Date Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 8 at No. 10 Michigan State L 16–3371,125
September 15 No. 11 Missouri * L 6–1449,049 [ 4] [ 5]
September 22 at Air Force * W 27–1918,178
September 29 Navy * Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL L 12–1353,825
October 6 Iowa Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL L 7–1351,044
October 13 at No. 20 Purdue L 14–2869,413
October 20 No. 11 Michigan Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry ) L 7–2743,370 [ 6] [ 7]
October 27 at Minnesota T 17–1747,406
November 3 No. 5 Ohio State L 7–4441,870
November 10 Indiana Memorial Stadium Champaign, IL (rivalry ) L 14–4530,874
November 17 at Northwestern W 29–1319,217
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
1979 Illinois Fighting Illini football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
OT
71
Lou Belmont
So
C
63
Greg Boeke
Jr
TE
80
Lee Boeke
Jr
QB
9
Tim McAvoy
Jr
C
53
Mike McBeth
Sr
G
76
Bob McClure
Sr
QB
11
Lawrence McCullough
Sr
G
62
Troy McMillin
Jr
G
78
Ray Pavesic
Sr
C
51
John Scott
Jr
WR
12
Kenny Shaw
So
TE
81
Mike Sherrod
Sr
QB
10
Nick Sowa
Sr
FB
42
Calvin Thomas
So
QB
14
Rich Weiss
Jr
Defense
Pos.
#
Name
Class
DB
15
Bonji Bonner
So
DT
73
Reggie Brown
Jr
OLB
31
Pete Burgard
So
OLB
58
Tab Carmien
Jr
LB
90
Chris Carr
Sr
DB
35
Bill Forrester
So
DB
6
Rick George
So
LB
38
John Gillen
Jr
LB
45
Bob Hauser
Sr
DB
48
Tim Holm
Sr
LB
89
Dan MacLean
Sr
DT
86
Stanley Ralph
Sr
LB
85
Jerry Ramshaw
Sr
LB
34
Jack Squirek
So
CB
16
Tyron Worthy
So
DB
39
Mark Zimmer
So
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
3
Cliff Jones
Jr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
Injured
Redshirt
Roster
^ "1979 Illinois Fighting Illini Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015 .
^ "1979 Illinois Fighting Illini Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 16, 2015 .
^ "Fighting Illini Football Record Book" (PDF) . University of Illinois. 2015. p. 155. Retrieved December 29, 2016 .
^ Richardson, Steve (September 16, 1979). "MU Defense Saves Day At Goal Line" . The Kansas City Star . Kansas City, Missouri . p. 1S. Retrieved March 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Richardson, Steve (September 16, 1979). "Running of Ellis Puts Tigers in Gear (continued)" . The Kansas City Star . Kansas City, Missouri . p. 9S. Retrieved March 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
^ Mick McCabe (October 21, 1979). " 'Winded' U-M offense awakens in 2d half against Illinois, 27-7" . Detroit Free Press . pp. 1F, 16F – via Newspapers.com .
^ Billy Neff (October 21, 1979). "Blue blows past game Illinois, 27-7" . The Michigan Daily . pp. 1, 12.