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1927 Illinois Fighting Illini football
National champion
(Billingsley, Dickinson, Helms, NCF, Davis)
Big Ten co-champion
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1927 record7–0–1 (5–0 Big Ten)
Head coachRobert Zuppke
Offensive schemeSingle-wing
CaptainRobert Reitsch
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 1926
1928 →
1927 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#1 Illinois § 5 0 0     7 0 1
#3 Minnesota § 3 0 1     6 0 2
#7 Michigan 3 2 0     6 2 0
Chicago 3 3 0     4 4 0
Purdue 2 2 0     6 2 0
Northwestern 2 3 0     4 4 0
Ohio State 2 3 0     4 4 0
Indiana 1 2 1     3 4 1
Iowa 1 4 0     4 4 0
Wisconsin 1 4 0     4 4 0
§ – Conference co-champions
Rankings from Dickinson System

The 1927 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the 1927 Big Ten Conference football season. The Fighting Illini compiled a 7–0–1 record (5–0 against Western Conference opponents) and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 152 to 24.[1] The team was selected as the 1927 national champion by the Billingsley Report, Dickinson System, Helms Athletic Foundation, National Championship Foundation, and Parke H. Davis.[2]

Though the team had no consensus All-Americans and was known for its lack of prominent names, center Robert Reitsch and guard Russ Crane made a handful of first-team selections. Reitsch was also the team captain.[3]

Schedule[]

DateOpponentSiteResult
October 1Bradley*W 19–0
October 8Butler*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 58–0
October 15Iowa State*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
T 12–12
October 22at NorthwesternW 7–6
October 29Michigandagger
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 14–0
November 5at IowaW 14–0
November 12Chicago
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 15–6
November 19at Ohio StateW 13–0
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

Roster[]

Player Position
Russ Crane Guard
Robert Reitsch (captain) Center
Butch Nowack Tackle, Kicker
Judson Timm Halfback
Fritz Humbert Fullback
Blair French Quarterback
Dwight Stuessy Quarterback
Doug Mills Fullback, Punter
Frank Walker Fullback
Tom Nickol Fullback
Art D'Ambrosio Halfback, Fullback
Arnold Wolgast Tackle
James R. Stewart End
Walter Jolley End
Ernest W. Schultz Tackle
Keston J. Deimling Guard
Lawrence Perkins Guard
Leonard Grable Tackle
Garland Grange Halfback, End
William E. Short End
Louis Gordon Guard
Louis Muegge Guard
Evert Nelson Guard
L. J. Weitz Tackle
Lloyd. S. Burdick Tackle
Norman McClure Guard
Merwin Mitterwallner Guard
Lester Marriner Guard

References[]

Template:1927 Illinois Fighting Illini football navbox

Template:Big Ten Conference football champions

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