The 2017 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their second season under head coach Lovie Smith, the Fighting Illini compiled a 2–10 record (0–9 in conference games), finished in last place in the Big Ten's West Division, and were outscored by a total of 378 to 185.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Jeff George Jr. (1,273 passing yards), running back Mike Epstein (346 rushing yards), wide receiver Ricky Smalling (31 receptions for 510 yards), and kicker Chase McLaughlin (53 points scored, 17 of 17 extra points, 12 of 17 field goals).
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Recruiting
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Recruits
The Fighting Illini signed a total of 25 recruits.
Schedule Illinois announced its 2017 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2017 schedule consisted of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Fighting Illini hosted Big Ten foes Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and traveled to Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Purdue.
The Fighting Illini hosted two of the three non-conference opponents, Ball State from the Mid-American Conference and Western Kentucky (WKU) from Conference USA, and traveled to South Florida from the American Athletic Conference.
Game summaries Ball State
WKU
At South Florida
Nebraska
At Iowa
Rutgers
At Minnesota
Wisconsin
At Purdue
Indiana
At Ohio State
Northwestern
Roster
References