The Illini were predicted to finish fourth in the Big Ten's West Division.[1]
Big Ten media poll West Division
|
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Points (1st place votes)
|
1 |
Wisconsin |
233 (20)
|
2 |
Iowa |
232 (16)
|
3 |
Minnesota |
176 (1)
|
4 |
Illinois |
152
|
5 |
Nebraska |
116
|
6 |
Purdue |
89
|
7 |
Northwestern |
38
|
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 2 | 6:30 p.m. | Toledo* | | BTN | W 30–28 | 48,898 |
|
| 6:30 p.m. | at Kansas* | | ESPN2 | L 23–34 | 45,809 |
|
September 16 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 7 Penn State | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| FOX | L 13–30 | 49,099 |
|
September 23 | 2:30 p.m. | Florida Atlantic* | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | W 23–17 | 53,512 |
|
September 30 | 2:30 p.m. | at Purdue | | Peacock | L 19–44 | 59,510 |
|
| 6:00 p.m. | Nebraska | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| FS1 | L 7–20 | 46,703 |
|
October 14 | 2:30 p.m. | at Maryland | | NBC | W 27–24 | 35,580 |
|
October 21 | 2:30 p.m. | Wisconsin | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| FS1 | L 21–25 | 54,205 |
|
November 4 | 2:30 p.m. | at Minnesota | | BTN | W 27–26 | 42,906 |
|
November 11 | 11:00 a.m. | Indiana | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL (rivalry)
| BTN | W 48–45OT | 53,157 |
|
November 18 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 16 Iowa | | FS1 | L 13–15 | 69,250 |
|
November 25 | 2:30 p.m. | Northwestern | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL (rivalry)
| BTN | L 43–45 | 42,310 |
|
|
2023 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
RB
|
0
|
Josh McCray
|
So
|
WR
|
1
|
Isaiah Williams
|
Jr
|
RB
|
3
|
Kaden Feagin
|
Fr
|
QB
|
4
|
John Paddock
|
Sr
|
WR
|
6
|
Ashton Hollins
|
Fr
|
WR
|
7
|
Kenari Wilcher
|
Fr
|
WR
|
8
|
Shawn Miller
|
Fr
|
QB
|
9
|
Luke Altmyer
|
So
|
QB
|
10
|
Donovan Leary
|
Fr
|
QB
|
11
|
Jake Huber
|
So
|
QB
|
12
|
Kirkland Michaux
|
So
|
WR
|
13
|
Pat Bryant
|
Jr
|
WR
|
14
|
Casey Washington
|
Sr
|
QB
|
16
|
Cal Swanson
|
Fr
|
WR
|
18
|
Chase Miller
|
Fr
|
WR
|
19
|
Eian Pugh
|
Fr
|
RB
|
21
|
Aidan Laughery
|
Fr
|
RB
|
23
|
Reggie Love III
|
Jr
|
RB
|
25
|
Jordan Anderson
|
Fr
|
TE
|
36
|
Ben Schultz
|
Jr
|
TE
|
41
|
Tanner Arkin
|
So
|
TE
|
43
|
Griffin Moore
|
Jr
|
OL
|
53
|
Devin Hale
|
So
|
OL
|
54
|
Julian Pearl
|
Sr
|
OL
|
55
|
T. J. McMillen
|
Fr
|
OL
|
56
|
Magnus Møller
|
Fr
|
OL
|
62
|
Sam Tsagalis
|
Fr
|
OL
|
64
|
Josh Kruetz
|
So
|
OL
|
65
|
Joey Okla
|
Fr
|
OL
|
66
|
Jordyn Slaughter
|
Sr
|
OL
|
68
|
Zachary Barlev
|
So
|
OL
|
71
|
Hunter Whitenack
|
So
|
OL
|
72
|
Zy Crisler
|
Jr
|
OL
|
73
|
Josh Gesky
|
So
|
OL
|
75
|
Brandon Henderson
|
Fr
|
OL
|
76
|
Clayton Leonard
|
Fr
|
OL
|
78
|
Isaiah Adams
|
Sr
|
OL
|
79
|
Luciano Elias
|
Fr
|
WR
|
80
|
Hank Beatty
|
So
|
TE
|
82
|
Nate Guinn
|
Fr
|
WR
|
83
|
Keion Battle
|
So
|
TE
|
84
|
Owen Anderson
|
Fr
|
WR
|
86
|
Weston Adams
|
Fr
|
WR
|
87
|
Tyler McClure
|
Fr
|
TE
|
88
|
Henry Boyer
|
Fr
|
TE
|
89
|
Tip Reiman
|
Jr
|
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
DB
|
1
|
Demetrius Hill
|
So
|
DB
|
3
|
Tahveon Nicholson
|
Jr
|
DL
|
4
|
Jer'Zhan Newton
|
Jr
|
DB
|
7
|
Matthew Bailey
|
So
|
LB
|
8
|
Tarique Barnes
|
Sr
|
DB
|
9
|
Tyson Rooks
|
Fr
|
DB
|
10
|
Miles Scott
|
So
|
DB
|
12
|
Elijah Mc-Cantos
|
Fr
|
OLB
|
13
|
Trey Smith
|
Fr
|
DB
|
14
|
Xavier Scott
|
So
|
OLB
|
17
|
Gabe Jacas
|
So
|
DB
|
19
|
Zachary Tobe
|
Fr
|
DB
|
20
|
Tyler Strain
|
So
|
DB
|
21
|
Nicario Harper
|
Sr
|
DB
|
22
|
Kaleb Patterson
|
So
|
DL
|
23
|
Terah Edwards
|
Jr
|
DB
|
24
|
Nick Fedanzo
|
Jr
|
LB
|
25
|
Jared Badie
|
Fr
|
DB
|
26
|
Mike Manning
|
Jr
|
DB
|
27
|
Matthew Bobak
|
So
|
LB
|
28
|
Dylan Rosiek
|
So
|
DB
|
29
|
T. J. Griffin
|
Fr
|
LB
|
30
|
JoJo Hayden
|
Fr
|
DB
|
31
|
Kionte Curry
|
So
|
LB
|
33
|
Ezekiel Holmes
|
Sr
|
LB
|
34
|
Ryan Meed
|
Jr
|
DB
|
35
|
Grayson Griffin
|
Fr
|
DB
|
37
|
Solo Turner
|
Sr
|
LB
|
39
|
Kenenna Odeluga
|
So
|
LB
|
41
|
James Kruetz
|
Fr
|
LB
|
42
|
Luke Zardzin
|
So
|
DB
|
44
|
Ben Clawson
|
Fr
|
LB
|
45
|
Malachi Hood
|
Fr
|
LB
|
48
|
Bryce Barnes
|
Sr
|
OLB
|
49
|
Seth Coleman
|
Jr
|
DL
|
55
|
Sed McConnell
|
So
|
DL
|
57
|
Evan Kirts
|
Jr
|
OL
|
74
|
Dylan Davis
|
Jr
|
DL
|
88
|
Keith Randolph Jr.
|
Jr
|
OLB
|
90
|
Alec Bryant
|
So
|
DL
|
91
|
Denzel Daxon
|
Sr
|
DL
|
99
|
Christian Lorenzo
|
Fr
|
|
Special teams
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
K
|
5
|
Caleb Griffin
|
Sr
|
P
|
19
|
Hugh Robertson
|
So
|
K
|
24
|
David Olano
|
Fr
|
P
|
31
|
Declan Duley
|
Fr
|
LS
|
36
|
Lane Hansen
|
So
|
LS
|
39
|
Aidan Hall
|
Jr
|
K/P
|
98
|
Fabrizio Pinton
|
So
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Barry Lunney Jr. – Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Aaron Henry – Defensive coordinator
- Robby Discher – Special teams coordinator/Tight ends
- Terrance Jamison – Co-defensive coordinator/Defensive line
- Thad Ward – Running backs
- George McDonald – Wide receivers/Assistant head coach
- Antonio Fenelus – Defensive Backs
- Bart Miller – Offensive Line
- Andy Buh – Linebackers
- Charlie Bullen – Outside linebackers/Pass rush coordinator
- Tank Wright – Director, Strength and Conditioning
- GC Yerry – Associate Director, Strength and Conditioning
- Nick Elicone – Assistant, Strength and Conditioning
- Matt Manninger – Assistant, Strength and Conditioning
- Tyler Mayo – Assistant, Strength and Conditioning
- Danny Cameron – Quality Control, Offense
- Max Rosenthal – Quality Control, Offense
- Alex Panos – Quality Control, Defense
- Ryan Simerson – Quality Control, Defense
- Adam Kleffner – Offensive Analyst
- Kevin Laeone Richardson II – Defensive Analyst
- Chris Hurd – Special Teams Analyst
- Vincent Jeffries Jr. – Graduate Assistant
- Tyler King – Graduate Assistant
- Grant Morgan – Graduate Assistant
- Artur Sitkowski – Graduate Assistant
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster Last update: 9/25/2023
|