1941 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

The 1941 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1941 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 29th and final season under head coach Robert Zuppke, the Illini compiled a 2–6 record and finished in last place in the Big Ten Conference.[1] Tackle Nate Johnson was selected as the team's most valuable player.[2]

1941 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record2–6 (0–5 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPNate Johnson
CaptainGame captains
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1941 Big Ten Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Minnesota $ 5 –0 –08 –0 –0
No. 5 Michigan 3 –1 –16 –1 –1
No. 13 Ohio State 3 –1 –16 –1 –1
No. 11 Northwestern 4 –2 –05 –3 –0
Wisconsin 3 –3 –03 –5 –0
Iowa 2 –4 –03 –5 –0
Purdue 1 –3 –02 –5 –1
Indiana 1 –3 –02 –6 –0
Illinois 0 –5 –02 –6 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Illinois was ranked at No. 71 (out of 681 teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System for 1941.[3]

Schedule
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 4Miami (OH)*
W 45–020,585–21,500[4]
October 11at Minnesota
L 6–3450,435[5]
October 18Drake*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
W 40–012,000–12,193[6]
October 25at No. 7 Notre Dame*
L 14–4945,000–48,000[7]
November 1No. 7 Michigan
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 0–2030,101[8][9]
November 8Iowa
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 0–2114,339[10]
November 15at No. 20 Ohio State
L 7–1241,544[11]
November 22at No. 10 Northwestern
L 0–2726,000[12]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References
  1. "1941 Illinois Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  2. "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF). University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. Retrieved December 28, 2016.
  3. Dr. E. E. Litkenhous (December 26, 1941). "Gophers Grid Kings Over 6-Year Span: Tennessee 2d, Pitt 3d Over Period Litkenhous Ratins Are Published". The Courier-Journal. p. Sports 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Illinois Wins Opener; Beats Miami U., 45 to 0". Chicago Tribune. October 5, 1941. p. II-2 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. Charles Johnson (October 12, 1941). "Gophers Crush Illini, 34-6: Minnesota Tallies 4 Times in First Half". Minneapolis Sunday Tribune and Star Journal. pp. Sports 1–2 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. Charles Bartlett (October 19, 1941). "Illinois Whips Drake, 40 to 0; Griffin Stars". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Edward Burns (October 26, 1941). "Irish Run Up 28 Points in Last Quarter To Rout Illinois, 49-14". Chicago Tribune. pp. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. Edward Burns (November 2, 1941). "Westfall and Kuzma Score for Michigan in Battle of Fumbles". Chicago Tribune.
  9. "Michigan Downs Illinois, 20 to 0; 30,000 See Westfall Pace the Wolverines to Smashing Conference Victory". The New York Times. November 2, 1941.
  10. Charles Bartlett (November 9, 1941). "Dad's Day Becomes Farmer's Day As Iowa Routs Illinois, 21 to 0". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. Arch Ward (November 16, 1941). "Buckeyes Use Long Pass, Hard Plunges To Beat Illinois, 12-7". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Irving Vaughan (November 23, 1941). "Northwestern Whips Illinois, 27-0: DeCorrevont's 3 Touchdowns Lead Wildcats". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1 – via Newspapers.com.


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