2022 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

Last updated

2022 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Illinois Fighting Illini logo.svg
Conference Big Ten Conference
Record8–5 (5–4 Big Ten)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. (1st season)
Offensive scheme Spread
Defensive coordinator Ryan Walters (2nd season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Memorial Stadium
Seasons
  2021
2023  
2022 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
No. 3 Michigan xy$^  9 0   13 1  
No. 4 Ohio State ^  8 1   11 2  
No. 7 Penn State  7 2   11 2  
Maryland  4 5   8 5  
Michigan State  3 6   5 7  
Indiana  2 7   4 8  
Rutgers  1 8   4 8  
West Division
Purdue xy  6 3   8 6  
Illinois  5 4   8 5  
Iowa  5 4   8 5  
Minnesota  5 4   9 4  
Wisconsin  4 5   7 6  
Nebraska  3 6   4 8  
Northwestern  1 8   1 11  
Championship: Michigan 43, Purdue 22
  • ^ College Football Playoff participant
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2022 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 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their second season under head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini compiled an 8–5 record (5–4 in conference games), tied for second place in the Big Ten's West Division, and outscored opponents by a total of 315 to 166. [1]

Contents

Junior running back Chase Brown led the team in rushing (1,643 rushing yards on 328 carries) and scoring (13 touchdowns, 78 points scored). He also had 27 receptions for 240 yards. The team's other statistical leaders included senior quarterback Tommy DeVito (2,650 passing yards, 69.6% completion percentage), wide receiver Isaiah Williams (82 receptions for 715 yards), and linebacker Isaac Darkangelo (71 total tackles). [2] Defensive back Devon Witherspoon was a consensus All-American, and offensive lineman Alex Palczewski won first-team honors from The Sporting News.

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

Schedule

Illinois announced its 2022 football schedule on January 12, 2022. [3] The 2022 schedule consists of seven home games and five away games in the regular season. The Fighting Illini will host Big Ten foes Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Purdue and will travel to Indiana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan and Northwestern. [4] The Fighting Illini will host all three of their non-conference opponents, Wyoming from the Mountain West, Virginia from ACC, and Chattanooga from Division I FCS.

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 273:00 p.m. Wyoming * BTN W 38–637,832
September 27:00 p.m.at Indiana FS1 L 20–2344,357
September 103:00 p.m. Virginia *
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
ESPNU W 24–333,669
September 227:30 p.m.No. 10 (FCS) Chattanooga *
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
BTNW 31–037,579
October 111:00 a.m.at Wisconsin BTNW 34–1073,502
October 86:30 p.m. Iowa
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
BTNW 9–644,910
October 1511:00 a.m. Minnesota Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 24
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
BTNW 26–1445,683
October 292:30 p.m.at Nebraska No. 17 ABC W 26–986,691
November 53:30 p.m. Michigan State No. 16
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL
BTNL 15–2356,092
November 1211:00 a.m. Purdue No. 21
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Champaign, IL (rivalry)
ESPN2 L 24–3145,574
November 1911:00 a.m.at No. 3 Michigan ABCL 17–19110,433
November 262:30 p.m.at Northwestern BTNW 41–325,744
January 2, 202311:00 a.m.vs. No. 22 Mississippi State *ESPN2L 10–1935,797
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Central time

[4]

Game summaries

Wyoming

1234Total
Cowboys30306
Fighting Illini71071438

At Indiana

1234Total
Fighting Illini737320
Hoosiers3130723

Virginia

1234Total
Cavaliers30003
Fighting Illini1473024

No. 10 (FCS) Chattanooga

1234Total
No. 10 (FCS) Mocs00000
Fighting Illini10147031

At Wisconsin

Illinois vs. Wisconsin – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Fighting Illini7717334
Badgers730010

at Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

  • Date: October 1, 2022
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m.
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C) • Wind: NE at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) • Weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 73,502
  • Referee: Jerry Servinski
  • TV announcers (BTN): Lisa Byington (play-by-play), Anthony Herron (analyst), and Krystle Rich (sideline)
Game information

Iowa

Iowa at Illinois
Team1234Total
Hawkeyes33006
Fighting Illini33039
  • Date: October 8
  • Location:
    Memorial Stadium
    Champaign, IL
  • Game start: 6:40 pm CDT
  • Game attendance: 44,910
  • Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C), Sunny, Wind SW 8 mph (13 km/h)
  • Referee: Greg Blum
  • TV announcers (BTN): Cory Provus (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), and Elise Menaker (sideline)
  

Illinois won for the first time in nine tries in the series since the two teams became part of the Big Ten West. It was also former Iowa player and coach Bret Bielema's first game at Illinois against Iowa, as he missed the 2021 meeting due to issues relating to COVID-19.

[5] [6]

StatisticsIOWAILL
First downs1318
Total yards221316
Rushing yards52200
Passing yards169116
Turnovers13
Time of possession28:5531:05
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IowaPassing Spencer Petras 18/36, 169 yards, INT
RushingLeshon Williams7 carries, 32 yards
Receiving Sam LaPorta 9 receptions, 100 yards
IllinoisPassing Artur Sitkowski 13/19, 74 yards, INT
RushingChase Brown31 carries, 146 yards
ReceivingBrian Hightower5 receptions, 68 yards

Minnesota

1234Total
Golden Gophers077014
No. 24 Fighting Illini767626

At Nebraska

No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini (6–1) vs Nebraska Cornhuskers (3–4) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
No. 17 Fighting Illini6143326
Cornhuskers36009

at Memorial StadiumLincoln, NE

  • Date: October 29, 2022
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m.
  • Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
  • Game attendance: 86,691
  • Referee: Greg Blum
  • TV announcers (ABC): Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Tom Luginbill (sideline)
  • Sources:
Game information
First quarter
  • (12:33) ILL – Isaiah Williams 46-yard pass from Tommy DeVito (Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:27; Illinois 6–0)
  • (1:49) NEB – Timmy Bleekrode 26-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 73 yards, 3:15; Illinois 6–3)
Second quarter
  • (9:38) NEB – Travis Vokolek 56-yard pass from Casey Thompson (Drive: 5 plays, 93 yards, 2:24; Nebraska 9–6)
  • (6:03) ILL – Chase Brown 1-yard run, Caleb Griffin kick (Drive: 2 plays, 11 yards, 0:28; Illinois 13–9)
  • (0:23) ILL – Chase Brown 12-yard pass from Tommy DeVito, Caleb Griffin kick (Drive: 11 plays, 72 yards, 4:08; Illinois 20–9)
Third quarter
  • (3:29) ILL – Caleb Griffin 36-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 70 yards, 7:27; Illinois 23–9)
Fourth quarter
  • (11:12) ILL – Caleb Griffin 41-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 2:00; Illinois 26–9)
StatisticsILLNEB
First downs189
Total yards367248
Rushes/yards48–18825–60
Passing yards179188
Passing: Comp–Att–Int20–22–011–24–3
Time of possession38:1321:47
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IllinoisPassingTommy DeVito20/22, 179 yards, 2 TD
RushingChase Brown32 carries, 149 yards, TD
Receiving Isaiah Williams 9 receptions, 93 yards, TD
NebraskaPassing Casey Thompson 7/15, 172 yards, TD, 2 INT
RushingAnthony Grant12 carries, 61 yards
Receiving Travis Vokolek 1 reception, 56 yards, TD

Michigan State

Week Nine: Michigan State at No. 16 Illinois– Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Michigan State3614023
No. 16 Illinois700815

at Memorial StadiumChampaign, IL

  • Date: November 5, 2022
  • Game time: 3:40 p.m.
  • Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C), Cloudy, Wind: SW 30 mph (48 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 56,092
  • Referee: Larry Smith
  • TV announcers (BTN): Cory Provus (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), and Elise Menaker (sideline)
  • Sources:
Game information

Purdue

1234Total
Boilermakers01471031
No. 21 Fighting Illini777324

At No. 3 Michigan

Illinois at No. 3 Michigan
(rivalry)
Team1234Total
Fighting Illini0314017
No. 3 Wolverines703919
  • Date: November 19
  • Location: Michigan Stadium
    Ann Arbor, MI
  • Game start: 12:07 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3:29
  • Game attendance: 110,433
  • Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C), sunny, SW 15 MPH
  • Referee: Michael Cannon
  • TV announcers (ABC): Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), Molly McGrath, and Todd McShay (sidelines)
  • Sources:
StatisticsUINo. 3 UM
First downs2018
Plays–yards64–32674–376
Rushes–yards34–14840–168
Passing yards178208
Passing: compattint21–30–018–34–0
Time of possession24:5735:03
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
IllinoisPassingTommy DeVito21/30, 178 yards
RushingChase Brown29 carries, 140 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Casey Washington 6 receptions, 53 yards
No. 3 MichiganPassing J. J. McCarthy 18/34, 208 yards
Rushing Blake Corum 18 carries, 108 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Colston Loveland 3 receptions, 50 yards

At Northwestern

1234Total
Fighting Illini71017741
Wildcats00033

Vs. No. 22 Mississippi State (ReliaQuest Bowl)

No. 22 Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (ReliaQuest Bowl)
Quarter1234Total
No. 22 Mississippi State0301619
Illinois073010

at Raymond James StadiumTampa, Florida

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP RV2418171421RVRVRVRVRV
Coaches RVRV20181320RVRVRVRV
CFP Not released1621Not released

Roster

2022 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB 0 Josh McCray So
WR 1 Isaiah Williams So
RB 2 Chase Brown Jr
QB 3 Tommy DeVito Sr
WR 4Khmari ThompsonJr
WR 6Ashton HollinsFr
WR 7Brian HightowerJr
WR 8Shawn Miller  Injury icon 2.svg Fr
QB 9 Artur Sitkowski Jr
QB 10Donovan Leary  Injury icon 2.svg Fr
QB 11Jake HuberFr
WR 11Jonah MorrisSr
QB 12Kirkland MichauxFr
WR 13 Pat Bryant So
WR 14 Casey Washington Jr
QB 15Jameson SheehanFr
QB 17Ryan JohnsonSr
WR 18Chase MillerFr
WR 19Eian PughFr
TE 20Naivyan CargillFr
RB 21 Aidan Laughery Fr
RB 22Chase HaydenSr
RB 23Reggie Love IIISo
RB 24Nick FedanzoSo
RB 25Jordan AndersonFr
TE 40Lucas AlthausFr
TE 42Michael MarcheseSr
TE 43Griffin MooreSo
TE 44Ben ClawsonFr
TE 48Mike Cernigila JrSo
OL 53Devin HaleFr
OL 54 Julian Pearl So
OL 56Magnus MØllerFr
OL 57Evan KirtsSo
OL 58Matt FriesFr
OL 62Sam TsagalisFr
OL 63 Alex Palczewski Sr
OL 64Josh KruetzFr
OL 65Joey OklaFr
OL 66Jordyn SlaughterJr
OL 68Zachary BarlevFr
OL 70Tommy CroninSo
OL 71Hunter WhitenackFr
OL 72Zy CrislerSo
OL 73Josh GeskyFr
OL 74Dylan DavisSo
OL 75Alex PihlstromSr
OL 76Clayton LeonardFr
OL 78 Isaiah Adams Jr
OL 79Luciano EliasFr
WR 80 Hank Beatty Fr
WR 81Daniel EdwardsFr
TE 82Luke FordSr
WR 83Keion BattleFr
TE 84Owen AndersonFr
WR 85Miles ScottSr
WR 86Weston AdamsFr
WR 87 Kody Case Sr
TE 88Henry BoyerFr
TE 89 Tip Reiman So
WR Tyler McClure Redshirt.svg  Fr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 1Kionte CurryFr
DB 2Matthew BaileyFr
DB 3DD Snyder IIFr
DL 4 Johnny Newton So
LB 5Calvin Hart JrJr
DB 6Terrell JenningsJr
DB 7Kendall SmithSr
LB 8Tarique BarnesJr
DB 9Tyson RooksFr
DB 10 Tahveon Nicholson So
DB 12Elijah Mc-CantosFr
DB 14Xavier ScottFr
DB 15Prince GreenFr
DB 16Peyton ViningSr
LB 17 Gabe Jacas Fr
DB 20Tyler StrainFr
DB 21 Quan Martin Sr
DL 23Terah EdwardsFr
LB 25Jared BadieFr
DB 26Mike ManningSo
DB 27Matt BobakFr
LB 28 Dylan Rosiek Redshirt.svg  Fr
DB 29TJ GriffinFr
DB 30 Sydney Brown Sr
DB 31 Devon Witherspoon Jr
DB 32Tailon LeitzseySr
LB 33Ezekiel Holmes  Injury icon 2.svg Jr
LB 34Ryan MeedSo
DB 35Grayson Griffin Redshirt.svg  Fr
LB 36Ben SchultzSo
DB 37Solo TurnerSo
LB 38 Isaac Darkangelo Sr
LB 39Kenenna OdelugaFr
LB 40Shammond CooperSo
LB 41James KruetzFr
LB 42Luke ZardzinFr
LB 45Malachi HoodFr
LB 48Bryce BarnesJr
LB 49 Seth Coleman So
DL 52Verdis BrownJr
DL 55Sed McConnellFr
DL 57Evan KirtsSo
DL 88 Keith Randolph Jr. So
LB 90Alec BryantFr
DL 91 Jamal Woods Sr
DL 93Calvin AverySr
DL 94Raashaan Wilkins JrJr
LB 98Deon PateSr
DL 99Christian LorenzoSr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 5Caleb GriffinJr
K 16Will McManusFr
K, P 98Fabrizio PintonFr
P 19Hugh RobertsonFr
P 96Josh LeffFr
LS 36Lane HansenFr
LS 39Aidan HallSo
LS 47Preston EngelJr
LS 95Nico CrawfordFr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Barry Lunney Jr.Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
  • Ryan WaltersDefensive Coordinator
  • Ben MillerSpecial Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends
  • Cory Patterson – Running Backs
  • Terrance JamisonDefensive Line
  • George McDonaldWide Receivers / Assistant HC
  • Aaron Henry – Defensive Backs
  • Bart Miller – Offensive Line
  • Andy Buh – Linebackers
  • Kevin KaneOutside linebackers / Associate HC
  • Sean Snyder - Special Teams/Specialists

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injury icon 2.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster
Last update: September 21, 2021

Coaching staff

NamePositionConsecutive season at
Illinois in current position
Bret Bielema Head coach 2nd
Ryan Walters Defensive coordinator 2nd
Barry Lunney Jr. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach1st
George McDonald Wide receivers Coach / assistant head coach2nd
Kevin Kane Outside linebackers Coach / associate head coach2nd
Bart MillerOffensive line coach2nd
Andy BuhLinebackers coach2nd
Terrance Jamison Defensive line coach2nd
Aaron Henry Defensive backs coach2nd
Ben Miller Tight ends coach/special teams coordinator2nd
Cory PattersonRunning backs coach5th

References

  1. "2022 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  2. "2022 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  3. "Illinois & Northwestern get their football schedules shuffled for 2022" . Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "2022 Illinois Football Schedule" . Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  5. "Iowa Visits Illinois In Battle Of Big Ten West Contenders". Associated Press. October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  6. "Backup kicker's field goal lifts Illini to 9-6 win over Iowa". Associated Press. October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 9, 2022.