The University of Illinois' Fighting Illini football team, as well as its other athletic programs, compete in the Big Ten Conference. The program's early days were its most storied—the team won four national titles in the 1910s and 1920s. Current coach Ron Zook led a resurgent 2007 Illini team to the 2008 Rose Bowl.

The Fighting Illini have played their rivals, the Northwestern Wildcats, every year since 1927, with the Illini leading with a 52-44-5 record. The teams battle for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk, a wooden Native American statue. This changed in 2008, when the schools decided to retire the trophy, leaving it with the Illini in an attempt to remove Native American imagery from college athletics.ESPN.com: Northwestern, Illinois to end tomahawk trophy's 60-year run

• Alan Ball (Cornerback)
• Danny Clark (Linebacker)
• Jameel Cook (Fullback)
• Carey Davis (Running Back)
• Jason Davis (Fullback)
• David Diehl (Offensive Tackle)
• Kelvin Hayden (Cornerback)
• Nathan Hodel (Center)
• Greg Lewis (Wide Receiver)
• Brandon Lloyd (Wide Receiver)
• Rashard Mendenhall (Running Back)
• Brandon Moore (Guard)
• Tony Pashos (Offensive Tackle)
• Duke Preston (Offensive Lineman)
• Neil Rackers (Place kicker)
• Matt Sinclair (Linebacker)
• Pierre Thomas (Running Back)
• Steve Weatherford (Punter)
• Eugene Wilson (Defensive Back)