Writing Illini
Fansided

Believe it or not, Illinois football has never played these FBS teams

By Rees Woodcock

CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 27: A general view of Memorial Stadium during the first quarter between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Wyoming Cowboys on August 27, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 27: A general view of Memorial Stadium during the first quarter between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Wyoming Cowboys on August 27, 2022 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 9
Next
Oct 10, 2020; Syracuse, New York, USA; General view of a football on top of an end zone marker with the Atlantic Coast Conference logo displayed prior to the game against the Duke Blue Devils and the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2020; Syracuse, New York, USA; General view of a football on top of an end zone marker with the Atlantic Coast Conference logo displayed prior to the game against the Duke Blue Devils and the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

  • Florida State Seminoles

Florida State is another school that I am surprised hasn’t played Illinois. They were started in the 1950s, and as one of the bigger programs in college football, one would think the two teams would have squared off at some point.

  • NC State Wolfpack

Illinois has never matched up against the North Carolina State Wolfpack. They have been a solid program for the past couple of decades and have played some good football lately. The Wolfpack have finished ranked in four out of the past six seasons.

  • Wake Forest Demon Deacons

A team that has been trending upward over the past decade is Wake Forest. Thankfully, Illinois hasn’t scheduled the Demon Deacons in the non-conference. They have made seven straight bowl games and won five of those contests.

  • Boston College Eagles

Boston College seems like one of those programs that Illinois would have played in a bowl game in the 1980s. That didn’t happen, though. The Illini haven’t played the Eagles, who have been about as mediocre as you can get in college football. They have had six or seven wins in eight out of the last 10 seasons.

  • Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Too bad Illinois couldn’t schedule more bottom-of-the-barrel FCS teams like Georgia Tech. They have not been a good program for much of the past decade, excluding the 2014 seasons. Illinois has never played the Yellow Jackets, though.

  • Miami Hurricanes

Illinois has been in plenty of recruiting battles with the Miami Hurricanes, but we have never played this once-historic program. Miami has floundered for much of the past decade, as they have only had one 10-win campaign.

  • Virginia Tech Hokies

The Virginia Tech Hokies have hit a rough patch in its great run of football. Illinois never played Virginia Tech, and I am thankful for that. Under Frank Beamer, the Hokies were one of the best teams in the country. That time is gone, though.

Home/All-Time Football Lists