S. Alderton October 27, 1957 59 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-kowalczyks-late-t/167394987/ July 8, 2026 Newspapers.com November 2 l Purdue Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 6–21 47,690 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sioux-city-journal-purdue-stings-ill/201233298/ The Sioux City Journal Purdue stings Illinois, 21 to 6 November 3, 1957 July 8, 2026 Newspapers.com November 9 w Michigan 11 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 20–19 46,007 Fighting Illini gGain 20–10 victory over Michigan in Big Ten fray The Pantagraph November 10, 1957 25 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38682150/fighting_illini_gain_2010_victory_over/ July 8, 2026 Newspapers.com November 16 l y 15 Wisconsin Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI 13–24 52,384 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-wisconsins-fast/201233447/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Wisconsin's fast-moving Badgers beat Illinois, 24 to 13 November 17, 1957 July 8, 2026 Newspapers.com November 23 w Northwestern Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL rivalry 27–0 27,017 https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-illinois-routs-nor/201230743/ Battle Creek Enquirer and News Illinois routs Northwestern November 24, 1957 July 8, 2026 Newspapers.com Schedule/Results (1957 Illinois) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/129613 National Collegiate Athletic Association NCAA Statistics July 8, 2026 References Illinois Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons Illinois Fighting Illini football