Illinois Football: A Historical Look at Matchups Against No. 1-Ranked Teams

The Illini – who visit No. 1 Oregon on Saturday – have toppled the top dog a few times before

Nov 10, 2007; Columbus, OH, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Juice Williams (7) throws in the pocket against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. The Fighting Illini beat the Buckeyes 28-21. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images / Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

No. 20 Illinois (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) plays at No. 1 Oregon (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten) Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS in what will be the 16th game all-time for the Illini against an opponent ranked tops in the country. In all, the record in such matchups is 3-12.

Let's look back at those three wins, the most recent of which came in the Illini's last opportunity to fell No. 1:

No. 8 Illinois 14, No. 1 Ohio State 7, 1950: The Illini had a tradition of running the ball to great effect, but this wasn't shaping up as that kind of an offense. How, then, to beat the mighty Buckeyes? A pair of trick-play passes was the answer at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. That – along with the defense's corralling of eventual Heisman Trophy winner Vic Janowicz – worked.

The last time that Oregon was ranked #1 in the AP poll, they lost the next week at home.

The last time Illinois played #1 on the road, they took down #1 Ohio State in 2007.

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— Illini Ministry of Propaganda (@810illini) October 21, 2024

Illinois 20, No. 1 Michigan State 13, 1956: A dud of a season (2-5-2) had a heck of a highlight, and that was the chopping down of the Spartans. Abe Woodson ran for all three Illini touchdowns, including an 82-yarder and a 70-yarder, on Homecoming at Memorial.

Illinois 28, No. 1 Ohio State 21, 2007: Illini fans who've been around a little bit remember this one, of course. It was the Juice Williams game, as the quarterback threw for four touchdowns. But it also was the Daniel Dufrene game, with his 80-yard run a gigantic play as the Illini commandingly rushed for 260 yards in all. Needing the ball back, the Buckeyes instead suffered while the Illini held on to it for the final 8:09, refusing to stop picking up first downs. Rose Bowl, here they came.

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