2013 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

2013 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Division	Leaders Division
Record	4–8 (1–7 Big Ten)
Head coach	Tim Beckman (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Bill Cubit (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Tim Banks (2nd season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons ←  2012 2014  →

2013 Big Ten Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Legends Division
No. 3 Michigan State x$		8	–	0					13	–	1
Iowa		5	–	3					8	–	5
Nebraska		5	–	3					9	–	4
Minnesota		4	–	4					8	–	5
Michigan		3	–	5					7	–	6
Northwestern		1	–	7					5	–	7
Leaders Division
No. 12 Ohio State x%		8	–	0					12	–	2
No. 22 Wisconsin		6	–	2					9	–	4
Penn State*		4	–	4					7	–	5
Indiana		3	–	5					5	–	7
Illinois		1	–	7					4	–	8
Purdue		0	–	8					1	–	11
Championship: Michigan State 34, Ohio State 24
$ – BCS representative as conference champion % – BCS at-large representative x – Division champion/co-champions Penn State ineligible for conference championship game and post-season bowl games due to NCAA sanctions Rankings from AP Poll

The 2013 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 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their second season under head coach Tim Beckman, the Fighting Illini compiled a 4–8 record (1–7 in conference games), finished in fifth place out of six teams in the Big Ten's Leaders Division, and were outscored by a total of 425 to 356. ^[1]

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase led the Big Ten with 287 completions, 430 passes, a 66.7% completion percentage, 3,272 passing yards, and 13 interceptions. The team's other statstical leaders included running back Josh Ferguson (779 rushing yards), wide receiver Steve Hull (59 receptions for 993 yards), and kicker Taylor Zalewski (74 points scored, 38 of 38 extra points, 12 of 17 field goals). ^[2]

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

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	11:00 am	Southern Illinois *	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	W 42–34	42,175
September 7	11:00 am	Cincinnati *	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	ESPN2	W 45–17	43,031
September 14	5:00 pm	vs. No. 19 Washington *	Soldier Field Chicago, IL	BTN	L 24–34	47,312
September 28	11:00 am	Miami (OH) *	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	W 50–14	46,890
October 5	11:00 am	at Nebraska	Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE	ESPNU	L 19–39	90,458
October 19	7:00 pm	No. 25 Wisconsin	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	BTN	L 32–56	47,362
October 26	2:30 pm	Michigan State	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL	ABC/ESPN2	L 3–42	45,895
November 2	11:00 am	at Penn State	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	ESPN	L 17–24 OT	95,131
November 9	2:30 pm	at Indiana	Memorial Stadium Bloomington, IN (rivalry)	BTN	L 35–52	44,882
November 16	11:00 am	No. 3 Ohio State	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (Battle for the Illibuck)	ESPN	L 35–60	44,095
November 23	11:00 am	at Purdue	Ross–Ade Stadium West Lafayette, IN (Battle for the Purdue Cannon)	BTN	W 20–16	37,459
November 30	2:30 pm	Northwestern	Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (Battle for the Land of Lincoln Trophy)	BTN	L 34–37	37,058
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[3]

Chicago homecoming

Chicago homecoming logo

For only the second time in Soldier Field's 89-year history, the stadium hosted the Illinois Fighting Illini football team. ^[4] The Fighting Illini's last appearance at Soldier Field was during the 1994 season in which the team lost 10–9 to #22 ranked Washington State Cougars. ^[5] Additionally, the University of Illinois Alumni Association, Illinois Foundation, and Division and Intercollegiate Athletics are hosting an "Illini Fest" family tailgate prior the start of the football game. The event is modeled after Chicago Street Festivals that are popular throughout Neighborhoods in Chicago. ^[6]

Game summaries

Southern Illinois

	1	2	3	4	Total
Salukis	7	0	17	10	34
Fighting Illini	3	22	14	3	42

See also: 2013 Southern Illinois Salukis football team

Cincinnati

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bearcats	0	7	10	0	17
Fighting Illini	7	14	7	17	45

See also: 2013 Cincinnati Bearcats football team

Washington

	1	2	3	4	Total
#19 Huskies	0	10	21	3	34
Fighting Illini	0	3	14	7	24

See also: 2013 Washington Huskies football team

Miami (OH)

	1	2	3	4	Total
RedHawks	0	0	7	7	14
Fighting Illini	7	29	7	7	50

See also: 2013 Miami RedHawks football team

Nebraska

	1	2	3	4	Total
Fighting Illini	0	5	7	7	19
Cornhuskers	14	9	13	3	39

See also: 2013 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team

Wisconsin

	1	2	3	4	Total
#25 Badgers	21	7	14	14	56
Fighting Illini	0	17	0	15	32

See also: 2013 Wisconsin Badgers football team

Michigan State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Spartans	0	14	14	14	42
Fighting Illini	3	0	0	0	3

See also: 2013 Michigan State Spartans football team

Penn State

	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Fighting Illini	0	3	7	7	0	17
Nittany Lions	7	7	0	3	7	24

See also: 2013 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Indiana

	1	2	3	4	Total
Fighting Illini	14	0	14	7	35
Hoosiers	14	7	14	17	52

See also: 2013 Indiana Hoosiers football team

Ohio State

	1	2	3	4	Total
#3 Buckeyes	21	14	9	16	60
Fighting Illini	0	14	7	14	35

See also: 2013 Ohio State Buckeyes football team and Illibuck

Purdue

	1	2	3	4	Total
Fighting Illini	7	7	0	6	20
Boilermakers	14	0	0	2	16

See also: 2013 Purdue Boilermakers football team and Purdue Cannon

Northwestern

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	10	10	3	14	37
Fighting Illini	0	17	10	7	34

See also: 2013 Northwestern Wildcats football team and Land of Lincoln Trophy

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Seasons at Illinois	Alma mater
Tim Beckman	Head coach	1	Findlay (1985)
Tim Banks	Defensive coordinator/secondary	1	Central Michigan (1995)
Bill Cubit	Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks	0	Delaware (1974)
Mike Bellamy	Wide receivers	1	Illinois (1990)
A. J. Ricker	Offensive line	0	Missouri (2004)
Tim Salem	Special teams coordinator/Running backs	1	Arizona State (1985)
Greg Colby	Defensive line	0	Illinois (1974)
Alex Golesh	Tight Ends/recruiting coordinator	1	Ohio State (2006)
Al Seamonson	Outside linebackers	0	Wisconsin (1982)
Mike Ward	Inside Linebackers	1	Georgetown College (1984)
Reference: [7]

Roster

2013 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players			Coaches
Offense Pos. # Name Class QB 2 Nathan Scheelhaase  Sr TE 3 Jon Davis Jr QB 4 Reilly O'Toole Jr RB 5 Donovonn Young Jr RB 6 Josh Ferguson  So WR 7 Martize Barr  Jr WR 8 Miles Osei Sr DB 9 Steve Hull  Sr QB 10 Chase Haslett  So TE 11 Matt LaCosse Jr WR 12 Ryan Langford Sr QB 12 Wes Lunt So WR 13 Dionte Taylor Fr QB 15 Aaron Bailey Fr WR 16 Marchie Murdock Fr QB 16 Man Berg Fr RB 18 Jeremey Whitlow  So WR 19 Justin Hardee So QB 19 Sean Hussey Fr RB 23 Cameron Tucker  So RB 25 Foster Fr WR 26 Cedric Doxy  Fr WR 29 Peter Bonahoom  So QB 30 James Nudera  So WR 31 Leslie Poole  So RB 32 Devin Church  Fr TE 47 Tim Clary  So OL 52 Alex Hill  Jr OL 55 Chris Boles  So OL 57 Austin Schmidt Fr OL 60 Tony Durkin  So OL 66 Scott McDowell  So OL 67 Jake Feldmeyer  Sr OL 68 Simon Cvijanovic  Jr OL 69 Ted Karras  So OL 70 Corey Lewis  Sr OL 71 Joe Spencer  Fr OL 72 Dallas Hinkhouse Jr OL 73 Chris O'Connor  So OL 74 Michael Heitz  Jr OL 75 Pat Flavin  So OL 76 Jesse Chadwell Fr OL 78 Harry Black Fr WR 80 Spencer Harris Sr WR 81 Kevin Carroll Fr WR 82 Kameron Fry  So TE 83 Trevor Kanteman Fr TE 84 Kenny Knight  So WR 85 Elias Butler Fr TE 86 Tim Russell  Sr TE 87 Tyler White Fr WR 88 Zach Grant So TE 89 Evan Wilson Sr	Defense Pos. # Name Class DB 2 V'Angelo Bentley So DB 3 Taylor Barton  Fr DB 4 Darwyn Kelly Fr STAR 5 James Crawford Fr DB 9 Earnest Thomas III  Jr STAR 10 B. J. Bello  Fr STAR 14 Eric Finney  So DB 15 Jevaris Little  Fr DB 16 Caleb Day Fr DB 20 Dillan Cazley Fr STAR 20 Clayton Fejedelem Jr DB 21 Zane Petty  Jr DB 22 Nick Forzley Sr DB 22 LaKeith Walls  Fr DB 23 Ben Mathis  Sr DB 24 Darius Mosely Fr DB 25 Sean Arowolaju  Fr DB 27 Eaton Spencer  So DB 28 Jaylen Dunlap Fr DB 29 Nelson Lugo  Fr DB 30 Dennis Thurow Fr DB 31 Nick North  So STAR 32 Daniel Quintana Sr LB 33 Zepheniah Grimes  So STAR 34 Mike Svetina So LB 35 Taylor White  Fr DB 36 Samuel Harlib Fr DB 37 Davontay Kwaaning  So LB 38 Grant Rushing Fr LB 39 Nathan Echard Fr LB 40 Mikiel Thompson So DL 41 Brandon Roberts Fr LB 42 Ralph Cooper Jr LB 43 Mason Monheim So DL 44 Austin Teitsma  Jr LB 45 Jonathan Brown Sr LB 48 Henry Dickinson  So LB 52 T. J. Neal  Fr LEO 55 Houston Bates  Jr DL 58 Kenny Nelson  So DL 59 Tim Kynard  Sr DL 65 Christian DiLauro Fr LEO 90 DeJazz Woods  Jr LEO 91 Dawuane Smoot Fr DL 92 Abe Cajuste  Jr DL 93 Teko Powell So DL 94 Bryce Douglas Fr DL 95 Jake Howe  Jr DL 96 Robbie Bain  Fr DL 97 Vontrell Williams  Fr DL 99 Jarrod Clements Fr	Special teams Pos. # Name Class PK/P 13 Ryan Frain  Fr PK 17 Taylor Zalewski  So P 18 Justin DuBernois Jr P 36 Brad Janitz Sr PK 38 David Reisner  Fr LS 54 Zach Hirth  Fr LS 56 Michael Martin  Fr PK 83 Brennen VanMieghem  So	Head coach Tim Beckman Coordinators/assistant coaches Tim Banks (defensive coordinator / secondary) Bill Cubit (offensive coordinator / quarterbacks) Mike Bellamy (wide receivers) Greg Colby (defensive line) Alex Golesh (tight ends / specialist / recruiting coordinator) A. J. Ricker (offensive line) Tim Salem (running backs / special teams coordinator) Al Seamonson (outside linebackers) Mike Ward (inside linebackers) Anthony Antonacci (graduate assistant - defense) Justin Hood (graduate assistant - defense) Kolby Jackson (graduate assistant - special teams) Tim Knox (director of football operations) Drew Nystrom (graduate assistant - offense) George Anasis (director of football game analysis) Nina Baloun (assistant recruiting coordinator) Marcus Berry (director of player personnel) Trent Chesnut (head football equipment manager) Corey Harbor (academic counselor) Aaron Hillmann (head football strength & conditioning coach) Matt Sinclair (assistant director of player personnel and relations) Carla Suber (learning specialist) Annie White (academic counselor) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible Injured Redshirt Roster Last update: December 3, 2014

References

1. "2013 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
2. "2013 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
3. "Illinois Football Schedules". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
4. "University of Illinois vs. University of Washington". Chicago Park District. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
5. "1994–1995 Season Stats" (PDF). University of Illinois Department of Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
6. "Illini Host 'Chicago Homecoming' at Soldier Field". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. March 13, 2013. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
7. "Coaches". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2013.