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2008 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season

Field	Value
year	2008
team	Illinois Fighting Illini
image	Fighting Illini logo.svg
image_size	125
conference	Big Ten Conference
short_conf	Big Ten
record	5–7
conf_record	3–5
head_coach	Ron Zook
hc_year	4th
off_coach	Mike Locksley
oc_year	4th
off_scheme	Spread option
codef_coach1	Dan Disch
codc1_year	2nd
codef_coach2	Curt Mallory
codc2_year	2nd
def_scheme	[4–3](4-3-defense)
captain	Arrelious Benn
captain2	David Lindquist
captain3	Brit Miller
captain4	Juice Williams
stadium	Memorial Stadium

The 2008 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their fourth season under head coach Ron Zook, the Fighting Illini compiled a 5–7 record (3–5 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for sixth place in the Big Ten, and outscored opponents by a total of 344 to 319.

Quarterback Juice Williams led the Big Ten with 3,173 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. Williams also led the team with 719 rushing yards. The team's other statistical leaders included wide receiver Arrelious Benn (67 receptions for 1,055 yards) and kicker Matt Keller (84 points scored, 39 of 41 extra points, 15 of 20 field goals).

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Schedule

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Game summaries

Missouri

Eastern Illinois

Louisiana-Lafayette

In the first quarter, Matt Eller kicked a 51-yard field goal. Brit Miller recovered Michael Desormeaux's fumble for a 27-yard touchdown. Drew Edmiston kicked a 24-yard field goal for Louisiana-Lafayette. Juice Williams passed to Daniel Dufrene for a 10-yard touchdown in the 2nd quarter.

In the second half, Desormeaux rushed for a 34-yard touchdown and passed to Erick Jones for an 11-yard touchdown. Matt Eller kicked a 27-yard field goal for the Fighting Illini.

Penn State

The Illini lost on the road to the Nittany Lions 38–24 in a nationally televised, prime time, "White Out" game at Beaver Stadium. Illinois jumped out to a 14–7 lead, becoming the first team to take a lead on the Nittany Lions and the first to score points against them in the first quarter this season. However, the Nittany Lions responded with two touchdowns en route to a 21–14 halftime lead. The Illini wouldn't score again until kicking a field goal on the final play of the third quarter after recovering a Stephfon Green fumble, but Derrick Williams returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.

The loss was head coach Ron Zook’s first as a head coach against a ranked opponent. The Illini's 24 points were the most allowed by Penn State this season as were their 189 total rushing yards.

Penn State wide receiver Derrick Williams became the first player under PSU head coach Joe Paterno to score a rushing, a receiving, and a kick return touchdown in the same game. Williams was selected the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.

Michigan

Minnesota

Indiana

Wisconsin

The Fighting Illini fell to the Badgers 27–17 for Wisconsin's first Big Ten win of the year. The Badgers outscored Illinois 17–7 in the second half.

Iowa

Western Michigan

Ohio State

Northwestern

Rankings

References

"2008 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". Sports Reference LLC.
"2008 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". Sports Reference LLC.
(May 22, 2008). "Kick Time Changed For 2008 Opener". University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana Department of Athletics.
(July 2, 2008). "Game Times And Future Schedules Set For Illinois Football". University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana Department of Athletics.
(September 7, 2008). "Illini let Juice run loose". [[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]].
(April 16, 2008). "Big Ten Announces Five Prime-Time Football Games to Appear on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 During 2008 Season". Big Ten Conference.
(May 12, 2008). "Time, Television Set for U-M Homecoming Tilt vs. Illinois". Michigan Sports Information.
(May 12, 2008). "Illinois Homecoming Game Time Set". University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana Department of Athletics.
(May 21, 2008). "Illinois-Indiana Game Set For Prime Time". Illinois Athletics.
(May 10, 2008). "Welcome home:Badgers, Illini kickoff set". Wisconsin Badgers Sports Report.
(June 13, 2008). "Illinois-WMU game time set". Illinois Athletics.
Thomas, Eric. (September 29, 2008). "Not Just Getting by Anymore". [[The Sentinel (Pennsylvania).
(September 27, 2008). "Penn State Remains Unbeaten, Tops Illinois, 38–24". [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]].
(September 29, 2008). "Michigan, Northwestern and Penn State Football Players Honored After Big Wins". Big Ten Conference.

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