1985 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Peach Bowl, L 29–31 vs. Army
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record6–5–1 (5–2–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPDavid Williams
CaptainJack Trudeau, Craig Swoope, Chris White
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1985 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 10 Iowa $ 7 –1 –010 –2 –0
No. 2 Michigan 6 –1 –110 –1 –1
Illinois 5 –2 –16 –5 –1
No. 14 Ohio State 5 –3 –09 –3 –0
Michigan State 5 –3 –07 –5 –0
Minnesota 4 –4 –07 –5 –0
Purdue 3 –5 –05 –6 –0
Wisconsin 2 –6 –05 –6 –0
Indiana 1 –7 –04 –7 –0
Northwestern 1 –7 –03 –8 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1985 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign during the 1985 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth year under head coach Mike White, the Illini compiled a 6–5–1 record and finished in third place in the Big Ten Conference.[1] Illinois was invited to the Peach Bowl, where the Illini lost to Army.

The team's offensive leaders were quarterback Jack Trudeau with 2,938 passing yards, running back Thomas Rooks with 718 rushing yards, and wide receiver David Williams with 1,047 receiving yards.[2]

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 7No. 6 USC*No. 11
L 10–2076,369
September 14Southern Illinois*No. 19
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 28–2576,330
September 21at No. 18 Nebraska*No. 20
L 25–5276,149
October 5No. 5 Ohio State
W 31–2876,343
October 12at Purdue
L 24–3068,837
October 19at Michigan State
W 30–1776,438
October 26Wisconsin
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 38–2576,395
November 2No. 4 Michigan
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
T 3–376,397
November 9at No. 6 Iowa
L 0–5966,120
November 16Indiana
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 41–2478,805
November 23at Northwestern
W 45–2033,054
December 31vs. Army*
L 29–3129,857
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

No. 6 USC

USC at Illinois
1 234Total
• No. 6 Trojans 14 330 20
No. 11 Fighting Illini 0 073 10
  • Date: September 7
  • Location: Memorial Stadium
  • Game attendance: 76,639
  • Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C)
  
Scoring summary
1USCHank Norman 9-yard pass from Sean Salisbury (Don Shafer kick)USC 7–0
USCRandy Tanner 46-yard pass from Sean Salisbury (Don Shafer kick)USC 14–0
2USCDon Shafer 46-yard field goalUSC 17–0
3USCDon Shafer 23-yard field goalUSC 20–0
IllinoisCap Boso 83-yard pass from Jack Trudeau (Chris White kick)USC 20–7
4IllinoisChris White 28-yard field goalUSC 20–10

In a game that some considered a possible Rose Bowl preview, the Illini were doomed by 6 turnovers and found themselves in a 14–0 very early in the game. Illinois pulled to within 20–10 on a Chris White field goal early in the fourth quarter, but USC used ball control to grind out the clock – including 22 minutes of possession in the second half – and gain a big road win in the season opener for both teams.[3][4]

At No. 18 Nebraska

Illinois at Nebraska
1 234Total
No. 20 Fighting Illini 0 10015 25
• No. 18 Cornhuskers 14 10217 52

[5]

No. 5 Ohio State

Ohio State at Illinois
1 234Total
No. 5 Buckeyes 0 14140 28
• Fighting Illini 14 0710 31

[6][7]

At Michigan State

Wisconsin

No. 4 Michigan

1 234Total
No. 4 Wolverines 0 030 3
Fighting Illini 0 030 3

On November 2, 1985, Illinois played Michigan to a 3–3 tie at Memorial Stadium. Each team kicked a field goal in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Michigan drove the length of the field, but fullback Gerald White fumbled at the Illinois 12-yard line, with the Illini recovering at the nine-yard line. Illinois then drove the length of the field and, with time running out, Chris White lined up for what would have been a game-winning 37-yard field goal. Dieter Heren tipped the ball, which hit the cross-bar and bounced back, and the game ended in a tie. After the game, head coach White said, "I don't remember feeling worse after a game. . . . I'm devastated."[8]

At No. 6 Iowa

Illinois at Iowa
1 234Total
Fighting Illini 0 000 0
• No. 6 Hawkeyes 35 14010 59
  • Date: November 9
  • Location:
    Kinnick Stadium,
    Iowa City, Iowa
  • Game start: 1:05 p.m. CST
  • Elapsed time: 3:20
  • Game attendance: 66,120
  • Game weather: ~45 °F (7 °C), Cloudy, rain, Wind NE 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h)
  • Referee: Otho Kortz
Scoring summary
111:54IOWAR. Smith 49-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick)IOWA 7-0
110:16IOWAHudson 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick)IOWA 14-0
17:28IOWAR. Smith 43-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick)IOWA 21-0
14:36IOWARonnie Harmon 46-yard run (Houghtlin kick)IOWA 28-0
10:59IOWAHudson 10-yard run (Houghtlin kick)IOWA 35-0
25:16IOWAFlagg 1-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick)IOWA 42-0
22:31IOWAHelverson 9-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick)IOWA 49-0
413:12IOWARob Houghtlin 37-yard field goalIOWA 52-0
48:21IOWAGoodman 16-yard run (Houghtlin kick)IOWA 59-0


[9]

Vs. Army (Peach Bowl)

Illinois vs. Army
1 234Total
Fighting Illini 3 1376 29
• Cadets 7 1473 31


[10]

References

  1. ↑ "1985 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. ↑ "1985 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Upsets: UCLA Takes Bosco, and USC Hoists Champaign". Los Angeles Times. September 8, 1985. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  4. ↑ Reilly, Rick (September 16, 1985). "...And Then They Had To Play". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 17, 2022. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  5. ↑ "Nebraska Runs Over Illinois, 52-25". Los Angeles Times. September 22, 1985. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Illinois Leaves Behind Past Failures, Upsets No. 5 Ohio State". The Los Angeles Times. October 6, 1985. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  7. ↑ "A CALL THAT MADE FATHER'S DAY". The Chicago Tribune. October 8, 1985. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  8. ↑ "U-M, Illinois fit to be tied". Detroit Free Press. November 3, 1985. p. D1.
  9. ↑ "Iowa Hits Illini Early, Often". Chicago Tribune. November 10, 1985. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
  10. ↑ "ARMY'S AIR ATTACK STUNS ILLINI". The New York Times. January 1, 1986. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
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