2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football team
| 2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football | |
|---|---|
 | |
Big Ten champion | |
Sugar Bowl, L 47–34 vs. LSU | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 12 |
| AP | No. 12 |
| Record | 10–2 (7–1 Big Ten) |
| Head coach |
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| Offensive coordinator | Ron Turner (3rd season) |
| Defensive coordinator | Mike Cassity (1st season) |
| Home stadium | Memorial Stadium |
| Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 12 $ | 7 | – | 1 | 10 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Michigan | 6 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iowa | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purdue | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Penn State | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan State | 3 | – | 5 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2001 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 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fifth season under head coach Ron Turner, the Illini compiled a 10–2 record (7–1 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 356 to 238. They were invited to the 2002 Sugar Bowl, losing to LSU, 47–34. The Illini were ranked No. 7 at the end of the regular season, but dropped to No. 12 in the final poll issued after the bowl games.[1]
Senior quarterback Kurt Kittner led the Big Ten with 2,944 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He completed 207 of 374 passes for a 55.3% completion percentage.[2] The team's other statistical leaders included wide receiver Brandon Lloyd (60 receptions for 1,006 yards), running back Antoineo Harris (626 rushing yards), and kicker Peter Christofilakos (61 points, 12 of 13 field goals, 25 of 25 extra points).[2]
Ten Illinois players were recognized on the 2001 All-Big Ten Conference football team: guard Jay Kulaga (Coaches-1, Media-1); tackle Tony Pashos (Coaches-1, Media-1); Kittner at quarterback (Coaches-2, Media-2); Lloyd at receiver (Coaches-2, Media-2); center Luke Butkus (Coaches-2, Media-2); linebacker Jerry Schumacher (Media-2); defensive backs Bobby Jackson (Coaches-2), Christian Morton (Media-2), and Eugene Wilson; and kicker Christofilakos (Media-2).[3]
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 1 | 2:30 pm | at California* | FSN | W 44–17 | 38,160 | [4] | ||
| September 8 | 11:00 am | Northern Illinois* | ESPN Plus | W 17–12 | 45,674 | [5] | ||
| September 22 | 11:00 am | No. 25 Louisville* |
| ESPN | W 34–10 | 43,232 | [6] | |
| September 29 | 2:30 pm | at No. 17 Michigan | No. 22 | ABC | L 20–45 | 107,085 | [7][8] | |
| October 6 | 11:00 am | Minnesota |
| ESPN Plus | W 32–14 | 53,225 | [9] | |
| October 13 | 12:00 pm | at Indiana | W 35–14 | 31,116 | [10] | |||
| October 20 | 11:00 am | Wisconsin |
| ESPN | W 42–35 | 70,904 | [11] | |
| November 3 | 11:00 am | at No. 20 Purdue | No. 21 | ESPN | W 38–13 | 61,568 | [12] | |
| November 10 | 2:30 pm | Penn State | No. 15 |
| ABC | W 33–28 | 70,904 | [13] |
| November 17 | 11:00 am | at No. 25 Ohio State | No. 12 | ESPN | W 34–22 | 104,407 | [14][15] | |
| November 22 | 11:00 am | Northwestern | No. 10 |
| ESPN2 | W 34–28 | 45,755 | [16] |
| January 1 | 7:30 pm | vs. No. 12 LSU* | No. 7 | ABC | L 34–47 | 77,688 | [17][18] | |
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Roster
| 2001 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
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References
- ^ "2001 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ a b "2001 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ "Brewer, Johnson and Utecth Named To All-Big Ten Teams". University of Minnesota. December 4, 2001. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2015.
- ^ "Illinois at California". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. September 1, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ "Northern Illinois at Illinois". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. September 8, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ "Louisville at Illinois". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. September 22, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ Angelique S. Chengelis (September 30, 2001). "Wolverines stomp Illinois: Defense smothers Kittner". The Detroit News. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Michigan 45, Illinois 20". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. September 29, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ "Minnesota at Illinois". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. October 6, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ "Illinois 35, Indiana 14". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. October 13, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ "Wisconsin at Illinois". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. October 20, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ "Illinois 38, Purdue 13". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. November 3, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ "Penn State at Illinois". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. November 10, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ Bruce Hooley (November 18, 2001). "OSU kept at arm's length: Buckeyes feel Bellisari's absence in loss to Illini". The Plain Dealer. pp. C1, C7 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Illinois 34, Ohio State 22". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. November 17, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ "No. 10 Illinois 34, Northwestern 28". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. November 24, 2001. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
- ^ Gary Reinmuth (January 2, 2012). "Belly up on bayou". Chicago Tribune. p. 1 (section IV) – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Louisiana State 47, Illinois 34". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. January 1, 2002. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.