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American college football season
The 1985 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign during the 1985 Big Ten Conference football season . In their sixth year under head coach Mike White , the Illini compiled a 6–5–1 record and finished in third place in the Big Ten Conference .[ 1] Peach Bowl , where the Illini lost to Army .
The team's offensive leaders were quarterback Jack Trudeau with 2,938 passing yards, running back Thomas Rooks with 718 rushing yards, and wide receiver David Williams with 1,047 receiving yards.[ 2]
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance September 7 No. 6 USC * No. 11 L 10–2076,369 September 14 Southern Illinois * No. 19 Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL W 28–2576,330 September 21 at No. 18 Nebraska * No. 20 L 25–5276,149 October 5 No. 5 Ohio State W 31–2876,343 October 12 at Purdue L 24–3068,837 October 19 at Michigan State W 30–1776,438 October 26 Wisconsin Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL W 38–2576,395 November 2 No. 4 Michigan Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry ) T 3–376,397 November 9 at No. 6 Iowa L 0–5966,120 November 16 Indiana Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry ) W 41–2478,805 November 23 at Northwestern W 45–2033,054 vs. Army * L 29–3129,857 *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
USC at Illinois
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 6 Trojans
14
3 3 0
20
No. 11 Fighting Illini
0
0 7 3
10
Date: September 7Location: Memorial Stadium Game attendance: 76,639Game weather: 90 °F (32 °C) Scoring summary 1 USC Hank Norman 9-yard pass from Sean Salisbury (Don Shafer kick) USC 7–0 USC Randy Tanner 46-yard pass from Sean Salisbury (Don Shafer kick) USC 14–0 2 USC Don Shafer 46-yard field goal USC 17–0 3 USC Don Shafer 23-yard field goal USC 20–0 Illinois Cap Boso 83-yard pass from Jack Trudeau (Chris White kick) USC 20–7 4 Illinois Chris White 28-yard field goal USC 20–10
In a game that some considered a possible Rose Bowl preview, the Illini were doomed by 6 turnovers and found themselves in a 14–0 very early in the game. Illinois pulled to within 20–10 on a Chris White field goal early in the fourth quarter, but USC used ball control to grind out the clock – including 22 minutes of possession in the second half – and gain a big road win in the season opener for both teams.[ 3] [ 4]
Illinois at Nebraska
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 20 Fighting Illini
0
10 0 15
25
• No. 18 Cornhuskers
14
10 21 7
52
[ 5]
Ohio State at Illinois
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 5 Buckeyes
0
14 14 0
28
• Fighting Illini
14
0 7 10
31
[ 6] [ 7]
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 4 Wolverines
0
0 3 0
3
Fighting Illini
0
0 3 0
3
On November 2, 1985, Illinois played Michigan to a 3–3 tie at Memorial Stadium . Each team kicked a field goal in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Michigan drove the length of the field, but fullback Gerald White fumbled at the Illinois 12-yard line, with the Illini recovering at the nine-yard line. Illinois then drove the length of the field and, with time running out, Chris White lined up for what would have been a game-winning 37-yard field goal. Dieter Heren tipped the ball, which hit the cross-bar and bounced back, and the game ended in a tie. After the game, head coach White said, "I don't remember feeling worse after a game. . . . I'm devastated."[ 8]
Illinois at Iowa
1
2 3 4 Total
Fighting Illini
0
0 0 0
0
• No. 6 Hawkeyes
35
14 0 10
59
Date: November 9Location: Kinnick Stadium ,Iowa City, Iowa Game start: 1:05 p.m. CST Elapsed time: 3:20Game attendance: 66,120Game weather: ~45 °F (7 °C), Cloudy, rain, Wind NE 10–15 mph (16–24 km/h)Referee: Otho Kortz Scoring summary 1 11:54 IOWA R. Smith 49-yard pass from Chuck Long (Rob Houghtlin kick) IOWA 7-0 1 10:16 IOWA Hudson 1-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 14-0 1 7:28 IOWA R. Smith 43-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 21-0 1 4:36 IOWA Ronnie Harmon 46-yard run (Houghtlin kick)IOWA 28-0 1 0:59 IOWA Hudson 10-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 35-0 2 5:16 IOWA Flagg 1-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 42-0 2 2:31 IOWA Helverson 9-yard pass from Long (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 49-0 4 13:12 IOWA Rob Houghtlin 37-yard field goal IOWA 52-0 4 8:21 IOWA Goodman 16-yard run (Houghtlin kick) IOWA 59-0
[ 9]
[ edit ]
Illinois vs. Army
1
2 3 4 Total
Fighting Illini
3
13 7 6
29
• Cadets
7
14 7 3
31
[ 10]
^ "1985 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015 .^ "1985 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015 .^ "Upsets: UCLA Takes Bosco, and USC Hoists Champaign" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 19, 2020 .^ Reilly, Rick (September 16, 1985). "...And Then They Had To Play" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved July 17, 2022 . ^ "Nebraska Runs Over Illinois, 52-25" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved July 23, 2022 .^ "Illinois Leaves Behind Past Failures, Upsets No. 5 Ohio State" . The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 19, 2020 .^ "A CALL THAT MADE FATHER'S DAY" . The Chicago Tribune . Retrieved July 17, 2022 .^ "U-M, Illinois fit to be tied" . Detroit Free Press ^ "Iowa Hits Illini Early, Often" . Chicago Tribune . November 10, 1985. Retrieved January 19, 2020 .^ "ARMY'S AIR ATTACK STUNS ILLINI" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 19, 2020 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
