The 2024 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 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their fourth season under head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini compiled a 10–3 record (6–3 in conference games), tied for fifth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 368 to 282. They concluded the season with a 21–17 victory over South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl. With their first ten-win season since 2001, the Illini were ranked No. 16 in the final AP and coaches polls.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Luke Altmyer (2,717 passing yards), running back Josh McCray (609 rushing yards), wide receiver Pat Bryant (510 receiving yards), kicker David Olano (89 points scored, 38 of 39 extra points, 17 of 20 field goals), and defensive back Matthew Bailey (94 total tackles, 44 solo tackles). Defensive back Xavier Scott had four interceptions and won first-team honors from the media on the 2024 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries vs Eastern Illinois (FCS)
Statistics EIU ILL First downs 9 27 Total yards 196 488 Rushing yards 49 246 Passing yards 147 242 Passing: comp–att–int 16–32–2 21–29–0 Time of possession 23:59 36:01 Team Category Player Statistics Eastern Illinois Passing Pierce Holley 16/32, 147 yards, 2 INT Rushing MJ Flowers 9 carries, 28 yards Receiving DeAirious Smith 5 receptions, 63 yards Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 19/24, 213 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kaden Feagin 16 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD Receiving Pat Bryant 5 receptions, 63 yards, 2 TD
vs No. 19 Kansas
Statistics KU ILL First downs 18 14 Total yards 65–327 59–271 Rushing yards 33–186 34–79 Passing yards 141 192 Passing: comp–att–int 18–32–3 16–25–0 Time of possession 29:22 30:38 Team Category Player Statistics Kansas Passing Jalon Daniels 18/32, 141 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Devin Neal 14 carries, 101 yards Receiving Lawrence Arnold 4 receptions, 44 yards, 1 TD Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 16/25, 192 yards Rushing Kaden Feagin 16 carries, 40 yards, 1 TD Receiving Zakhari Franklin 9 receptions, 99 yards
vs Central Michigan
Statistics CMU ILL First downs 19 20 Total yards 62–309 58–379 Rushing yards 33–142 29–137 Passing yards 167 242 Passing: comp–att–int 15–29–1 19–29–0 Time of possession 20:03 30:57 Team Category Player Statistics Central Michigan Passing Joe Labas 12/25, 125 yards, 1 INT Rushing Myles Bailey 6 carries, 49 yards Receiving Evan Boyd 3 receptions, 38 yards Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 19/29, 242 yards, 2 TD Rushing Josh McCray 8 carries, 54 yards Receiving Pat Bryant 7 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TD
at No. 22 Nebraska
Statistics ILL NEB First downs 25 20 Total yards 66–381 68–345 Rushing yards 39–166 31–77 Passing yards 215 297 Passing: comp–att–int 21–27–0 23–35–1 Time of possession 29:38 30:22 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 21/27, 215 yards, 4 TD Rushing Kaden Feagin 12 carries, 69 yards Receiving Pat Bryant 5 reception, 74 yards, 2 TD Nebraska Passing Dylan Raiola 23/35, 284 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT Rushing Dante Dowdell 20 carries, 72 yards Receiving Isaiah Neyor 4 receptions, 90 yards, 2 TD
at No. 9 Penn State
Statistics ILL PSU First downs 17 24 Total yards 57–219 65–374 Rushing yards 32–34 44–239 Passing yards 185 135 Passing: comp–att–int 16–25–1 15–21–0 Time of possession 26:11 33:49 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 16/25, 185 yards, TD, INT Rushing Kaden Feagin 13 carries, 64 yards Receiving Zakhari Franklin 4 receptions, 49 yards Penn State Passing Drew Allar 15/21, 135 yards Rushing Kaytron Allen 18 carries, 102 yards, TD Receiving Harrison Wallace III 4 receptions, 50 yards
vs Purdue (rivalry)
Statistics PUR ILL First downs 21 28 Total yards 58–536 73–556 Rushing yards 32–239 39–177 Passing yards 297 379 Passing: comp–att–int 18–26–0 20–34–0 Time of possession 26:49 33:11 Team Category Player Statistics Purdue Passing Ryan Browne 18/26, 297 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ryan Browne 17 carries, 118 yards Receiving Max Klare 6 receptions, 133 yards Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 20/34, 379 yards, 3 TD Rushing Josh McCray 16 carries, 78 yards, 2 TD Receiving Pat Bryant 4 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD
vs No. 24 Michigan (rivalry)
Statistics MICH ILL First downs 20 18 Total yards 70–322 57–267 Rushing yards 38–114 38–187 Passing yards 208 80 Passing: comp–att–int 20–32–1 9–19–0 Time of possession 33:34 26:26 Team Category Player Statistics Michigan Passing Jack Tuttle 20/32, 208 yards, 1 INT Rushing Kalel Mullings 19 carries, 87 yards, 1 TD Receiving Colston Loveland 7 receptions, 83 yards Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 9/18, 80 yards, 1 TD Rushing Aidan Laughery 9 carries, 54 yards Receiving Pat Bryant 4 receptions, 32 yards
at No. 1 Oregon
Statistics ILL ORE First downs 18 27 Total yards 67–293 67–527 Rushing yards 32–132 39–229 Passing yards 161 298 Passing: comp–att–int 17–35–2 20–28–1 Time of possession 28:45 31:15 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 17/35, 162 yards, 2 INT Rushing Aidan Laughery 12 carries, 69 yards Receiving Zakhari Franklin 6 receptions, 72 yards Oregon Passing Dillon Gabriel 18/26, 291 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jordan James 15 carries, 83 yards Receiving Tez Johnson 6 receptions, 102 yards, TD
vs Minnesota
Statistics MINN ILL First downs 21 20 Total yards 361 352 Rushing yards 148 126 Passing yards 213 226 Passing: comp–att–int 22–37–0 20–33–0 Time of possession 34:59 25:01 Team Category Player Statistics Minnesota Passing Max Brosmer 22/37, 213 yards, TD Rushing Darius Taylor 22 carries, 131 yards, TD Receiving Daniel Jackson 5 receptions, 74 yards, TD Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 20/33, 226 yards, TD Rushing Josh McCray 7 carries, 72 yards, TD Receiving Pat Bryant 5 receptions, 72 yards
vs Michigan State
Statistics MSU ILL First downs 18 18 Total yards 343 369 Rushing yards 87 138 Passing yards 256 231 Passing: comp–att–int 23–40–0 19–32–0 Time of possession 28:32 31:28 Team Category Player Statistics Michigan State Passing Aidan Chiles 23/40, 256 yards, 2 TD Rushing Aidan Chiles 12 carries, 40 yards Receiving Montorie Foster Jr. 7 receptions, 76 yards Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 19/32, 231 yards, 2 TD Rushing Josh McCray 9 carries, 61 yards, 3 TD Receiving Pat Bryant 4 receptions, 135 yards, 1 TD
at Rutgers
Statistics ILL RUTG First downs 24 30 Total yards 431 388 Rushing yards 182 213 Passing yards 249 197 Passing: comp–att–int 12–26–0 19–37–0 Time of possession 25:38 34:18 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer12/26, 249 yards, 2 TD Rushing Luke Altmyer11 carries, 74 yards, TD Receiving Pat Bryant7 receptions, 197 yards, TD Rutgers Passing Athan Kaliakmanis19/37, 175 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kyle Monangai28 carries, 122 yards Receiving Ian Strong6 receptions, 66 yards, TD
at Northwestern (rivalry)
Statistics ILL NW First downs 14 28 Total yards 382 442 Rushing yards 212 113 Passing yards 170 329 Passing: comp–att–int 10–17–2 29–61–3 Time of possession 25:28 34:32 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 10/17, 170 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Aidan Laughery 12 carries, 172 yards, 3 TD Receiving Pat Bryant 4 receptions, 70 yards, TD Northwestern Passing Jack Lausch 25/48, 287 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Cam Porter 12 carries, 53 yards Receiving A. J. Henning 10 receptions, 119 yards, TD
vs No. 15 South Carolina (Citrus Bowl)
Statistics SCAR ILL First downs 20 22 Total yards 390 357 Rushing yards 130 183 Passing yards 260 174 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–35–0 13–22–1 Time of possession 31:16 28:44 Team Category Player StatisticsSouth Carolina Passing LaNorris Sellers 24/34, 260 yards, 1 TD Rushing Oscar Adaway III 14 carries, 69 yards, 1 TD Receiving Joshua Simon 6 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TDIllinois Passing Luke Altmyer 13/22, 174 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Josh McCray 13 carries, 114 yards, 2 TD Receiving Hank Beatty 4 receptions, 90 yards
Roster
References