Illinois Program History

Fighting Illini · Big Ten · FBS seasons since 1985

All-time: 212-274-5.437
Seasons: 421985–2026
AP top 25: 6final polls
AP top 10: 1final polls
Best rating: +10.022nd in 2022

Season by season

Year	Coach	Conference	Record	Conf	Pct	AP	Rating	Adj Off	Adj Def
2026so far	Bret Bielema	Big Ten	4-3	2-2	.571		+4.648	29.941	25.361
2025	Bret Bielema	Big Ten	9-4	5-4	.692		+9.131	30.637	21.634
2024	Bret Bielema	Big Ten	10-3	6-3	.769	16	+6.638	30.040	23.541
2023	Bret Bielema	Big Ten	5-7	3-6	.417		+1.059	28.648	27.671
2022	Bret Bielema	Big Ten	8-5	5-4	.615		+10.022	27.061	17.06
2021	Bret Bielema	Big Ten	5-7	4-5	.417		+1.663	24.983	23.230
2020	Lovie Smith / Rod Smith	Big Ten	2-6	2-6	.250		-2.881	27.873	30.683
2019	Lovie Smith	Big Ten	6-7	4-5	.462		-1.566	27.070	28.571
2018	Lovie Smith	Big Ten	4-8	2-7	.333		-10.8102	26.580	37.3115
2017	Lovie Smith	Big Ten	2-10	0-9	.167		-10.5104	20.3114	30.888
2016	Lovie Smith	Big Ten	3-9	2-7	.250		-7.790	23.798	31.578
2015	Bill Cubit	Big Ten	5-7		.417		—	—	—
2014	Tim Beckman	Big Ten	6-7		.462		—	—	—
2013	Tim Beckman	Big Ten	4-8		.333		—	—	—
2012	Tim Beckman	Big Ten	2-10		.167		—	—	—
2011	Ron Zook	Big Ten	6-6		.500		—	—	—
2010	Ron Zook	Big Ten	7-6		.538		—	—	—
2009	Ron Zook	Big Ten	3-9		.250		—	—	—
2008	Ron Zook	Big Ten	5-7		.417		—	—	—
2007	Ron Zook	Big Ten	9-4		.692	20	—	—	—
2006	Ron Zook	Big Ten	2-10		.167		—	—	—
2005	Ron Zook	Big Ten	2-9		.182		—	—	—
2004	Ron Turner	Big Ten	3-8		.273		—	—	—
2003	Ron Turner	Big Ten	1-11		.083		—	—	—
2002	Ron Turner	Big Ten	5-7		.417		—	—	—
2001	Ron Turner	Big Ten	10-2		.833	12	—	—	—
2000	Ron Turner	Big Ten	5-6		.455		—	—	—
1999	Ron Turner	Big Ten	8-4		.667	24	—	—	—
1998	Ron Turner	Big Ten	3-8		.273		—	—	—
1997	Ron Turner	Big Ten	0-11		.000		—	—	—
1996	Lou Tepper	Big Ten	2-9		.182		—	—	—
1995	Lou Tepper	Big Ten	5-5-1		.500		—	—	—
1994	Lou Tepper	Big Ten	7-5		.583		—	—	—
1993	Lou Tepper	Big Ten	5-6		.455		—	—	—
1992	Lou Tepper	Big Ten	6-5-1		.542		—	—	—
1991	John Mackovic	Big Ten	6-5		.545		—	—	—
1990	John Mackovic	Big Ten	8-4		.667	25	—	—	—
1989	John Mackovic	Big Ten	10-2		.833	10	—	—	—
1988	John Mackovic	Big Ten	6-5-1		.542		—	—	—
1987	Mike White	Big Ten	3-7-1		.318		—	—	—
1986	Mike White	Big Ten	4-7		.364		—	—	—
1985	Mike White	Big Ten	6-5-1		.542		—	—	—

Ratings and conference records start with the 2016 season. How the ratings work.

Head coaches

Coach	Years	Seasons	Record	Pct
Bret Bielema	2021–2026	6	41-29	.586
Rod Smith	2020	1	0-1	.000
Lovie Smith	2016–2020	5	17-39	.304
Bill Cubit	2015	1	5-7	.417
Tim Beckman	2012–2014	3	12-25	.324
Ron Zook	2005–2011	7	34-51	.400
Ron Turner	1997–2004	8	35-57	.380
Lou Tepper	1992–1996	5	25-30-2	.456
John Mackovic	1988–1991	4	30-16-1	.649
Mike White	1985–1987	3	13-19-2	.412