The 2018 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 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their third season under head coach Lovie Smith, the Fighting Illini compiled a 4–8 record (2–7 in conference games), finished in last place out of seven teams in the Big Ten's West Division, and were outscored by a total of 473 to 312.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback AJ Bush (1,413 passing yards), running back Reggie Corbin (1,085 rushing yards, 8.5 yards per attempt), wide receiver Ricky Smalling (33 receptions for 406 yards), and kicker Chase McLaughlin (96 points scored, 36 of 36 extra points, 20 of 25 field goals). McLaughlin was the only Illinois player to receive first-team honors on the 2018 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Offseason
Recruiting
Position key BackBCenterCCornerbackCBDefensive backDBDefensive endDEDefensive linemanDLDefensive tackleDTEndEFullbackFBGuardGHalfbackHBKickerKKickoff returnerKROffensive tackleOTOffensive linemanOLLinebackerLBLong snapperLSPunterPPunt returnerPRQuarterbackQBRunning backRBSafetySTight endTEWide receiverWR
Recruits The Fighting Illini signed a total of 17 recruits on Early National Signing Day on December 20, 2017.
Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released John Mackey AwardLouis DorseyTESOWuerffel TrophyNick AllegrettiOLSR
Schedule The 2018 schedule consisted of seven home and five away games in the regular season. The Fighting Illini hosted Big Ten foes Penn State, Purdue, Minnesota, Iowa, and traveled to Rutgers, Wisconsin, Maryland, Nebraska and Northwestern.
The Fighting Illini hosted all three non-conference opponents, Kent State from the Mid-American Conference, Western Illinois from Missouri Valley Football Conference, and South Florida from the American Athletic Conference. The South Florida game was played at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears.
Game summaries
Kent State
Western Illinois
South Florida
Penn State
At Rutgers
Purdue
At Wisconsin
At Maryland
Minnesota
At Nebraska
Iowa
At Northwestern
Roster
Awards and honors Individual Awards Chase McLaughlin Bakken–Andersen Kicker of the Year
All-Big Ten Chase McLaughlin K 1 2 Nick Allegretti OG HM 2 Reggie Corbin RB 3 3 Blake Hayes P HM 3 Alex Palczewski OT – HM Del'Shawn Phillips LB – HM Bobby Roundtree DL – HMHM = Honorable mention. Reference:
Players drafted into the NFL
7 216 Nick Allegretti C Kansas City Chiefs
References