The team will host all three non–conference games which are against the Murray State Racers from the Ohio Valley Conference, North Carolina Tar Heels from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and the Western Michigan Broncos from the Mid-American Conference (MAC).
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
September 3 | 2:30 pm | Murray State* | | BTN | W 52–3 | 48,644 |
September 10 | 6:30 pm | North Carolina* | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | L 23–48 | 60,670 |
September 17 | 3:00 pm | Western Michigan* | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| ESPNews | L 10–34 | 40,954 |
October 1 | 2:30 pm | at No. 15 Nebraska | | ESPN2 | L 16–31 | 90,374 |
October 8 | 2:30 pm | Purdue | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL (rivalry)
| BTN | L 31–34 OT | 42,912 |
October 15 | 11:00 am | at Rutgers | | ESPNews | W 24–7 | 42,640 |
October 22 | 2:30 pm | at No. 3 Michigan | | BTN | L 8–41 | 111,103 |
October 29 | 11:00 am | Minnesota | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | L 17–40 | 40,090 |
November 5 | 11:00 am | Michigan State | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| ESPNews | W 31–27 | 47,144 |
November 12 | 2:30 pm | at No. 7 Wisconsin | | ESPN2 | L 3–48 | 79,340 |
November 19 | 11:00 am | Iowa | - Memorial Stadium
- Champaign, IL
| BTN | L 0–28 | 39,031 |
November 26 | 11:00 am | at Northwestern | | BTN | L 21–42 | 30,022 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game
- All times are in Central time
|
- Schedule Source:[1]
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Racers
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
0 |
3 |
Fighting Illini
|
14
|
21
|
7
|
10 |
52 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Tar Heels
|
17
|
7
|
7
|
17 |
48 |
Fighting Illini
|
14
|
2
|
0
|
7 |
23 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Broncos
|
14
|
10
|
3
|
7 |
34 |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
7
|
3
|
0 |
10 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
13
|
3
|
0 |
16 |
#15 Cornhuskers
|
7
|
3
|
0
|
21 |
31 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 | OT |
Total |
Boilermakers
|
7
|
14
|
3
|
7 | 3 |
34 |
Fighting Illini
|
3
|
13
|
7
|
8 | 0 |
31 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
7
|
10
|
7 |
24 |
Scarlet Knights
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
7 |
7 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
8 |
8 |
#3 Wolverines
|
21
|
10
|
3
|
7 |
41 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Golden Gophers
|
14
|
0
|
7
|
19 |
40 |
Fighting Illini
|
7
|
0
|
7
|
3 |
17 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Spartans
|
3
|
3
|
11
|
10 |
27 |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
7
|
10
|
14 |
31 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
3 |
#7 Badgers
|
21
|
10
|
3
|
14 |
48 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Hawkeyes
|
0
|
7
|
7
|
14 |
28 |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0 |
0 |
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4 |
Total |
Fighting Illini
|
0
|
14
|
7
|
0 |
21 |
Wildcats
|
14
|
7
|
14
|
7 |
42 |
2016 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
|
Players
|
Coaches
|
Offense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
RB
|
2
|
Reggie Corbin
|
Fr
|
QB
|
3
|
Jeff George, Jr.
|
Fr
|
WR
|
4
|
D. J. Taylor
|
Sr
|
RB
|
5
|
Ke'Shawn Vaughn
|
So
|
RB
|
6
|
Tre Nation
|
Fr
|
QB
|
7
|
Chayce Crouch
|
So
|
WR
|
9
|
Sam Mays
|
So
|
WR
|
11
|
Malik Turner
|
Jr
|
QB
|
12
|
Wes Lunt
|
Sr
|
TE
|
13
|
Caleb Reams
|
Fr
|
QB
|
14
|
Cam Miller
|
Fr
|
WR
|
15
|
M. J. McGriff
|
Fr
|
WR
|
16
|
Zarrian Holcombe
|
Fr
|
WR
|
18
|
Mike Dudek
|
So
|
WR
|
19
|
Justin Hardee
|
Sr
|
WR
|
21
|
Man Berg
|
Sr
|
RB
|
22
|
Kendrick Foster
|
Jr
|
WR
|
25
|
Trenard Davis
|
Fr
|
RB
|
27
|
Dre Brown
|
Fr
|
RB
|
29
|
Christian Bobak
|
Fr
|
DB
|
36
|
Austin Roberts
|
So
|
RB
|
39
|
Nathan Echard
|
Jr
|
OL
|
52
|
Adam Solomon
|
Fr
|
OL
|
53
|
Nick Allegretti
|
So
|
OL
|
57
|
Austin Schmidt
|
Sr
|
OL
|
61
|
Darta Lee
|
Fr
|
OL
|
65
|
Doug Kramer
|
Fr
|
OL
|
66
|
Jordan Fagan
|
Jr
|
OL
|
67
|
Christian DiLauro
|
Jr
|
OL
|
68
|
Matt Long
|
Fr
|
OL
|
70
|
Eddy Fish
|
Fr
|
OL
|
71
|
Joe Spencer
|
Sr
|
OL
|
72
|
Gabe Megginson
|
Fr
|
OL
|
73
|
Jake Cerny
|
Fr
|
OL
|
74
|
Connor Brennan
|
Fr
|
OL
|
75
|
Kurt Gavin
|
Fr
|
OL
|
78
|
Harry Black
|
Sr
|
OL
|
79
|
Zach Heath
|
Jr
|
TE
|
80
|
Ainslie Johnson
|
Sr
|
TE
|
81
|
Griffin Palmer
|
Fr
|
WR
|
82
|
Samuel Harlib
|
Jr
|
TE
|
83
|
Bobby Walker
|
Fr
|
WR
|
84
|
Dominic Thieman
|
Fr
|
TE
|
85
|
Andrew Trainer
|
Fr
|
WR
|
86
|
Desmond Cain
|
So
|
TE
|
87
|
Tyler White
|
Sr
|
WR
|
88
|
Zach Grant
|
Sr
|
TE
|
89
|
Andrew Davis
|
Sr
|
|
Defense
Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
DB
|
1
|
Jaylen Dunlap
|
Jr
|
LB
|
2
|
Julian Jones
|
So
|
DB
|
3
|
Taylor Barton
|
Sr
|
DB
|
4
|
Darwyn Kelly
|
Jr
|
LB
|
5
|
James Crawford
|
Jr
|
DL
|
6
|
Carroll Phillips
|
Sr
|
DB
|
7
|
Caleb Day
|
Sr
|
DB
|
8
|
Dillan Cazley
|
Sr
|
LB
|
9
|
Dele Harding
|
Fr
|
LB
|
10
|
Hardy Nickerson Jr.
|
Sr
|
DL
|
11
|
Chunky Clements
|
Sr
|
DB
|
12
|
Chris James
|
So
|
DL
|
14
|
Gimel President
|
Sr
|
DL
|
16
|
Rob Bain
|
Sr
|
DB
|
17
|
Stanley Green
|
Fr
|
DB
|
20
|
Harvey Clayton, Jr.
|
Fr
|
DB
|
21
|
Patrick Nelson
|
Fr
|
DB
|
23
|
Frank Sumpter
|
Fr
|
DB
|
24
|
Darius Mosely
|
Sr
|
DB
|
26
|
Evan Jones
|
Fr
|
DB
|
27
|
Ahmari Hayes
|
Jr
|
DB
|
30
|
Julian Hylton
|
So
|
DB
|
31
|
Cameron Watkins
|
Fr
|
LB
|
32
|
Justice Williams
|
Fr
|
LB
|
33
|
Tré Watson
|
Fr
|
LB
|
34
|
Christion Abercrombie
|
Fr
|
LB
|
35
|
Jake Hansen
|
Fr
|
DB
|
37
|
Zach Holman
|
So
|
LB
|
40
|
Mike Svetina
|
Sr
|
LB
|
41
|
Jimmy Marchese
|
Fr
|
DL
|
42
|
Brandon Jones
|
Fr
|
LB
|
44
|
Drew Murtaugh
|
Fr
|
DL
|
45
|
Henry McGrew
|
So
|
DL
|
47
|
Sean Adesanya
|
So
|
LB
|
52
|
Ayo Shogbonyo
|
Fr
|
DL
|
55
|
Jamal Milan
|
Fr
|
DL
|
76
|
Zeke Martin
|
Fr
|
DL
|
85
|
Brandon Roberts
|
Jr
|
DL
|
91
|
Dawuane Smoot
|
Sr
|
DL
|
94
|
Tito Odenigbo
|
So
|
DL
|
95
|
Kenyon Jackson
|
Fr
|
DL
|
96
|
Tymir Oliver
|
Fr
|
|
Special teams
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Garrick McGee – Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
- Hardy Nickerson – Defensive Coordinator
- Mike Phair – Defensive Line
- Bob Ligashesky – Special Teams Coordinator / Tight Ends
- Luke Butkus – Offensive Line
- Andrew Hayes-Stoker – Wide Receivers
- Tim McGarigle – Linebackers
- Thad Ward – Running Backs
- Paul Williams – Defensive Backs
- Joe Fotu - Graduate Assistant - Defense
- Tyler Johns - Graduate Assistant - Offense
- Brett Nelson - Graduate Assistant - Offense
- Robert Wright - Graduate Assistant - Defense
- Dean Hogan - Special Teams Analyst
- Kingsley Osei-Asibey - Defensive Analyst
- Nathan Scheelhaase - Offensive Analyst
- Tim Knox - Director of Football Operations
- Josh Sternquist - Director of Player Personnel
- Patrick Embleton - Director of Football Student-Athlete Development
- Nathan McNeal - Director of High School Relations
- Travis Perry - Graphics/Social Media
- Nina Baloun - Recruiting Assistant
- James Kirkland - Recruiting Analyst
- Joey Boese - Head Football Strength & Conditioning Coach
- Jeremy Busch - Head Football Athletic Trainer
- Trent Chestnut - Head Football Equipment Manager
- Alex Benizzi - Director of Football Video
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
Roster Last update: October 13, 2016
|
Weekly
Weekly Awards
Player
|
Award
|
Date Awarded
|
Ref.
|
Patrick Nelson
|
Big Ten Freshman of the Week
|
October 17, 2016
|
[2]
|
Tré Watson
|
Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week
|
November 7, 2016
|
[3]
|
|
All-Conference
All-Big Ten[4][5]
Player
|
Selection
|
Dawuane Smoot
|
Third Team (Coaches & Media)
|
Hardy Nickerson Jr.
|
Honorable Mention (Coaches & Media)
|
Carroll Phillips
|
First Team (Media) Honorable Mention (Coaches)
|
Joe Spencer
|
Honorable Mention (Media)
|
Tré Watson
|
Honorable Mention (Media)
|
|
- ^ "2016 Illinois Fighting Illini Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
- ^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference. Big Ten Conference. October 17, 2016. Archived from the original on November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
- ^ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week". Big Ten Conference. Big Ten Conference. November 7, 2016. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
- ^ "2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners" (PDF). www.grfx.cstv.com. Big Ten Conference. November 29, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
- ^ "2016 Big Ten Individual Award Winners" (PDF). www.grfx.cstv.com. Big Ten Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2016.