1976 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1976 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record5–6 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPs
Captains
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1976 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Michigan + 7 – 1 – 0 10 – 2 – 0
No. 6 Ohio State + 7 – 1 – 0 9 – 2 – 1
Minnesota 4 – 4 – 0 6 – 5 – 0
4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Indiana 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Purdue 4 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Iowa 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 5 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Michigan State 3 – 5 – 0 4 – 6 – 1
Northwestern 1 – 7 – 0 1 – 10 – 0
  • + – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1976 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 1976 Big Ten season. In their sixth year under head coach Bob Blackman, the Fighting Illini compiled a 5–6 record (4–4 in conference games), finished in a four-way tie for third place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 248 to 235.[1]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Kurt Steger (1,243 passing yards, 46.5% completion rate), running back James Coleman (687 rushing yards, 4.0 yards per carry, 60 points scored), and wide receiver Eric Rouse (326 receiving yards).[2] Offensive tackle Jerry Finis and linebacker Scott Studwell were selected as the team's most valuable players.[3] Studwell and kicker Dan Beaver received first-team honors on the 1976 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[4][5]

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 11Iowa
W 24–649,515
September 18at No. 6 Missouri*
W 31–663,486
September 25Baylor*No. 14
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 19–3444,481[6]
October 2Texas A&M*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 7–1467,543[7]
October 9at Minnesota
L 14–2952,606
October 16at Purdue
W 21–1766,716
October 23Michigan State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 23–3152,860
October 30Wisconsin
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 31–2554,121
November 6at No. 8 Ohio State
L 10–4287,654
November 13at No. 4 Michigan
L 7–38104,107[8][9]
November 20Northwestern
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
W 48–634,500
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1976 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
LB 67 Scott Studwell Sr
LB 97 John Sullivan So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

References

  1. ^ "1976 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  2. ^ "1976 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 26, 2025.
  3. ^ "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  4. ^ "Michigan, Ohio State Pace All-Big Ten Team". Toledo Blade (AP story). December 3, 1976. p. 27.
  5. ^ "Illini place two on All-Big 10". The Pantagraph. November 24, 1976. p. A11.
  6. ^ "Illinois' fumblitis aids Baylor 34–19". The Dispatch. September 26, 1976. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Ag defense hero in win over Illini". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 3, 1976. Retrieved March 29, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Michigan Victor in 38-7 Rout". The New York Times (AP story). November 14, 1976.
  9. ^ Larry Paladino (November 15, 1976). "Michigan Win Sets Up Usual Big 10 Showdown". The Argus-Press.
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