By Woodrow Carroll
The University of Illinois has a rich football history going back to 1890. That initial season saw the Fighting Illini finish with a 1-2 record when Illinois split two games with Illinois Wesleyan along with a loss to Purdue.
Coaches came and went those early years in Champaign. The scheduling of games included a mix of high schools, athletic clubs, and colleges along the way.
At the time there were no limitations on the number of games a team could play. In 1892, Illinois football posted a 9-3-2 final record although two of the victories were forfeits. The following season, Illinois was only 3-2-3, indicative of erratic schedules.
In 1896, Illinois joined the Big Ten Conference. The Illini did poorly in conference action for a number of seasons before breaking through in 1910. The 1910 squad finished 7-0-0 (4-0-0 in conference) and was unscored upon.
The 1902, the Illini finished with a 10-2-1 record. That team only finished fourth in the Big Ten. However, to this day, the 10 victories by the 1902 team were, and still are, a benchmark. Why? Ten victories is the most victories the Fighting Illini have ever had in one season. Yes, 10 victories have been reached by Illinois on a number of occasions. But, 10 victories remains the highest total reached by any Illinois team to this point.
As recently as 2001, Illinois reached 10-victory mark. Ron Turner was coach of the Illini that season. The only regular-season defeat suffered by Illinois in 2001 was a 45-20 loss at Michigan. With a regular-season record of 10-1 and a Big Ten Championship trophy at hand, Illinois earned an invite to the Sugar Bowl to take on LSU. The Sugar Bowl Game with LSU ended up a high-scoring affair won by LSU, 47-34.
The 2024 Illinois team can reach that 10-victory total with a victory over South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Dec. 31, in Orlando, Fla..
Both Illinois and the South Carolina Gamecocks, who have never faced each other, finished the regular season with 9-3 records. And, taking a look at who defeated the two schools along the way tells us both teams in the Citrus Bowl went up against quality opposition the way.
Illinois suffered losses at the hands of Oregon, Penn State, and Minnesota this season. Combined those three football programs are 31-7 at the present with bowl/playoff game still to come. South Carolina for its part lost to Alabama, Mississippi, and LSU in SEC action. The South Carolinathree defeats were to programs who at the moment are a combined 26-10. And, a close glance at the six teams who bested Illinois and South Carolina this season is like a “who is who among college football’s elite.”
The bowl season as we have come to know it started last Saturday with The Salute to Veterans Bowl played in Montgomery, Ala.. Northern Illinois’ fans may recall that last season’s game, then called the Camellia Bowl, saw the NIU Huskies defeat Arkansas State, 21-19.
In last Saturday’s Salute to Veterans Bowl, MAC member Western Michigan (6-7) came out on the short end of a 30-23 game against South Alabama. The Broncos of Western Michigan were the first of seven MAC schools playing in bowl games this season.
Ohio is next up among MAC Schools to see bowl action. The Bobcats will square off against Jacksonville State, Friday, Dec. 20 in Orlando, Fla., in the Cure Bowl. The Cure Bowl another of those neonatal bowls that have sprung up in recent years. In the 2021 Cure Bowl, the Huskies of NIU lost, 47-41, to Coastal Carolina.
Northern Illinois will swing into action, Monday, Dec. 23, when they take on Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho. The two schools faced each other at the same location in 2010. with Northern winning. 40-17.
The NIU Huskies would like to make it two straight bowl victories. As mentioned, last season Northern beat Arkansas State, 21-19, in the Camellia Bowl.