The 2025 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini played home games at Gies Memorial Stadium (renamed from "Memorial Stadium" shortly after the start of the 2025 season) in Champaign, Illinois.
Offseason Transfers Outgoing Declan DuleyPCentral MichiganMorrison GiggettsWRChicagoZylon CrislerIOLColoradoRonan PoyntonLBDrakeDemetrius HillSFIUKenari WilcherWRFlorida A&MEnyce SledgeDLFlorida AtlanticSteven Scott IIIOTFresno StateJosh McCrayRBGeorgiaCal SwansonQBHoly CrossNick TrueTEIllinois StateAlex BrayDEKansasHenry BoyerTEKentuckyJoep EngbersIOLLibertyKirkland MichauxQBMary Hardin–BaylorFabrizio PintonKMcNeeseWeston AdamsWRMontanaChase CanadaCBNorth TexasZach AamlandOLRutgersBlayne SissonDBSouthern IllinoisDonovan LearyQBTulaneCarlos Orr-GillespieWRUtah StateNate GuinnTEUtah TechKevin Wigenton IIOLVirginiaEthan MoczulskiKWashingtonHunter WhitenackOLWestern MichiganJake HuberQBWisconsin–La CrosseHugh RobertsonPUnknownJake FurtneyTEWithdrawnTyler StrainDBWithdrawn
Incoming Christian AbneyTEBall StateJustin BowickWRBall StateEli CoenenDLBemidji StateTomiwa DurojaiyeDLFlorida StateAyden KnapikOLIdahoNathan KnapikOTIdahoLucas OsadaKNorth CarolinaEthan HamptonQBNorthern IllinoisCarter HewittDLNorthern IowaKeelan CrimminsPPurdueDavin StoffelTESouth Dakota StateTyler McMillanOLSoutheast Missouri StateLars RauPTexas StateMurphy ClementRBWest VirginiaHudson ClementWRWest VirginiaLeon Lowery Jr.DEWisconsinJames Thompson Jr.DLWisconsinCurt NealDLWisconsin
Schedule
Rankings
Game summaries vs Western Illinois (FCS)
Statistics WIUILL First downs 11 21 Plays–yards 56–163 61–440 Rushes–yards 26–29 37–209 Passing yards 134 231 Passing: –– 14–29–0 18–22–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 27:18 32:42 Team Category Player Statistics Western Illinois Passing Chris Irvin 14/29, 134 yards Rushing Markell Holman 12 carries, 20 yards Receiving Demari Davis 4 receptions, 65 yards Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 17/21, 217 yards, 3 TD Rushing Aidan Laughery 9 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD Receiving Hank Beatty 5 receptions, 108 yards
at Duke
Statistics ILLDUKE First downs 25 21 Plays–yards 73–419 63–438 Rushes–yards 42–123 24–82 Passing yards 296 356 Passing: –– 22–31–0 25–39–1 Turnovers 0 5 Time of possession 36:12 23:48 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 22/31, 296 yards, 3 TD Rushing Kaden Feagin 17 carries, 48 yards, TD Receiving Hank Beatty 8 receptions, 128 yards Duke Passing Darian Mensah 23/24, 234 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Jaquez Moore 6 carries, 30 yards Receiving Cooper Barkate 4 receptions, 88 yards
vs Western Michigan
Statistics WMUILL First downs 12 20 Plays–yards 58–204 63–358 Rushes–yards 34-113 37-162 Passing yards 91 196 Passing: –– 13-24-0 17-26-0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 28:27 31:33 Team Category Player Statistics Western Michigan Passing Broc Lowry 10/16, 78 yards Rushing Ofa Mataele 8 carries, 46 yards Receiving Baylin Brooks 3 receptions, 24 yards Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 17/26, 196 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kaden Feagin 20 carries, 100 yards, TD Receiving Hank Beatty 6 receptions, 53 yards, TD
at No. 19 Indiana (rivalry)
Statistics ILLIU First downs 9 31 Plays–yards 45–161 72–579 Rushes–yards 20–2 49–312 Passing yards 159 267 Passing: –– 16–25–1 21–23–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 20:17 39:43 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 14/22, 146 yards, TD Rushing Kaden Feagin 5 carries, 18 yards Receiving Collin Dixon 4 receptions, 86 yards, TD Indiana Passing Fernando Mendoza 21/23, 267 yards, 5 TD Rushing Khobie Martin 12 carries, 107 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Sarratt 9 receptions, 92 yards, 2 TD
vs No. 21 USC
Statistics USCILL First downs 29 25 Plays–yards 77–490 62–502 Rushes–yards 34-126 35-171 Passing yards 364 331 Passing: –– 30-43-1 21-27-0 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 32:34 27:26 Team Category Player Statistics USC Passing Jayden Maiava 30/43, 364 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Waymond Jordan 20 carries, 94 yards, 2 TD Receiving Makai Lemon 11 receptions, 151 yards, 2 TD Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 20/26, 328 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kaden Feagin 14 carries, 60 yards Receiving Collin Dixon 4 receptions, 90 yards
at Purdue (rivalry)
Statistics ILLPUR First downs 22 25 Plays–yards 63–507 75–453 Rushes–yards 41–117 25–151 Passing yards 390 302 Passing: –– 19–22–0 30–50–2 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 34:32 25:28 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 19/22, 390 yards, TD Rushing Ca'Lil Valentine 22 carries, 95 yards, TD Receiving Hank Beatty 5 receptions, 186 yards, TD Purdue Passing Ryan Browne 30/50, 302 yards, TD Rushing Antonio Harris 4 carries, 69 yards, TD Receiving Michael Jackson III 14 receptions, 94 yards
vs No. 1 Ohio State (Illibuck)
Statistics OSUILL First downs 17 22 Plays–yards 64–272 71–295 Rushes–yards 27–47 37–106 Passing yards 166 248 Passing: –– 19–27–0 30–44–1 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 33:11 26:49 Team Category Player Statistics Ohio State Passing Julian Sayin 19/27, 166 yards, 2 TD Rushing Bo Jackson 10 carries, 47 yards Receiving Jeremiah Smith 5 receptions, 42 yards, TD Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 30/44, 248 yards, TD, INT Rushing Aidan Laughery 8 carries, 50 yards, TD Receiving Cole Rusk 5 receptions, 68 yards
at Washington
Statistics ILLWASH First downs 22 27 Plays–yards 67–337 67–449 Rushes–yards 29-138 33-157 Passing yards 199 292 Passing: –– 22-34-2 27-34-0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 30:21 29:39 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 22/34, 199 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Luke Altmyer 7 carries, 48 yards Receiving Hank Beatty 6 receptions, 73 yards Washington Passing Demond Williams Jr. 26/33, 280 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jonah Coleman 14 carries, 75 yards, TD Receiving Denzel Boston 10 receptions, 153 yards, TD
vs Rutgers
Statistics RUTGILL First downs 19 26 Plays–yards 72–312 69–445 Rushes–yards 27–59 38–210 Passing yards 253 235 Passing: –– 25–45–0 19–31–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 27:25 32:35 Team Category Player Statistics Rutgers Passing Athan Kaliakmanis 25/45, 253 yards, TD Rushing Ja'shon Benjamin 8 carries, 37 yards Receiving KJ Duff 9 receptions, 93 yards, TD Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 19/31, 235 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Luke Altmyer 7 carries, 88 yards, TD Receiving Hudson Clement 5 receptions, 84 yards, TD
vs Maryland
Statistics MDILL First downs 18 24 Plays–yards 64–293 72–397 Rushes–yards 18–55 48–225 Passing yards 238 172 Passing: –– 25–46–1 15–25–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 24:03 35:57 Team Category Player Statistics Maryland Passing Malik Washington 25/46, 238 yards, INT Rushing DeJuan Williams 9 carries, 43 yards Receiving Shaleak Knotts 4 receptions, 62 yards Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 15/25, 172 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kaden Feagin 14 carries, 81 yards, TD Receiving Hudson Clement 3 receptions, 72 yards, 2 TD
at Wisconsin
Statistics ILLWIS First downs 19 14 Plays–yards 64-29869-301 Rushes–yards 29-50 44-209 Passing yards 248 92 Passing: –– 21-35-0 11-15-0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 28:15 31:45 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 21/35, 248 yards Rushing Luke Altmyer 13 carries, 20 yards, TD Receiving Collin Dixon 3 receptions, 62 yards Wisconsin Passing Carter Smith 9/11, 75 yards Rushing Darrion Dupree 17 carries, 131 yards, 2 TD Receiving Trech Kekahuna 5 receptions, 39 yards
vs Northwestern (rivalry)
Statistics NUILL First downs 19 14 Plays–yards 65-254 52-284 Rushes–yards 29-91 36-120 Passing yards 163 164 Passing: –– 19-36-3 11-16-0 Turnovers 4 1 Time of possession 30:34 29:26 Team Category Player Statistics Northwestern Passing Preston Stone 19/36, 163 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Robby Preckel 22 carries, 82 yards Receiving Hayden Eligon II 8 receptions, 99 yards, TD Illinois Passing Luke Altmyer 10/15, 136 yards Rushing Ca'Lil Valentine 14 carries, 74 yards, TD Receiving Collin Dixon 2 receptions, 53 yards
vs. Tennessee (Music City Bowl)
Statistics TENNILL First downs 18 27 Plays–yards 55–278 73–417 Rushes–yards 37–157 39–221 Passing yards 121 196 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 14–18–0 20–34–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 24:14 35:46 Team Category Player StatisticsTennessee Passing Joey Aguilar 14/18, 121 yards Rushing DeSean Bishop 19 carries, 93 yards Receiving Mike Matthews 3 receptions, 43 yardsIllinois Passing Luke Altmyer 20/33, 196 yards, TD Rushing Aidan Laughery 13 carries, 77 yards Receiving Hudson Clement 3 receptions, 48 yards
Roster
References