1940 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record1–7 (0–5 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPGeorge Bernhardt
CaptainThomas J. Riggs
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →
1940 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Minnesota $ 6 – 0 – 0 8 – 0 – 0
No. 3 Michigan 3 – 1 – 0 7 – 1 – 0
No. 8 Northwestern 4 – 2 – 0 6 – 2 – 0
Ohio State 3 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Wisconsin 3 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Iowa 2 – 3 – 0 4 – 4 – 0
Indiana 2 – 3 – 0 3 – 5 – 0
Purdue 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 6 – 0
Illinois 0 – 5 – 0 1 – 7 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1940 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1940 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 28th season under head coach Robert Zuppke, the Illini compiled a 1–7 record (0–5 against conference opponents), finished in last place in the Big Ten Conference, and were outscored by a total of 144 to 71.[1] Fullback George Bernhardt was selected as the team's most valuable player.[2]

Illinois was ranked at No. 62 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.[3]

The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
October 5Bradley*
W 31–031,000[4]
October 12USC*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 7–1330,125[5]
October 19at No. 3 Michigan
L 0–2839,114[6]
October 26No. 2 Notre Damedagger*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
L 0–2663,186[7]
November 2at Wisconsin
L 6–1328,000[8]
November 9at No. 10 Northwestern
L 14–3235,000[9]
November 16Ohio State
L 6–1415,571[10]
November 23at Iowa
L 7–1819,759[11]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

  1. ^ "1940 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 19, 1940). "Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings". The Boston Globe. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Illinois Whips Bradley, 31-0, in Last Half: Late but Potent". Chicago Tribune. October 6, 1940. p. II-5 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Arch Ward (October 13, 1940). "Five Yard Punt Sets Up U.S.C. Touchdown, Beats Illini, 13-7". Chicago Tribune. pp. II-1, II-4 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ John N. Sabo (October 20, 1940). "Michigan Pounds Illinois Line to Pieces for 28-0 Triumph: Westfall Gains 160 Yards to Spark Attack". The Detroit Free Press. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Howard Barry (October 27, 1940). "Notre Dame Routs Illini: Irish Running, Passing Roll Up 26-0 Score". Chicago Tribune. p. II-1, II-4 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Badgers Nip Illini 13-6, Take Fourth in Big 10: Tennant's 62 Yard Spring Provides Win". The Capital Times. November 3, 1940. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Irving Vaughan (November 10, 1940). "N.U. Wins: Wildcats Subdue Illini, 32-14; Score 3 Times in Last Quarter". Chicago Tribune. pp. II-1, II-6 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Dunkley, Charles (November 17, 1940). "Scott Sparks Scarlet To 14-6 Win Over Illini". The South Bend Tribune. Associated Press. p. 2:1. Retrieved October 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Bert McGrane (November 24, 1940). "Iowa Whips Illinois, 18-7". The Des Moines Register. pp. Sports 1, 6 – via Newspapers.com.


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