1976 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1976 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record5–6 (4–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPJerry Finis, Scott Studwell
CaptainMarty Friel, Dean March, Scott Studwell
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1975
1977 →
1976 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Michigan + 7 1 0 10 2 0
No. 6 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

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]

  1. ^ "1976 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. ^ "1976 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  3. ^ "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. Retrieved December 29, 2016.