CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

Illinois record book

The school’s records in every stat, career, season and game, and its record year by year, as Illinois’s Wikipedia lists give them from the school’s media guide. Names lead to each player’s page where he has one.

Chasing the record

This season’s players already in the school’s top five, as the lists stood when Wikipedia’s editors last updated them.

Retired numbers

  • Dick Butkus1962–⁠1964, retired 2003, Hall of Fame
  • Red Grange1923–⁠1925, retired 2003, Hall of Fame

Passing

Passing yards

Career

  1. 8,725Jack Trudeau 1981–⁠85
  2. 8,722Kurt Kittner 1998–⁠01
  3. 8,568Nathan Scheelhaase 2010–⁠13
  4. 8,037Juice Williams 2006–⁠09
  5. 7,607Luke Altmyer 2023–⁠25

Season

  1. 3,671Tony Eason 1982
  2. 3,360Tony Eason 1981
  3. 3,339Jack Trudeau 1985
  4. 3,272Nathan Scheelhaase 2013
  5. 3,256Kurt Kittner 2001

Game

  1. 621Dave Wilson 1980 vs. Ohio State
  2. 507John Paddock 2023 vs. Indiana
  3. 479Tony Eason 1982 vs. Wisconsin
  4. 462Juice Williams 2008 vs. Minnesota
  5. 456Wes Lunt 2014 vs. Western Kentucky

Passing touchdowns

Career

  1. 70Kurt Kittner 1998–⁠01
  2. 57Luke Altmyer 2023–⁠25
  3. 56Juice Williams 2006–⁠09
  4. 55Jack Trudeau 1981–⁠85
  5. 55Nathan Scheelhaase 2010–⁠13

Season

  1. 27Kurt Kittner 2001
  2. 24Kurt Kittner 1999
  3. 22Jeff George 1989
  4. 22Juice Williams 2008
  5. 22Luke Altmyer 2024

Game

  1. 6Dave Wilson 1980 vs. Ohio State
  2. 5Tom O’Connell 1952 vs. Washington
  3. 5Jeff George 1989 vs. Indiana
  4. 5Juice Williams 2008 vs. Missouri
  5. 5Reilly O’Toole 2012 vs. Charleston Southern

Rushing

Rushing yards

Career

  1. 4,105Robert Holcombe 1994–⁠97
  2. 3,206Chase Brown 2019–⁠22
  3. 2,985Antoineo Harris 1999–⁠02
  4. 2,887Thomas Rooks 1982–⁠85
  5. 2,878Jim Grabowski 1963–⁠65

Season

  1. 1,697Mikel Leshoure 2010
  2. 1,681Rashard Mendenhall 2007
  3. 1,643Chase Brown 2022
  4. 1,330Antoineo Harris 2002
  5. 1,281Robert Holcombe 1996

Game

  1. 330Mikel Leshoure 2010 vs. Northwestern
  2. 315Robert Holcombe 1996 vs. Minnesota
  3. 263Howard Griffith 1990 vs. Northwestern
  4. 257Chase Brown 2021 vs. Charlotte
  5. 239Jim Grabowski 1964 vs. Wisconsin

Rushing touchdowns

Career

  1. 31Howard Griffith 1987–⁠90
  2. 26Jason Ford 2008–⁠11
  3. 25Thomas Rooks 1982–⁠85
  4. 25Robert Holcombe 1994–⁠97
  5. 24Johnny Karras 1949–⁠51

Season

  1. 17Rashard Mendenhall 2007
  2. 17Mikel Leshoure 2010
  3. 15Howard Griffith 1990
  4. 13Johnny Karras 1951
  5. 12Red Grange 1924

Game

  1. 8Howard Griffith 1990 vs. Southern Illinois
  2. 4Red Grange 1924 vs. Michigan
  3. 4Antoineo Harris 2002 vs. Indiana

Receiving

Receptions

Career

  1. 262David Williams 1983–⁠85
  2. 214Isaiah Williams 2019–⁠23
  3. 197Josh Ferguson 2011–⁠14
  4. 169Jason Dulick 1993–⁠96
  5. 167A.J. Jenkins 2008–⁠11

Season

  1. 101David Williams 1984
  2. 92David Williams 1985
  3. 90A.J. Jenkins 2011
  4. 82Isaiah Williams 2022
  5. 82Isaiah Williams 2023

Game

  1. 16David Williams 1985 vs. Purdue
  2. 13Keith Jones 1988 vs. Michigan State
  3. 13Steve Hull 2013 vs. Northwestern
  4. 13Isaiah Williams 2023 vs. Minnesota
  5. 12Mike Martin 1982 vs. Ohio State

Receiving yards

Career

  1. 3,392David Williams 1983–⁠85
  2. 2,583Brandon Lloyd 1999–⁠02
  3. 2,432A.J. Jenkins 2008–⁠11
  4. 2,382Walter Young 1999–⁠02
  5. 2,304Isaiah Williams 2019–⁠23

Season

  1. 1,278David Williams 1984
  2. 1,276A.J. Jenkins 2011
  3. 1,156David Williams 1985
  4. 1,068Mike Martin 1982
  5. 1,062Brandon Lloyd 2001

Game

  1. 268A.J. Jenkins 2011 vs. Northwestern
  2. 224Steve Hull 2013 vs. Indiana
  3. 218Casey Washington 2023 vs. Northwestern
  4. 208David Williams 1984 vs. Northwestern
  5. 200Mike Dudek 2014 vs. Purdue

Receiving touchdowns

Career

  1. 24David Williams 1983–⁠85
  2. 21Brandon Lloyd 1999–⁠02
  3. 19Pat Bryant 2021–⁠22
  4. 19A.J. Jenkins 2008–⁠11
  5. 15Mike Martin 1980–⁠82

Game

  1. 3David Williams 1985 vs. Purdue
  2. 3Mike Bellamy 1989 vs. Indiana
  3. 3Shawn Wax 1990 vs. Iowa
  4. 3Gus Palma 1991 vs. Houston
  5. 3Greg Lewis 2000 vs. Middle Tennessee

Total offense

Total offense yards

Career

  1. 10,634Nathan Scheelhaase 2010–⁠13
  2. 10,594Juice Williams 2006–⁠09
  3. 8,880Kurt Kittner 1998–⁠01
  4. 8,640Jack Trudeau 1981–⁠85
  5. 8,348Luke Altmyer 2023–⁠25

Season

  1. 3,892Juice Williams 2008
  2. 3,671Tony Eason 1982
  3. 3,543Nathan Scheelhaase 2013
  4. 3,331Tony Eason 1981
  5. 3,321Jack Trudeau 1985

Game

  1. 585Dave Wilson 1980 vs. Ohio State
  2. 503Juice Williams 2008 vs. Minnesota
  3. 499John Paddock 2023 vs. Indiana
  4. 495Nathan Scheelhaase 2013 vs. Indiana
  5. 480Tony Eason 1982 vs. Wisconsin

Total touchdowns

Career

  1. 77Kurt Kittner 1998–⁠01
  2. 74Juice Williams 2006–⁠09
  3. 74Nathan Scheelhaase 2010–⁠13
  4. 69Luke Altmyer 2023–⁠25
  5. 60Jack Trudeau 1981–⁠85

Season

  1. 29Kurt Kittner 2001
  2. 27Juice Williams 2008
  3. 27Luke Altmyer 2025
  4. 26Luke Altmyer 2024
  5. 25Tony Eason 1981

Game

  1. 8Howard Griffith 1990 vs. Southern Illinois

Defense

Interceptions

Career

  1. 30Al Brosky 1950–⁠52
  2. 19Mike Gow 1972–⁠74
  3. 13George Donnelly 1962–⁠64
  4. 13Mike Heaven 1981–⁠84
  5. 13Craig Swoope 1982–⁠85

Season

  1. 11Al Brosky 1950
  2. 11Al Brosky 1951
  3. 10Mike Gow 1973
  4. 8Al Brosky 1952
  5. 8George Donnelly 1964

Game

  1. 4Mike Gow 1974 vs. Stanford
  2. 3Mike Gow 1973 vs. Minnesota
  3. 3Phil Knell 1966 vs. Purdue
  4. 3Duane Lyle 1995 vs. East Carolina
  5. 3Eugene Wilson 2001 vs. Penn State

Tackles

Career

  1. 595Dana Howard 1991–⁠94
  2. 501John Sullivan 1974–⁠78
  3. 483Darrick Brownlow 1987–⁠90
  4. 441John Gillen 1977–⁠80
  5. 436John Holecek 1991–⁠94

Season

  1. 202John Sullivan 1977
  2. 177Scott Studwell 1976
  3. 166Darrick Brownlow 1988
  4. 161Darrick Brownlow 1990
  5. 155John Gillen 1978

Game

  1. 34John Sullivan 1977 vs. Minnesota
  2. 27John Sullivan 1977 vs. Syracuse
  3. 26Bill Burrell 1959 vs. Purdue
  4. 25John Sullivan 1977 vs. Ohio State
  5. 24Dana Howard 1991 vs. Ohio State

Sacks

Career

  1. 44.5Simeon Rice 1992–⁠95
  2. 27.0Gabe Jacas 2022–⁠25
  3. 23.0Scott Davis 1983–⁠87
  4. 21.0Fred Wakefield 1997–⁠00
  5. 20.0Mike Poloskey 1988–⁠91

Season

  1. 16.0Simeon Rice 1994
  2. 16.0Whitney Mercilus 2011
  3. 15.0Mike Poloskey 1991
  4. 11.5Simeon Rice 1995
  5. 11.0Gabe Jacas 2025

Game

  1. 5.0Simeon Rice 1994 vs. Washington State
  2. 4.0Mike Poloskey 1991 vs. East Carolina
  3. 4.0Will Davis 2007 vs. Indiana
  4. 4.0Clay Nurse 2009 vs. Minnesota
  5. 3.5Jeff Weisse 1998 vs. Middle Tennessee

Kicking

Field goals made

Career

  1. 53Chris White 1983–⁠85
  2. 52Chris Richardson 1991–⁠94
  3. 51Jason Reda 2004–⁠07
  4. 41Mike Bass 1980–⁠82
  5. 39Doug Higgins 1987–⁠90

Season

  1. 24Mike Bass 1982
  2. 24Chris White 1984
  3. 24Derek Dimke 2010
  4. 20Neil Rackers 1999
  5. 20David Olano 2025

Game

  1. 5Dan Beaver 1973 vs. Purdue
  2. 5Mike Bass 1982 vs. Wisconsin
  3. 5Chris White 1984 vs. Wisconsin
  4. 5Doug Higgins 1990 vs. Michigan State
  5. 5David Olano 2025 vs. Purdue

Field goal percentage

Career

  1. 86.0%David Olano 2024–⁠25
  2. 84.8%Derek Dimke 2008–⁠11
  3. 84.0%Peter Christofilakos 1999–⁠02
  4. 75.0%Jason Reda 2004–⁠07
  5. 74.5%Mike Bass 1980–⁠82

Season

  1. 92.3%Peter Christofilakos 2001
  2. 88.9%Jason Reda 2007
  3. 87.0%David Olano 2025
  4. 85.7%Mike Bass 1982
  5. 85.7%Chris White 1984

Season by season

136 seasons; 2 differ from our games on file (marked)
SeasonCoachRecordConferenceBowlAP
2025Bret Bielema9–⁠45–⁠4, T–7thMusic City W
2024Bret Bielema10–⁠36–⁠3, T–5thCitrus W16
2023Bret Bielema5–⁠73–⁠6, T–4th (West)
2022Bret Bielema8–⁠55–⁠4, T–2nd (West)ReliaQuest L
2021Bret Bielema5–⁠74–⁠5, 5th (West)
2020Lovie Smith2–⁠62–⁠6, 7th (West)
2019Lovie Smith6–⁠74–⁠5, 4th (West)Redbox L
2018Lovie Smith4–⁠82–⁠7, 7th (West)
2017Lovie Smith2–⁠100–⁠9, 7th (West)
2016Lovie Smith3–⁠92–⁠7, 6th (West)
2015Bill Cubit5–⁠72–⁠6, T–5th (West)
2014Tim Beckman6–⁠73–⁠5, T–5th (West)Heart of Dallas L
2013Tim Beckman4–⁠81–⁠7, 5th (Leaders)
2012Tim Beckman2–⁠100–⁠8, 6th (Leaders)
2011Ron Zook7–⁠62–⁠6, 5th (Leaders)Kraft Fight Hunger W
2010Ron Zook7–⁠64–⁠4, T–4thTexas W
2009Ron Zook3–⁠92–⁠6, 9th
2008Ron Zook5–⁠73–⁠5, T–8th
2007Ron Zook9–⁠46–⁠2, T–2ndRose L20
2006Ron Zook2–⁠101–⁠7, T–10th
2005Ron Zook2–⁠90–⁠8, 11th
2004Ron Turner3–⁠81–⁠7, 11th
2003Ron Turner1–⁠110–⁠8, 11th
2002Ron Turner5–⁠74–⁠4, T–5th
2001Ron Turner10–⁠27–⁠1, 1st, conference championsSugar L12
2000Ron Turner5–⁠62–⁠6, T–9th
1999Ron Turner8–⁠44–⁠4, T–6thMicronPC W24
1998Ron Turner3–⁠82–⁠6, 7th
1997Ron Turner0–⁠110–⁠8, 11th
1996Lou Tepper2–⁠91–⁠7, T–9th
1995Lou Tepper5–⁠5–⁠13–⁠4–⁠1, T–7th
1994Lou Tepper7–⁠54–⁠4, T–5thLiberty W
1993Lou Tepper5–⁠65–⁠3, T–4th
1992Lou Tepper6–⁠5–⁠14–⁠3–⁠1, 4thHoliday L
1991John Mackovic6–⁠64–⁠4, 4thJohn Hancock L
1990John Mackovic8–⁠46–⁠2, T–1st, conference championsHall of Fame L25
1989John Mackovic10–⁠27–⁠1, 2ndCitrus W10
1988John Mackovic6–⁠5–⁠15–⁠2–⁠1, T–3rdAll-American L
1987Mike White3–⁠7–⁠12–⁠5–⁠1, 8th
1986Mike White4–⁠73–⁠5, T–6th
1985Mike White6–⁠5–⁠15–⁠2–⁠1, 3rdPeach L
1984Mike White7–⁠46–⁠3, T–2nd
1983Mike White10–⁠29–⁠0, 1st, conference championsRose L10
1982Mike White7–⁠56–⁠3, 4thLiberty L
1981Mike White7–⁠46–⁠3, T–3rd
1980Mike White3–⁠7–⁠13–⁠5, T–6th
1979Gary Moeller2–⁠8–⁠11–⁠6–⁠1, 9th
1978Gary Moeller1–⁠8–⁠20–⁠6–⁠2, 9th
1977Gary Moeller3–⁠82–⁠6, T–8th
1976Bob Blackman5–⁠64–⁠4, T–3rd
1975Bob Blackman5–⁠64–⁠4, T–3rd
1974Bob Blackman6–⁠4–⁠14–⁠3–⁠1, 5th
1973Bob Blackman5–⁠64–⁠4, T–4th
1972Bob Blackman3–⁠83–⁠5, T–6th
1971Bob Blackman5–⁠65–⁠3, T–3rd
1970Jim Valek3–⁠71–⁠6, T–9th
1969Jim Valek0–⁠100–⁠7, 10th
1968Jim Valek1–⁠91–⁠6, T–8th
1967Jim Valek4–⁠63–⁠4, T–5th
1966Pete Elliott4–⁠64–⁠3, T–3rd
1965Pete Elliott6–⁠44–⁠3, 5th
1964Pete Elliott6–⁠34–⁠3, T–4th
1963Pete Elliott8–⁠1–⁠15–⁠1–⁠1, 1st, conference championsRose W3
1962Pete Elliott2–⁠72–⁠5, 8th
1961Pete Elliott0–⁠90–⁠7, T–9th
1960Pete Elliott5–⁠43–⁠4, T–5th
1959Ray Eliot5–⁠3–⁠14–⁠2–⁠1, T–3rd13
1958Ray Eliot4–⁠54–⁠3, 6th
1957Ray Eliot4–⁠53–⁠4, 7th
1956Ray Eliot2–⁠5–⁠21–⁠4–⁠2, T–7th
1955Ray Eliot5–⁠3–⁠13–⁠3–⁠1, 5th
1954Ray Eliot1–⁠80–⁠6, 10th
1953Ray Eliot7–⁠1–⁠15–⁠1, T–1st, conference champions7
1952Ray Eliot4–⁠52–⁠5, T–6th
1951Ray Eliot9–⁠0–⁠15–⁠0–⁠1, 1st, national championsRose W4
1950Ray Eliot7–⁠24–⁠2, 4th13
1949Ray Eliot3–⁠4–⁠23–⁠3–⁠1, T–5th
1948Ray Eliot3–⁠62–⁠5, 8th
1947Ray Eliot5–⁠3–⁠13–⁠3, T–3rd
1946Ray Eliot8–⁠26–⁠1, 1st, conference championsRose W5
1945Ray Eliot2–⁠6–⁠11–⁠4–⁠1, 7th
1944Ray Eliot5–⁠4–⁠13–⁠3, 6th15
1943Ray Eliot3–⁠72–⁠4, 6th
1942Ray Eliot6–⁠43–⁠2, T–3rd
1941Robert Zuppke2–⁠60–⁠5, 9th
1940Robert Zuppke1–⁠70–⁠5, 9th
1939Robert Zuppke3–⁠4–⁠13–⁠3, 6th
1938Robert Zuppke3–⁠52–⁠3, 7th
1937Robert Zuppke3–⁠3–⁠22–⁠3, 8th
1936Robert Zuppke4–⁠3–⁠12–⁠2–⁠1, 6th
1935Robert Zuppke3–⁠51–⁠4, T–9th
1934Robert Zuppke7–⁠14–⁠1, 3rd
1933Robert Zuppke5–⁠33–⁠2, 5th
1932Robert Zuppke5–⁠42–⁠4, 7th
1931Robert Zuppke2–⁠60–⁠6, T–9th
1930Robert Zuppke3–⁠51–⁠4, 8th
1929Robert Zuppke6–⁠1–⁠13–⁠1–⁠1, 2nd
1928Robert Zuppke7–⁠14–⁠1, 1st, conference champions
1927Robert Zuppke7–⁠0–⁠15–⁠0, T–1st, national champions
1926Robert Zuppke6–⁠22–⁠2, T–6th
1925Robert Zuppke5–⁠32–⁠2, T–4th
1924Robert Zuppke6–⁠1–⁠13–⁠1–⁠1, T–2nd
1923Robert Zuppke8–⁠05–⁠0, 1st, national champions
1922Robert Zuppke2–⁠52–⁠4, 6th
1921Robert Zuppke3–⁠41–⁠4, 8th
1920Robert Zuppke5–⁠24–⁠2, 4th
1919Robert Zuppke6–⁠16–⁠1, 1st, national champions
1918Robert Zuppke5–⁠24–⁠0, 1st, conference champions
1917Robert Zuppke5–⁠2–⁠12–⁠2–⁠1, T–5th
1916Robert Zuppke3–⁠3–⁠12–⁠2–⁠1, T–4th
1915Robert Zuppke5–⁠0–⁠23–⁠0–⁠2, 5th
1914Robert Zuppke7–⁠06–⁠0, 1st, national champions
1913Robert Zuppke4–⁠2–⁠12–⁠2–⁠1, 5th
1912Arthur R. Hall3–⁠3–⁠11–⁠3–⁠1, T–6th
1911Arthur R. Hall4–⁠2–⁠12–⁠2–⁠1, T–4th
1910Arthur R. Hall7–⁠04–⁠0, 1st, conference champions
1909Arthur R. Hall5–⁠23–⁠1, 3rd
1908Arthur R. Hall5–⁠1–⁠14–⁠1, 2nd
1907Arthur R. Hall3–⁠23–⁠2, 3rd
1906Justa Lindgren1–⁠3–⁠11–⁠3, 5th
1905Fred Lowenthal5–⁠40–⁠3, T–6th
1904Hall, Lindgren, Lowenthal, & Matthews9–⁠2–⁠13–⁠1–⁠1, 4th
1903George W. Woodruff8–⁠61–⁠5, 7th
1902Edgar Holt10–⁠2–⁠14–⁠2, 4th
1901Edgar Holt8–⁠24–⁠2, 4th
1900Fred L. Smith7–⁠3–⁠21–⁠3–⁠2, 8th
1899George Huff3–⁠5–⁠10–⁠3, T–6th
1898George Huff4–⁠51–⁠1, 4th
1897George Huff6–⁠21–⁠1, 4th
1896George Huff4–⁠2–⁠10–⁠2–⁠1, T–6th
1895George Huff4–⁠2–⁠1
1894Louis Vail4–⁠3 (ours 5–⁠3)
1893E.K. Hall3–⁠2–⁠3
1892E.K. Hall7–⁠4–⁠1 (ours 9–⁠3–⁠2)
1891Robert Lackey5–⁠1
1890Scott Williams1–⁠2

From Wikipedia’s record book and season list for the program (CC BY-SA), which cite the school’s media guide. Browse every program’s in the data.