2013 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

2013 Illinois Fighting Illini football
2013 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Conference	Big Ten Conference
	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

2013 Big Ten Conference football standings

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 statistical 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

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

Cincinnati

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

Washington

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

Miami (OH)

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

Nebraska

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

Wisconsin

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

Michigan State

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

Penn State

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

Indiana

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

Ohio State

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

Purdue

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

Northwestern

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

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

↑ "2013 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
↑ "2013 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
↑ "Illinois Football Schedules". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on August 21, 2013. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
↑ "University of Illinois vs. University of Washington". Chicago Park District. Archived from the original on September 17, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
↑ "1994–1995 Season Stats" (PDF). University of Illinois Department of Athletics. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 9, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
↑ "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.
↑ "Coaches". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2013.

[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.

[Coaches-7] "Coaches". University of Illinois Department of Athletics. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2013.

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Illinois Fighting Illini football
Venues	Illinois Field (1890–1922) Gies Memorial Stadium (1923–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Indiana Iowa Michigan Missouri Northwestern Ohio State: Illibuck Purdue
Culture & lore	Illinois Loyalty "Oskee Wow-Wow" Marching Illini Gene Honda Fighting Illini Sports Network Chief Illiniwek 1960s slush fund scandal 2021 Penn State game
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026
National championship seasons in bold