The 2021 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 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their first season under head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini compiled a 5–7 record (4–5 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the Big Ten's West Division, and were outscored by a total of 263 to 242. The team's 20–18 victory over No. 7 Penn State set an NCAA single-game record with nine overtime periods.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Brandon Peters (1,170 passing yards, 53.8% completion percentage), running back Chase Brown (1,005 rushing yards), wide receiver Isaiah Williams (47 receptions for 525 yards), kicker James McCourt (80 points, 26 of 26 extra points, 18 of 23 field goals), and defensive back Sydney Brown (81 total tackles, 50 solo tackles). Defensive back Kerby Joseph received first-team honors from the media on the 2021 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Preseason Big Ten media poll The Illini were predicted to finish seventh in the Big Ten's West Division.
Big Ten West Division media poll 1 Wisconsin 233 (29) 2 Iowa 202 (5) 3 Northwestern 160 4 Minnesota 146 5 Nebraska 91.5 6 Purdue 72.5 7 Illinois 47
Schedule
Personnel Coaching staff Bret Bielema Head coach 1stTony Petersen Offensive coordinator 1st Ryan Walters Defensive coordinator 1st Ben Miller Tight ends coach/special teams coordinator 1st George McDonald Wide receivers coach / assistant head coach 1st Bart Miller Offensive line coach 1st Cory Patterson Running backs coach 4th Terrance Jamison Defensive line coach 1st Andy Buh Linebackers coach 1st Kevin Kane Outside linebackers coach / associate head coach 1st Aaron Henry Defensive backs coach 1st
Roster
Game summaries
Nebraska
Statistics NEBILL First downs 19 18 Total yards 392 326 Rushes–yards 39–160 48–167 Passing yards 232 159 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–32–0 15–19–0 Time of possession 25:05 34:55 Team Category Player StatisticsNebraska Passing Adrian Martinez 16/32, 232 yards, TD Rushing Adrian Martinez 17 rushes, 111 yards, TD Receiving Oliver Martin 6 receptions, 103 yards, TDIllinois Passing Artur Sitkowski 12/15, 124 yards, 2 TD Rushing Mike Epstein 16 rushes, 75 yards, TD Receiving Deuce Spann 1 reception, 45 yards
UTSA
Statistics UTSAILL First downs 26 24 Total yards 497 416 Rushes–yards 50–237 35–166 Passing yards 280 266 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–32–0 22–43–0 Time of possession 30:42 29:18 Team Category Player StatisticsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 20/32, 280 yards, TD Rushing Sincere McCormick 31 rushes, 117 yards Receiving Zakhari Franklin 10 receptions, 155 yards, TDIllinois Passing Artur Sitkowski 22/42, 266 yards, 3 TD Rushing Reggie Love III 11 rushes, 39 yards Receiving Isaiah Williams 8 receptions, 101 yards
Virginia
Statistics ILLUVA First downs 20 31 Total yards 337 556 Rushes–yards 27–116 33–133 Passing yards 221 423 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–45–1 28–40–1 Time of possession 27:52 31:19 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois Passing Artur Sitkowski 24/45, 221 yards, TD, INT Rushing Chase Brown 7 rushes, 41 yards, TD Receiving Dalevon Campbell 2 receptions, 43 yardsVirginia Passing Brennan Armstrong 27/36, 405 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Wayne Taulapapa 10 rushes, 35 yards Receiving Jelani Woods 5 receptions, 122 yards, TD
Maryland
Statistics UMD ILL First downs 25 19 Total yards 481 368 Rushes/yards 27/131 45/183 Passing yards 350 185 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 32-43-0 10–26–1 Time of possession 29:09 30:51 Team Category Player StatisticsMaryland Passing Taulia Tagovailoa 32–43, 350 yards, 1 TD Rushing Tayon Fleet-Davis 11 carries, 64 yards, 1 TD Receiving Dontay Demus Jr. 8 receptions, 77 yardsIllinois Passing Brandon Peters 10–26, 185 yards, 1 INT Rushing Reggie Love III 10 carries, 63 yards Receiving Chase Brown 2 receptions, 54 yards
Purdue
Statistics ILLPUR First downs 17 17 Total yards 275 315 Rushes–yards 42–175 26–38 Passing yards 100 277 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–27–0 24–40–2 Time of possession 33:45 26:15 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois Passing Brandon Peters 14/26, 100 yards Rushing Josh McCray 24 rushes, 156 yards Receiving Casey Washington 3 receptions, 31 yardsPurdue Passing Aidan O'Connell 12/19, 182 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Dylan Downing 10 rushes, 39 yards Receiving Milton Wright 7 receptions, 88 yards
Charlotte
Sources:
Wisconsin
At. No. 7 Penn State
Statistics ILLPSU First downs 27 14 Total yards 395 227 Rushes–yards 67–357 29–62 Passing yards 38 165 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 8–21–1 19–34–0 Time of possession 36:25 23:35 Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois Passing Artur Sitkowski 8/19, 38 yards, INT Rushing Chase Brown 33 rushes, 223 yards, TD Receiving Donny Navarro III 2 receptions, 12 yardsPenn State Passing Sean Clifford 19/34, 164 yards, TD Rushing Noah Cain 11 rushes, 43 yards Receiving Jahan Dotson 6 receptions, 69 yards
Rutgers
No. 20 Minnesota
No. 17 Iowa
Source: Box Score
Statistics ILLIOWA First downs 11 18 Total yards 312 255 Rushing yards 64 172 Passing yards 248 83 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 25:42 34:18
Team Category Player StatisticsIllinois Passing Brandon Peters 16/36, 248 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Chase Brown 13 carries, 42 yards Receiving Casey Washington 3 receptions, 61 yardsIowa Passing Alex Padilla 6/17, 83 yards, INT Rushing Tyler Goodson 27 carries, 132 yards Receiving Arland Bruce IV 2 receptions, 45 yards
Northwestern
References