1968 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

The 1968 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1968 Big Ten Conference football season. In their second year under head coach Jim Valek, the Illini compiled a 1–9 record and finished in a tie for eighth place in the Big Ten Conference.[1]

1968 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record1–9 (1–6 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorEllis Rainsberger (2nd season)
MVPRich Johnson
CaptainCarson Brooks, Tony Pleviak
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1968 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Ohio State $ 7 –0 –010 –0 –0
No. 12 Michigan 6 –1 –08 –2 –0
No. 10 Purdue 5 –2 –08 –2 –0
Minnesota 5 –2 –06 –4 –0
Indiana 4 –3 –06 –4 –0
Iowa 4 –3 –05 –5 –0
Michigan State 2 –5 –05 –5 –0
Illinois 1 –6 –01 –9 –0
Northwestern 1 –6 –01 –9 –0
Wisconsin 0 –7 –00 –10 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's offensive leaders were quarterback Bob Naponic with 813 passing yards, running back Rich Johnson with 973 rushing yards, and wide receiver Doug Dieken with 223 receiving yards.[2] Fullback Rich Johnson was selected as the team's most valuable player.[3]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 21Kansas*
L 7–4746,359
September 28Missouri*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
L 0–4448,127
October 5at Indiana
L 14–2850,241
October 12at Minnesota
L 10–1749,864
October 19at No. 6 Notre Dame*
L 8–5859,075
October 26No. 2 Ohio State
L 24–3156,174
November 2at No. 6 Purdue
L 17–3562,321
November 9at No. 7 Michigan
L 0–3656,775
November 16Northwestern
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
W 14–042,099
November 23Iowa
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 13–3735,055
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster
1968 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
E 82 Doug Dieken So
QB 12 Bob Naponic Sr
 Defense
Pos.#NameClass
 Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

Roster

References
  1. "1968 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. "1968 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. Retrieved December 29, 2016.


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