The 2023 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Fighting Illini were led by Bret Bielema in his third season as the team's head coach. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. The Illinois Fighting Illini football team drew an average home attendance of 49,698 in 2023.[1]
Preseason
The Illini were predicted to finish fourth in the Big Ten's West Division.[2]
| Big Ten media poll West Division
|
| Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Points (1st place votes)
|
| 1 |
Wisconsin |
233 (20)
|
| 2 |
Iowa |
232 (16)
|
| 3 |
Minnesota |
176 (1)
|
| 4 |
Illinois |
152
|
| 5 |
Nebraska |
116
|
| 6 |
Purdue |
89
|
| 7 |
Northwestern |
38
|
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 2 | 6:30 p.m. | Toledo* | | BTN | W 30–28 | 48,898 |
|
| 6:30 p.m. | at Kansas* | | ESPN2 | L 23–34 | 45,809 |
|
| September 16 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 7 Penn State | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| FOX | L 13–30 | 49,099 |
|
| September 23 | 2:30 p.m. | Florida Atlantic* | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | W 23–17 | 53,512 |
|
| September 30 | 2:30 p.m. | at Purdue | | Peacock | L 19–44 | 59,510 |
|
| 6:00 p.m. | Nebraska | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| FS1 | L 7–20 | 46,703 |
|
| October 14 | 2:30 p.m. | at Maryland | | NBC | W 27–24 | 35,580 |
|
| October 21 | 2:30 p.m. | Wisconsin | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| FS1 | L 21–25 | 54,205 |
|
| November 4 | 2:30 p.m. | at Minnesota | | BTN | W 27–26 | 42,906 |
|
| November 11 | 11:00 a.m. | Indiana | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL (rivalry)
| BTN | W 48–45OT | 53,157 |
|
| November 18 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 16 Iowa | | FS1 | L 13–15 | 69,250 |
|
| November 25 | 2:30 p.m. | Northwestern | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL (rivalry)
| BTN | L 43–45 | 42,310 |
|
|
Roster
| 2023 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
|
| Players
|
Coaches
|
| Offense
|
Defense
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| DB
|
1
|
Demetrius Hill
|
So
|
| DB
|
3
|
Tahveon Nicholson
|
Jr
|
| DL
|
4
|
Johnny Newton
|
Jr
|
| DB
|
7
|
Matthew Bailey
|
So
|
| LB
|
8
|
Tarique Barnes
|
Sr
|
| DB
|
9
|
Tyson Rooks
|
Fr
|
| DB
|
10
|
Miles Scott
|
So
|
| DB
|
12
|
Elijah Mc-Cantos
|
Fr
|
| OLB
|
13
|
Trey Smith
|
Fr
|
| DB
|
14
|
Xavier Scott
|
So
|
| OLB
|
17
|
Gabe Jacas
|
So
|
| DB
|
19
|
Zachary Tobe
|
Fr
|
| DB
|
20
|
Tyler Strain
|
So
|
| DB
|
21
|
Nicario Harper
|
Sr
|
| DB
|
22
|
Kaleb Patterson
|
So
|
| DL
|
23
|
Terah Edwards
|
Jr
|
| DB
|
24
|
Nick Fedanzo
|
Jr
|
| LB
|
25
|
Jared Badie
|
Fr
|
| DB
|
26
|
Mike Manning
|
Jr
|
| DB
|
27
|
Matthew Bobak
|
So
|
| LB
|
28
|
Dylan Rosiek
|
So
|
| DB
|
29
|
T. J. Griffin
|
Fr
|
| LB
|
30
|
JoJo Hayden
|
Fr
|
| DB
|
31
|
Kionte Curry
|
So
|
| LB
|
33
|
Ezekiel Holmes
|
Sr
|
| LB
|
34
|
Ryan Meed
|
Jr
|
| DB
|
35
|
Grayson Griffin
|
So
|
| DB
|
37
|
Solo Turner
|
Sr
|
| LB
|
39
|
Kenenna Odeluga
|
So
|
| LB
|
41
|
James Kruetz
|
Fr
|
| LB
|
42
|
Luke Zardzin
|
So
|
| DB
|
44
|
Ben Clawson
|
Fr
|
| LB
|
45
|
Malachi Hood
|
Fr
|
| LB
|
48
|
Bryce Barnes
|
Sr
|
| OLB
|
49
|
Seth Coleman
|
Jr
|
| OLB
|
52
|
Pat Farrell
|
Fr
|
| DL
|
55
|
Sed McConnell
|
So
|
| DL
|
56
|
Jeremiah Warren
|
Fr
|
| DL
|
57
|
Evan Kirts
|
Jr
|
| DL
|
74
|
Dylan Davis
|
Jr
|
| DL
|
88
|
Keith Randolph Jr.
|
Jr
|
| OLB
|
90
|
Alec Bryant
|
So
|
| DL
|
91
|
Denzel Daxon
|
Sr
|
| DL
|
93
|
Henry Engel
|
Fr
|
| DL
|
94
|
Joep Engbers
|
Fr
|
| DL
|
99
|
Christian Lorenzo
|
Fr
|
|
Special teams
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| K
|
5
|
Caleb Griffin
|
Sr
|
| P
|
19
|
Hugh Robertson
|
So
|
| K
|
24
|
David Olano
|
Fr
|
| P
|
31
|
Declan Duley
|
Fr
|
| LS
|
36
|
Lane Hansen
|
So
|
| LS
|
39
|
Aidan Hall
|
Jr
|
| K/P
|
98
|
Fabrizio Pinton
|
So
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Barry Lunney Jr. – Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Aaron Henry – Defensive coordinator
- Robby Discher – Special teams coordinator/Tight ends
- Terrance Jamison – Co-defensive coordinator/Defensive line
- Thad Ward – Running backs
- George McDonald – Wide receivers/Assistant head coach
- Antonio Fenelus – Defensive Backs
- Bart Miller – Offensive Line
- Andy Buh – Linebackers
- Charlie Bullen – Outside linebackers/Pass rush coordinator
- Tank Wright – Director, Strength and Conditioning
- GC Yerry – Associate Director, Strength and Conditioning
- Nick Elicone – Assistant, Strength and Conditioning
- Matt Manninger – Assistant, Strength and Conditioning
- Tyler Mayo – Assistant, Strength and Conditioning
- Danny Cameron – Quality Control, Offense
- Max Rosenthal – Quality Control, Offense
- Alex Panos – Quality Control, Defense
- Ryan Simerson – Quality Control, Defense
- Adam Kleffner – Offensive Analyst
- Kevin Laeone Richardson II – Defensive Analyst
- Chris Hurd – Special Teams Analyst
- Vincent Jeffries Jr. – Graduate Assistant
- Tyler King – Graduate Assistant
- Grant Morgan – Graduate Assistant
- Artur Sitkowski – Graduate Assistant
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster
Last update: 9/25/2023
|
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 | |
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National championship seasons in bold |