# 2019 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

The 2019 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Fighting Illini played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Lovie Smith.

## Preseason
### Preseason Big Ten poll

Although the Big Ten Conference has not held an official preseason poll since 2010, Cleveland.com has polled sports journalists representing all member schools as a de facto preseason media poll since 2011. For the 2019 poll, Illinois was projected to finish in last in the West Division.
Media poll (West Division) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Nebraska | 198 (14) |
| 2 | Iowa | 194.5 (14) |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 172.5 (4) |
| 4 | Northwestern | 142.5 (1) |
| 5 | Purdue | 110.5 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 100 (1) |
| 7 | Illinois | 34 |

## Schedule

Illinois' 2019 schedule began with three non-conference games, starting with Akron of the Mid-American Conference at home, a road game to UConn of the American Athletic Conference, and then at home again for Eastern Michigan of the Mid-American Conference. In Big Ten Conference play, Illinois played all members of the West Division and draws Michigan, Rutgers, and Michigan State from the East Division.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 11:00 a.m. | Akron* | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | BTN | W 42–3 | 30,654 |
| September 7 | 2:30 p.m. | at UConn* | Rentschler FieldEast Hartford, CT | CBSSN | W 31–23 | 23,108 |
| September 14 | 11:00 a.m. | Eastern Michigan* | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | BTN | L 31–34 | 34,759 |
| September 21 | 7:00 p.m. | Nebraska | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | BTN | L 38–42 | 44,512 |
| October 5 | 2:30 p.m. | at Minnesota | TCF Bank StadiumMinneapolis, MN | BTN | L 17–40 | 39,341 |
| October 12 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 16 Michigan | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL (rivalry) | ABC | L 25–42 | 37,275 |
| October 19 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 6 Wisconsin | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | BTN | W 24–23 | 37,363 |
| October 26 | 11:00 a.m. | at Purdue | Ross–Ade StadiumWest Lafayette, IN (rivalry) | BTN | W 24–6 | 38,735 |
| November 2 | 2:30 p.m. | Rutgers | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL | BTN | W 38–10 | 35,652 |
| November 9 | 2:30 p.m. | at Michigan State | Spartan StadiumEast Lansing, MI | FS1 | W 37–34 | 63,370 |
| November 23 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 17 Iowa | Kinnick StadiumIowa City, IA | BTN | L 10–19 | 58,331 |
| November 30 | 11:00 a.m. | Northwestern | Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL (rivalry) | FS1 | L 10–29 | 35,895 |
| December 30 | 3:00 p.m. | vs. California* | Levi's StadiumSanta Clara, CA (Redbox Bowl) | FOX | L 20–35 | 34,177 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings (after November 5) released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Akron

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Zips | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Fighting Illini | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 42 |

### At UConn

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Fighting Illini | 0 | 24 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
| Huskies | 10 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 23 |

### Eastern Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 14 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 34 |
| Fighting Illini | 17 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 31 |

### Nebraska

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cornhuskers | 7 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 42 |
| Fighting Illini | 14 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 38 |

### At Minnesota

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Fighting Illini | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
| Golden Gophers | 3 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 40 |

### Michigan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Wolverines | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 42 |
| Fighting Illini | 0 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 25 |

### Wisconsin

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 6 Badgers | 7 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
| Fighting Illini | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |

#### “KAM'S Miracle”

On October 19, during the Homecoming Weekend, the Fighting Illini upset the undefeated No. 6 ranked Wisconsin Badgers on a 39-yard game-winning field goal by James McCourt. It was Illinois' first win against a top ranked team since 2007, when they had upset No. 1 ranked Ohio State in Columbus with a score of 28–21.
The weekend also marked the last nights of beloved campus bar KAM'S. KAM'S had been a popular bar on campus since 1975. In September 2019 it was announced that KAM'S would be closing on Sunday night of Homecoming 2019. The victory coincided with this closing.

### At Purdue

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Fighting Illini | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| Boilermakers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |

### Rutgers

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Scarlet Knights | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Fighting Illini | 10 | 0 | 21 | 7 | 38 |

### At Michigan State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Fighting Illini | 3 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 37 |
| Spartans | 14 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 34 |

#### “The Comeback In East Lansing”

Illinois started the road game off rough, giving up 14 points and only scoring a field goal in the first quarter. By halftime, they were losing 28–10 and at one point in a 28–3 deficit in the second quarter. After Halftime, both teams struggled in the 3rd quarter, scoring only 3 combined points. But the comeback started in the 4th quarter on which the first play was an Illinois touchdown on a 46-yard Brandon Peters pass to wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe. Then on the next Illinois possession, Reggie Corbin ran it in the end zone from 6-yards out to make the score 31–24. On the next Spartans possession, Michigan State's quarterback Brian Lewerke couldn't handle a bad snap and Illinois recovered the fumble at Michigan State's 8-yard line. Peters then tried throwing the game tying touchdown pass but it was intercepted in the end zone by MSU. On the ensuing possession, Lewerke threw an interception to Illinois defender Sydney Brown for a 76-yard touchdown. But the score remained untied when Illinois kicker junior James McCourt missed the PAT to make it 31–30. Michigan State then drove down the field but only managed to kick a field goal to make the score 34–30, MSU leading with 3:17 remaining in the 4th. Illinois drove down the field, completing a 37-yard throw and catch by Peters to Imatorbhebhe and drove to the MSU 4-yard line. The Spartans defense then held and stopped the Illini on 4th and Goal but a defensive pass interference kept the game alive. Brandon Peters then completed a 6-yard, game-winning touchdown to tight end Daniel Barker with 5 seconds remaining. Illinois stopped Michigan State on the kickoff, sealing a Fighting Illini win. The victory clinched a bowl game for the Illini, their first since 2014.

### At Iowa

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Fighting Illini | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| No. 17 Hawkeyes | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 19 |

### Northwestern

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 3 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 29 |
| Fighting Illini | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |

### Vs. California

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Bears | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Fighting Illini | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 20 |

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

Staff as of April 17, 2019.
| Name | Position | Consecutive season at Illinois in current position | Salary |
| Lovie Smith | Head coach/Defensive coordinator | 4th | $4,000,000 |
| Rod Smith | Offensive coordinator | 2nd | $700,000 |
| Michael Bellamy | Running backs coach | 1st | $250,000 |
| Andrew Hayes-Stoker | Wide receivers Coach | 4th | $335,000 |
| Bob McClain | Offensive line coach | 1st | $310,000 |
| Cory Patterson | Tight Ends coach | 2nd | $275,000 |
| Austin Clark | Defensive line coach | 2nd | $275,000 |
| Miles Smith | Linebackers coach | 1st | $220,000 |
| Keynodo Hudson | Cornerbacks coach | 1st | $250,000 |
| Gill Byrd | Safeties coach/Passing Game Coordinator | 2nd | $300,000 |
| Bob Ligashesky | Special Teams Coordinator | 4th | $331,000 |

### Recruiting

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Marquez Beason CB | Duncanville, TX | Duncanville | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 174 lb (79 kg) | Mar 10, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 84 ||||||
| Isaiah Williams ATH | St. Louis, MO | Trinity Catholic | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Mar 23, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 84 ||||||
| Shammond Cooper OLB | St. Louis, MO | Trinity Catholic | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Jan 3, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 83 ||||||
| Moses Okpala DE | St. Louis, MO | Ladue Horton Watkins | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Nov 2, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 80 ||||||
| Kyron Cumby RB | Plano, TX | Plano Senior | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Jun 21, 2013 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 79 ||||||
| Keith Randolph Jr. DE | Belleville, IL | Belleville West | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) | Dec 18, 2018 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: N/A ESPN: ESPN grade: 76 ||||||

### Incoming Transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Previous School | Year |
| Chase Brown | #28 | RB | Western Michigan | (RS)(I) Sophomore |
| Josh Imatorbhebhe | #9 | WR | USC | (RS) Junior |
| Brandon Peters | #18 | QB | Michigan | (RS) Junior |
| Luke Ford | #82 | TE | Georgia | (RS)(I) Sophomore |
| Trevon Sidney | #5 | WR | USC | (RS) Junior |
| Oluwole Betiku Jr. | #47 | OLB | USC | Junior |
| Richie Petitbon | #74 | OG | Alabama | (RS) Senior |
Key:
(RS) = Redshirt
(I) = Ineligible/Sitting out