2009 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

2009 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Record	3–9 (2–6 Big Ten)
Head coach	Ron Zook (5th season)
Offensive coordinator	Mike Schultz (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread option
Co-defensive coordinators	Dan Disch (3rd season) Curt Mallory (3rd season)
Base defense	4–3
Captains	Jon Asamoah Arrelious Benn Doug Pilcher Ian Thomas
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons ←  2008 2010  →

2009 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 5 Ohio State $		7	–	1					11	–	2
No. 7 Iowa  %		6	–	2					11	–	2
No. 9 Penn State		6	–	2					11	–	2
Northwestern		5	–	3					8	–	5
No. 16 Wisconsin		5	–	3					10	–	3
Michigan State		4	–	4					6	–	7
Purdue		4	–	4					5	–	7
Minnesota		3	–	5					6	–	7
Illinois		2	–	6					3	–	9
Michigan		1	–	7					5	–	7
Indiana		1	–	7					4	–	8
$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative Rankings from AP Poll

The 2009 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their fifth season under head coach Ron Zook, the Fighting Illini compiled a 3–9 record (2–6 in conference games), finished in ninth place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 362 to 290. ^[1]

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Juice Williams (1,632 passing yards), running back Mikel Leshoure (734 rushing yards, 42 points scored), and wide receiver Arrelious Benn (38 receptions for 490 yards). ^[2]

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

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 5	2:30 pm	vs. Missouri *	Edward Jones Dome St. Louis, MO (Arch Rivalry)	ESPN	L 9–37	64,215 [3]
September 12	6:00 pm	Illinois State *	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	W 45–17	62,347 [4]
September 26	2:30 pm	at No. 13 Ohio State	Ohio Stadium Columbus, OH (Illibuck Trophy)	ABC/ESPN	L 0–30	105,219 [5]
October 3	2:30 pm	No. 13 Penn State	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	ABC/ESPN2	L 17–35	62,870 [6]
October 10	11:00 am	Michigan State	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	L 14–24	62,870 [7]
October 17	6:00 pm	at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN (rivalry)	BTN	L 14–27	42,358 [8]
October 24	11:00 am	at Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (Purdue Cannon)	ESPN2	L 14–24	47,349 [9]
October 31	2:30 pm	Michigan	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry)	ABC/ESPN2	W 38–13	60,119 [10]
November 7	11:00 am	at Minnesota	TCF Bank Stadium Minneapolis, MN	BTN	W 35–32	50,805 [11]
November 14	11:00 am	Northwestern	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (Land of Lincoln Trophy)	ESPNC	L 16–21	60,523 [12]
November 27	11:00 am	at No. 5 Cincinnati *	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH	ABC	L 36–49	35,106 [13]
December 5	11:30 am	Fresno State *	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	L 52–53	48,538 [14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

References

1. "2009 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
2. "2009 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
3. "Missouri Tigers vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Box Score". ESPN . September 5, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
4. "Illinois State Redbirds vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Box Score". ESPN . September 12, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
5. "Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Box Score". ESPN . September 26, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
6. "Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Illinois Fighting Illni Box Score". ESPN . October 3, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
7. "Michigan State Spartans vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Box Score". ESPN . October 10, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
8. "Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Indiana Hoosiers Box Score". ESPN . October 17, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
9. "Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Purdue Boilermakers Box Score". ESPN . October 24, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
10. "Michigan Wolverines vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Box Score". ESPN . October 31, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
11. "Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Box Score". ESPN . November 7, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
12. "Northwestern Wildcats vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Box Score". ESPN . November 14, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
13. "Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Cincinnati Bearcats Box Score". ESPN . November 27, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.
14. "Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Illinois Fighting Illini Box Score". ESPN . December 5, 2009. Retrieved March 8, 2010.