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Illinois Football Team History

Illinois Fighting Illini

University of Illinois
Champaign, IL
Founded: 1867
Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Capacity: 70,904
Colors: Orange & Blue
Coach: Ray Eliot
Conference: Big 10-

Select Year:

1890 <-- 1952 <- 1953 -> 1954 --> 2024

1953 Season Highlights

Ray Eliot enters his 12th season as Head Coach at Illinois.

The Fighting Illini won the Big 10 Conference Championship.

1953 Season

Date	Opponent	Score
Sat., Sep. 26	vs. Nebraska	21	21	T
Sat., Oct. 3	vs. Stanford	33	21	W
Sat., Oct. 10	@ Ohio State	41	20	W
Sat., Oct. 17	vs. Minnesota	27	7	W
Sat., Oct. 24	vs. Syracuse	20	13	W
Sat., Oct. 31	vs. Purdue	21	0	W
Sat., Nov. 7	vs. Michigan	19	3	W
Sat., Nov. 14	@ Wisconsin	7	34	L
Sat., Nov. 21	@ Northwestern	39	14	W

1953 Season Totals
Record	7-1 -1
Points Scored	228
Scoring Average	25.3
Points Allowed	133
Defense Average	14.8
Opponents Record	41-37
Conference Record	5-1
Home Record	5-0 -1
Away Record	2-1

1953 NCAA Final Rankings
Rank	Record	Source
7	7-1-1	AP
7	7-1-1	Coaches
6	7-1-1	INS
7	7-1-1	UP

1953 Big 10- Standings
	Season			Bowls	Conference
Team	W/L/T	PF	PA		W/L/T	PF	PA	Coach
Illinois	7-1-1	228	133		5-1	154	78	Ray Eliot
Minnesota	4-4-1	150	160		3-3-1	108	129	Wesley E. Wes Fesler
Indiana	2-7	119	227		1-5	77	166	Bernie A. Crimmins
Michigan State	9-1	240	110	Won 28-20	5-1	131	50	Clarence L. Biggie Munn
Ohio State	6-3	182	164		4-3	137	139	Wayne Woody Hayes
Wisconsin	6-2-1	179	110		4-1-1	146	86	Ivan B. Ivy Williamson
Michigan	6-3	163	101		3-3	63	80	Bennie G. Oosterbaan
Iowa	5-3-1	187	91		3-3	98	58	Forest Evashevski
Purdue	2-7	89	167		2-4	61	96	Stuart K. Stu Holcomb
Northwestern	3-6	166	205		0-6	71	164	Robert W. Bob Voigts

1953 All American Awards
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Award	Team	Source
Coming Someday

1953 All Big 10 Conference Players
Player	Position	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Team	Source
Coming Someday

Some records may be incomplete.

Great Moments in College Football History

Notre Dame has the most players in the College Football Hall of Fame.