2016 Illinois Fighting Illini football team


The 2016 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 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their first season under head coach Lovie Smith, the Fighting Illini compiled a 3–9 record, finished in sixth place out of seven teams in the Big Ten's West Division, and were outscored by a total of 383 to 236.
The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Wes Lunt, running back Kendrick Foster, wide receiver Malik Turner, and kicker Chase McLaughlin.
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Schedule

The Illini hosted all three non–conference games which were against the Murray State Racers from the Ohio Valley Conference, North Carolina Tar Heels from the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the Western Michigan Broncos from the Mid-American Conference.

Game summaries

Minnesota

Awards and honors

Weekly
PlayerAwardDate AwardedRef.
Patrick NelsonBig Ten Freshman of the WeekOctober 17, 2016
Tré WatsonBig Ten Defensive Player of the WeekNovember 7, 2016

All-Conference
PlayerSelection
Dawuane SmootThird Team
Hardy Nickerson Jr.Honorable Mention
Carroll PhillipsFirst Team
Honorable Mention
Joe SpencerHonorable Mention
Tré WatsonHonorable Mention