The 2022 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represents the University of Illinois in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Bret Bielema was in his second season as the team's head coach. The Fighting Illini played home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Key players included senior quarterback Tommy DeVito and junior running back Chase Brown.
In Week 6, the Fighting Illini became ranked in the Top 25 for the first time since 2011.[1] The Illini clinched a winning season for the first time since that same season.
Schedule
Illinois announced its 2022 football schedule on January 12, 2022.[2] The 2022 schedule consists of seven home games and five away games in the regular season. The Fighting Illini will host Big Ten foes Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Purdue and will travel to Indiana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan and Northwestern.[3] The Fighting Illini will host all three of their non-conference opponents, Wyoming from the Mountain West, Virginia from ACC, and Chattanooga from Division I FCS.
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
August 27 | 3:00 p.m. | Wyoming* | | | BTN | W 38–6 | 37,832 |
| 7:00 p.m. | at Indiana | | | FS1 | L 20–23 | 44,357 |
September 10 | 3:00 p.m. | Virginia* | | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| ESPNU | W 24–3 | 33,669 |
| 7:30 p.m. | No. 10 (FCS) Chattanooga* | | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | W 31–0 | 37,579 |
October 1 | 11:00 a.m. | at Wisconsin | | | BTN | W 34–10 | 73,502 |
October 8 | 6:30 p.m. | Iowa | | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | W 9–6 | 44,910 |
October 15 | 11:00 a.m. | Minnesota | No. 24 | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | W 26–14 | 45,683 |
October 29 | 2:30 p.m. | at Nebraska | No. 17 | | ABC | W 26–9 | 86,691 |
November 5 | 3:30 p.m. | Michigan State | No. 16 | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | L 15–23 | 56,092 |
November 12 | 11:00 a.m. | Purdue | No. 21 | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL (rivalry)
| ESPN2 | L 24–31 | 45,574 |
November 19 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 3 Michigan | | | ABC | L 17–19 | 110,433 |
November 26 | 2:30 p.m. | at Northwestern | | | BTN | W 41–3 | 25,744 |
| 11:00 a.m. | vs. No. 22 Mississippi State* | | | ESPN2 | L 10–19 | 35,797 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Central time
|
[3]
Game summaries
Wyoming
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Cowboys
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
0 |
6 |
Fighting Illini
|
7
|
10
|
7
|
14 |
38 |
At Indiana
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
7
|
3
|
7
|
3 |
20 |
Hoosiers
|
3
|
13
|
0
|
7 |
23 |
Virginia
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Cavaliers
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
3 |
Fighting Illini
|
14
|
7
|
3
|
0 |
24 |
No. 10 (FCS) Chattanooga
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
No. 10 (FCS) Mocs
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
Fighting Illini
|
10
|
14
|
7
|
0 |
31 |
At Wisconsin
Illinois vs. Wisconsin – Game summary
at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin
- Date: October 1, 2022
- Game time: 11:00 a.m.
- Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C) • Wind: NE at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
- Game attendance: 73,502
- Referee: Jerry Servinski
- TV announcers (BTN): Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), and Krystle Rich (sideline)
- [1]
Game information
|
- First quarter
- WIS – Isaac Guerendo 21-yard pass from Graham Mertz (Nate Van Zelst Kick), 11:15 Wisconsin 7–0, Drive: 7 plays, 53 yards, 3:39
- ILL – Tommy DeVito 1-yard run (Caleb Griffin Kick), 4:30 Tie 7–7, Drive: 7 plays, 16 yards, 3:39
- Second quarter
- WIS – Nate Van Zelst 39-yard field goal, 14:53. Wisconsin 10–7. Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 4:32.
- ILL – Tommy DeVito 1-yard run (Caleb Griffin Kick), 7:31 Illinois 14–10, Drive: 6 plays, 47 yards, 2:48
- Third quarter
- ILL – Tommy DeVito 1-yard run (Caleb Griffin Kick), 10:24 Illinois 21–10, Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:36
- ILL – Caleb Griffin 44-yard field goal, 9:03. Illinois 24–10. Drive: 4 plays, -10 yards, 1:18.
- ILL – Chase Brown 49-yard run (Caleb Griffin Kick), 6:42 Illinois 31–10, Drive: 4 plays, 70 yards, 1:14
- Fourth quarter
- ILL – Caleb Griffin 31-yard field goal, 14:18. Illinois 34–10. Drive: 9 plays, 40 yards, 5:18.
|
Top passers
Top rushers
- ILL – Chase Brown – 25 carries, 129 yards, TD
- WIS – Chez Mellusi – 7 carries, 16 yards
Top receivers
- ILL – Brian Hightower – 5 receptions, 59 yards
- WIS – Chimere Dike – 5 receptions, 76 yards
Top defenders
|
|
Iowa
Iowa at Illinois
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Hawkeyes |
3 |
3 | 0 | 0 |
6 |
• Fighting Illini |
3 |
3 | 0 | 3 |
9 |
- Date: October 8
- Location:
Memorial Stadium
Champaign, IL - Game start: 6:40 pm CDT
- Game attendance: 44,910
- Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C), Sunny, Wind SW 8 mph (13 km/h)
- Referee: Greg Blum
- TV announcers (BTN): Cory Provus (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), and Elise Menaker (sideline)
Scoring summary |
1 | 9:03 | Illinois | F. Pinton 27-yard field goal | Illinois 3–0 |
3:51 | Iowa | Drew Stevens 32-yard field goal | Tied 3–3 |
|
2 | 8:00 | Illinois | F. Pinton 37-yard field goal | Illinois 6–3 |
2:48 | Iowa | Drew Stevens 27-yard field goal | Tied 6–6 |
|
4 | 2:49 | Illinois | F. Pinton 36-yard field goal | Illinois 9–6 |
Illinois won for the first time in nine tries in the series since the two teams became part of the Big Ten West. It was also former Iowa player and coach Bret Bielema's first game at Illinois against Iowa, as he missed the 2021 meeting due to issues relating to COVID-19.
[4][5]
Statistics |
IOWA |
ILL
|
First downs |
13 |
18
|
Total yards |
221 |
316
|
Rushing yards |
52 |
200
|
Passing yards |
169 |
116
|
Turnovers |
1 |
3
|
Time of possession |
28:55 |
31:05
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Iowa |
Passing |
Spencer Petras |
18/36, 169 yards, INT
|
Rushing |
Leshon Williams |
7 carries, 32 yards
|
Receiving |
Sam LaPorta |
9 receptions, 100 yards
|
Illinois |
Passing |
Artur Sitkowski |
13/19, 74 yards, INT
|
Rushing |
Chase Brown |
31 carries, 146 yards
|
Receiving |
Brian Hightower |
5 receptions, 68 yards
|
Minnesota
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Golden Gophers
|
0
|
7
|
7
|
0 |
14 |
No. 24 Fighting Illini
|
7
|
6
|
7
|
6 |
26 |
At Nebraska
No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini (6–1) vs Nebraska Cornhuskers (3–4) – Game summary
at Memorial Stadium • Lincoln, NE
- Date: October 29, 2022
- Game time: 2:30 p.m.
- Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 86,691
- Referee: Greg Blum
- TV announcers (ABC): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Tom Luginbill (sideline)
- Sources:
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (12:33) ILL – Isaiah Williams 46-yard pass from Tommy DeVito (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:27; Illinois 6–0)
- (1:49) NEB – Timmy Bleekrode 26-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 3:15; Illinois 6–3)
- Second quarter
- (9:38) NEB – Travis Vokolek 56-yard pass from Casey Thompson (Drive: 5 plays, 93 yards, 2:24; Nebraska 9–6)
- (6:03) ILL – Chase Brown 1-yard run, Caleb Griffin kick (Drive: 2 plays, 11 yards, 0:28; Illinois 13–9)
- (0:23) ILL – Chase Brown 12-yard pass from Tommy DeVito, Caleb Griffin kick (Drive: 11 plays, 72 yards, 4:08; Illinois 20–9)
- Third quarter
- (3:29) ILL – Caleb Griffin 36-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 70 yards, 7:27; Illinois 23–9)
- Fourth quarter
- (11:12) ILL – Caleb Griffin 41-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 2:00; Illinois 26–9)
|
Statistics |
ILL |
NEB
|
First downs |
18 |
9
|
Total yards |
367 |
248
|
Rushes/yards |
48–188 |
25–60
|
Passing yards |
179 |
188
|
Passing: Comp–Att–Int |
20–22–0 |
11–24–3
|
Time of possession |
38:13 |
21:47
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Illinois |
Passing |
Tommy DeVito |
20/22, 179 yards, 2 TD
|
Rushing |
Chase Brown |
32 carries, 149 yards, TD
|
Receiving |
Isaiah Williams |
9 receptions, 93 yards, TD
|
Nebraska |
Passing |
Casey Thompson |
7/15, 172 yards, TD, 2 INT
|
Rushing |
Anthony Grant |
12 carries, 61 yards
|
Receiving |
Travis Vokolek |
1 reception, 56 yards, TD
|
Michigan State
Week Nine: Michigan State at No. 16 Illinois– Game summary
at Memorial Stadium • Champaign, IL
- Date: November 5, 2022
- Game time: 3:40 p.m.
- Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C), Cloudy, Wind: SW 30 mph (48 km/h)
- Game attendance: 56,092
- Referee: Larry Smith
- TV announcers (BTN): Cory Provus (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), and Elise Menaker (sideline)
- Sources:
Game information
|
- First Quarter
- (08:03) ILL TD: Isaiah Williams 60-yard pass from Tommy DeVito (Caleb Griffin kick)
ILL 7–0; 2 plays, 59 yards, 0:42
- (01:36) MSU FG: Ben Patton 21-yard field goal
ILL 7–3; 15 plays, 72 yards, 6:27
- Second Quarter
- (10:21) MSU TD: Tre Mosley 1-yard pass from Payton Thorned (kick failed)
MSU 9–7; 7 plays 61 yards, 3:48
- Third Quarter
- (05:45) MSU TD: Jarek Broussard 11-yard run (Ben Patton kick)
MSU 16–7; 6 plays, 29 yards, 3:48
- (05:27) MSU TD: Jayden Reed 16-yard pass from Payton Thorne (Ben Patton kick)
MSU 23–7; 3 plays 41 yards, 1:22
- Fourth Quarter
- (14:27) ILL TD: Isaiah Williams 7-yard pass from Tommy DeVito (Tip Redmon pass from Tommy DeVito)
MSU 23–15; 8 plays, 56 yards, 3:25
|
- Passing
- MSU – Payton Thorne: 19/29, 182 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
- ILL – Tommy DeVito: 25/37, 288 yards, 2 TD
- Rushing
- MSU – Jalen Berger: 15 carries, 84 yards
- ILL – Chase Brown: 33 carries, 140 yards
- Receiving
- MSU – Jayden Reed: 5 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
- ILL – Isaiah Williams: 5 receptions, 98 yards, 2 TD
|
|
Purdue
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Boilermakers
|
0
|
14
|
7
|
10 |
31 |
No. 21 Fighting Illini
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
3 |
24 |
At No. 3 Michigan
Illinois at No. 3 Michigan (
rivalry)
Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Fighting Illini |
0 |
3 | 14 | 0 |
17 |
• No. 3 Wolverines |
7 |
0 | 3 | 9 |
19 |
- Date: November 19
- Location: Michigan Stadium
Ann Arbor, MI - Game start: 12:07 p.m. EST
- Elapsed time: 3:29
- Game attendance: 110,433
- Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C), sunny, SW 15 MPH
- Referee: Michael Cannon
- TV announcers (ABC): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Molly McGrath, and Todd McShay (sidelines)
Scoring summary |
1 | 11:28 | MICH | Blake Corum 2-yard run (Jake Moody kick) | MICH 7–0 |
|
2 | 4:03 | ILL | Caleb Griffin 29-yard field goal | MICH 7–3 |
|
3 | 11:10 | MICH | Jake Moody 46-yard field goal | MICH 10–3 |
|
3 | 7:43 | ILL | Chase Brown 8-yard run (Caleb Griffin kick) | Tied 10–10 |
|
3 | 1:36 | ILL | Chase Brown 37-yard run (Caleb Griffin kick) | ILL 17–10 |
|
4 | 12:31 | MICH | Jake Moody 41-yard field goal | ILL 17–13 |
|
4 | 3:14 | MICH | Jake Moody 33-yard field goal | ILL 17–16 |
|
4 | 0:09 | MICH | Jake Moody 35-yard field goal | MICH 19–17 |
Statistics
|
UI
|
No. 3 UM
|
First downs |
20 |
18
|
Plays–yards |
64–326 |
74–376
|
Rushes–yards |
34–148 |
40–168
|
Passing yards |
178 |
208
|
Passing: comp–att–int |
21–30–0 |
18–34–0
|
Time of possession |
24:57 |
35:03
|
Team |
Category |
Player |
Statistics
|
Illinois
|
Passing |
Tommy DeVito |
21/30, 178 yards
|
Rushing |
Chase Brown |
29 carries, 140 yards, 2 TD
|
Receiving |
Casey Washington |
6 receptions, 53 yards
|
No. 3 Michigan
|
Passing |
J. J. McCarthy |
18/34, 208 yards
|
Rushing |
Blake Corum |
18 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD
|
Receiving |
Colston Loveland |
3 receptions, 50 yards
|
At Northwestern
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
7
|
10
|
17
|
7 |
41 |
Wildcats
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3 |
3 |
Vs. No. 22 Mississippi State (ReliaQuest Bowl)
Scoring summary
|
Quarter
|
Time
|
Drive
|
Team
|
Scoring information
|
Score
|
Plays
|
Yards
|
TOP
|
Mississippi State
|
Illinois
|
2
|
2:49
|
10
|
77
|
4:45
|
Illinois
|
Tommy DeVito 2-yard touchdown run, Caleb Griffin kick good
|
0
|
7
|
2
|
0:09
|
8
|
55
|
2:40
|
Miss. State
|
38-yard field goal by Massimo Biscardi
|
3
|
7
|
3
|
6:57
|
11
|
45
|
5:13
|
Illinois
|
52-yard field goal by Caleb Griffin
|
3
|
10
|
4
|
14:54
|
13
|
75
|
7:03
|
Miss. State
|
Justin Robinson 8-yard touchdown reception from Will Rogers, Massimo Biscardi kick good
|
10
|
10
|
4
|
0:04
|
9
|
68
|
1:46
|
Miss. State
|
27-yard field goal by Massimo Biscardi
|
13
|
10
|
4
|
0:00
|
|
|
|
Miss. State
|
Fumble recovery returned 60 yards for touchdown by Marcus Banks, kick not attempted
|
19
|
10
|
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.
|
19
|
10
|
|
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes | Week |
---|
Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
---|
AP | — | — | — | — | — | RV | 24 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 21 | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV |
---|
Coaches | — | — | — | — | — | RV | RV | 20 | 18 | 13 | 20 | RV | RV | RV | RV | — |
---|
CFP | Not released | 16 | 21 | — | — | — | — | Not released |
---|
Roster
2022 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
RB
|
0
|
Josh McCray
|
So
|
WR
|
1
|
Isaiah Williams
|
So
|
RB
|
2
|
Chase Brown
|
Jr
|
QB
|
3
|
Tommy DeVito
|
Sr
|
WR
|
4
|
Khmari Thompson
|
Jr
|
WR
|
6
|
Ashton Hollins
|
Fr
|
WR
|
7
|
Brian Hightower
|
Jr
|
WR
|
8
|
Shawn Miller
|
Fr
|
QB
|
9
|
Artur Sitkowski
|
Jr
|
QB
|
10
|
Donovan Leary
|
Fr
|
QB
|
11
|
Jake Huber
|
Fr
|
WR
|
11
|
Jonah Morris
|
Sr
|
QB
|
12
|
Kirkland Michaux
|
Fr
|
WR
|
13
|
Pat Bryant
|
So
|
WR
|
14
|
Casey Washington
|
Jr
|
QB
|
15
|
Jameson Sheehan
|
Fr
|
QB
|
17
|
Ryan Johnson
|
Sr
|
WR
|
18
|
Chase Miller
|
Fr
|
WR
|
19
|
Eian Pugh
|
Fr
|
TE
|
20
|
Naivyan Cargill
|
Fr
|
RB
|
21
|
Aidan Laughery
|
Fr
|
RB
|
22
|
Chase Hayden
|
Sr
|
RB
|
23
|
Reggie Love III
|
So
|
RB
|
24
|
Nick Fedanzo
|
So
|
RB
|
25
|
Jordan Anderson
|
Fr
|
TE
|
40
|
Lucas Althaus
|
Fr
|
TE
|
42
|
Michael Marchese
|
Sr
|
TE
|
43
|
Griffin Moore
|
So
|
TE
|
44
|
Ben Clawson
|
Fr
|
TE
|
48
|
Mike Cernigila Jr
|
So
|
OL
|
53
|
Devin Hale
|
Fr
|
OL
|
54
|
Julian Pearl
|
So
|
OL
|
56
|
Magnus MØller
|
Fr
|
OL
|
57
|
Evan Kirts
|
So
|
OL
|
58
|
Matt Fries
|
Fr
|
OL
|
62
|
Sam Tsagalis
|
Fr
|
OL
|
63
|
Alex Palczewski
|
Sr
|
OL
|
64
|
Josh Kruetz
|
Fr
|
OL
|
65
|
Joey Okla
|
Fr
|
OL
|
66
|
Jordyn Slaughter
|
Jr
|
OL
|
68
|
Zachary Barlev
|
Fr
|
OL
|
70
|
Tommy Cronin
|
So
|
OL
|
71
|
Hunter Whitenack
|
Fr
|
OL
|
72
|
Zy Crisler
|
So
|
OL
|
73
|
Josh Gesky
|
Fr
|
OL
|
74
|
Dylan Davis
|
So
|
OL
|
75
|
Alex Pihlstrom
|
Sr
|
OL
|
76
|
Clayton Leonard
|
Fr
|
OL
|
78
|
Isaiah Adams
|
Jr
|
OL
|
79
|
Luciano Elias
|
Fr
|
WR
|
80
|
Hank Beatty
|
Fr
|
WR
|
81
|
Daniel Edwards
|
Fr
|
TE
|
82
|
Luke Ford
|
Sr
|
WR
|
83
|
Keion Battle
|
Fr
|
TE
|
84
|
Owen Anderson
|
Fr
|
WR
|
85
|
Miles Scott
|
Sr
|
WR
|
86
|
Weston Adams
|
Fr
|
WR
|
87
|
Kody Case
|
Sr
|
TE
|
88
|
Henry Boyer
|
Fr
|
TE
|
89
|
Tip Reiman
|
So
|
WR
|
|
Tyler McClure
|
Fr
|
|
Defense
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
K
|
5
|
Caleb Griffin
|
Jr
|
K
|
16
|
Will McManus
|
Fr
|
K, P
|
98
|
Fabrizio Pinton
|
Fr
|
P
|
19
|
Hugh Robertson
|
Fr
|
P
|
96
|
Josh Leff
|
Fr
|
LS
|
36
|
Lane Hansen
|
Fr
|
LS
|
39
|
Aidan Hall
|
So
|
LS
|
47
|
Preston Engel
|
Jr
|
LS
|
95
|
Nico Crawford
|
Fr
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Barry Lunney Jr. – Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
- Ryan Walters – Defensive Coordinator
- Ben Miller – Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
- Cory Patterson – Running Backs
- Terrance Jamison – Defensive Line
- George McDonald – Wide Receivers / Assistant HC
- Aaron Henry – Defensive Backs
- Bart Miller – Offensive Line
- Andy Buh – Linebackers
- Kevin Kane – Outside linebackers / Associate HC
- Sean Snyder - Special Teams/Specialists
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster Last update: September 21, 2021
|
Coaching staff
References
|
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
---|
National championship seasons in bold |