American Football Database
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1976 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1976 record5–6 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coachBob Blackman (6th season)
MVPJerry Finis, Scott Studwell
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 Big Ten football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#3/3 Michigan § 7 1 0     10 2 0
#6/5 Ohio State § 7 1 0     9 2 1
Minnesota 4 4 0     6 5 0
Illinois 4 4 0     5 6 0
Indiana 4 4 0     5 6 0
Purdue 4 4 0     5 6 0
Iowa 3 5 0     5 6 0
Wisconsin 3 5 0     5 6 0
Michigan State 3 5 0     4 6 1
Northwestern 1 7 0     1 10 0
§ – Conference co-champions
Rankings from AP Poll / Coaches' Poll

The 1976 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois in the 1976 Big Ten Conference football season. In their sixth year under head coach Bob Blackman, the Illini compiled a 5–6 record and finished in a four-way tie for third place in the Big Ten Conference.[1]

The team's offensive leaders were quarterback Kurt Steger with 1,243 passing yards, running back James Coleman with 687 rushing yards, and wide receiver Eric Rouse with 326 receiving yards.[2] Offensive tackle Jerry Finis and linebacker Scott Studwell were selected as the team's most valuable players.[3]

Schedule[]

DateOpponentRankSiteResult
September 11IowaW 24–6
September 18at No. 6 Missouri*
W 31–6
September 25Baylor*No. 14
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 19–34
October 2Texas A&M*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 7–14
October 9at MinnesotaL 14–29
October 16at PurdueW 21–17
October 23Michigan State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 23–31
October 30Wisconsin
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 31–25
November 6at No. 8 Ohio StateL 10–42
November 13at No. 4 MichiganL 7–38
November 20Northwestern
W 48–6
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game


References[]


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