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Illinois football has played, but never beaten, these teams

By Rees Woodcock

ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 2: Head coach Nick Saban of the Louisiana State University Tigers takes the field against the Georgia Bulldogs during the game at Sanford Stadium on October 2, 2004 in Athens, Georgia. The Bulldogs won 45-16. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA - OCTOBER 2: Head coach Nick Saban of the Louisiana State University Tigers takes the field against the Georgia Bulldogs during the game at Sanford Stadium on October 2, 2004 in Athens, Georgia. The Bulldogs won 45-16. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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CHAMPAIGN, IL – SEPTEMBER 10: Mitch Trubisky #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels runs the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL – SEPTEMBER 10: Mitch Trubisky #10 of the North Carolina Tar Heels runs the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

10. Navy – 0-1

  • First Loss: September 29, 1979
  • Last Loss: September 29, 1979

You wouldn’t think it today, but the Navy Midshipmen used to have a great football program. They were one of the best teams in the country decades ago, and in 1979, Illinois faced them for the first and only team in program history.

Navy had a good team in 1979, and the Illini were floundering. The Midshipmen would take the game to Illinois and beat us 13-12. This would start a streak of six losses in seven games for the Illini. We would finish the season 2-8-1 overall.

11. North Carolina – 0-4

  • First Loss: September 18, 1971
  • Last Loss: September 10, 2016

Illinois has played the North Carolina Tar Heels four times and failed to beat them in any contest. The first matchup was in 1971 when the Illini were beaten down 27-0. In 1987, North Carolina once again beat us soundly, 34-14.

In 2014 and 2015, Illinois and North Carolina played a series of games, both going in the Tar Heels’ favor. In the first game, Illinois lost 48-14. The Illini then fell to the Mitch Trubisky-led Tar Heels 48-23 in the final game.

12. Notre Dame – 0-11-1

  • First Loss: October 8, 1898
  • Last Loss: October 19, 1968

Illinois football has played the Golden Domers 12 times throughout college football history. These two historic programs first played in 1898 in which the Illini fell 5-0. I think we all remember that legendary offensive battle.

The Illini haven’t lost all 12 games to Notre Dame, though. In 1937, the two teams played again and finished in a 0-0 tie. From that point on, the Illini would never sniff victory again. Notre Dame has outscored Illinois all-time, 313-62, and the Illini have averaged 5.2 points per game in each contest.

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