1940 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1940

| team = Illinois Fighting Illini

| sport = football

| image = 1940 Illinois Fighting Illini football team.jpg

| image_size = 285

| conference = Big Ten Conference

| short_conf = Big Ten

| record = 1–7

| conf_record = 0–5

| head_coach = Robert Zuppke

| hc_year = 28th

| mvp = George Bernhardt

| captain = Thomas J. Riggs

| stadium = Memorial Stadium

}}

The 1940 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1940 Big Ten Conference football season. In their 28th season under head coach Robert Zuppke, the Illini compiled a 1–7 record (0–5 against conference opponents), finished in last place in the Big Ten Conference, and were outscored by a total of 144 to 71.{{cite web|title=1940 Illinois Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=December 16, 2015|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/illinois/1940-schedule.html}} Fullback George Bernhardt was selected as the team's most valuable player.{{cite web|title=Fighting Illini Football Record Book|publisher=University of Illinois|year=2015|access-date=December 28, 2016|page=155|url=http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/fightingillini.com/documents/2015/8/3/3_History_7_30.pdf}}

Illinois was ranked at No. 62 (out of 697 college football teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score system for 1940.{{cite news|title=Final 1940 Litkenhous Ratings|newspaper=The Boston Globe|author=Dr. E. E. Litkenhous|date=December 19, 1940|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123126338/final-1940-litkenhous-ratings/|via=Newspapers.com}}

The team played home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1940

| poll = AP

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 5

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1940|team=Bradley Braves|title=Bradley}}

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 31–0

| attend = 31,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Illinois Whips Bradley, 31-0, in Last Half: Late but Potent|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=October 6, 1940|page=II-5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120464112/illinois-whips-bradley-31-0-in-last/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 12

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = USC

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 7–13

| attend = 30,125

| source = {{cite news|title=Five Yard Punt Sets Up U.S.C. Touchdown, Beats Illini, 13-7|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=Arch Ward|date=October 13, 1940|pages=II-1, II-4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120464349/five-yard-punt-sets-up-usc/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 19

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Michigan

| opprank = 3

| site_stadium = Michigan Stadium

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 0–28

| attend = 39,114

| source = {{cite news|title=Michigan Pounds Illinois Line to Pieces for 28-0 Triumph: Westfall Gains 160 Yards to Spark Attack|newspaper=The Detroit Free Press|author=John N. Sabo|date=October 20, 1940|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120469471/michigan-pounds-illinois-line-to-pieces/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 26

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Notre Dame

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| score = 0–26

| attend = 63,186

| source = {{cite news|title=Notre Dame Routs Illini: Irish Running, Passing Roll Up 26-0 Score|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=Howard Barry|date=October 27, 1940|page=II-1, II-4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120469175/notre-dame-routs-illini-irish-running/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 2

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Camp Randall Stadium

| site_cityst = Madison, WI

| score = 6–13

| attend = 28,000

| source = {{cite news|title=Badgers Nip Illini 13-6, Take Fourth in Big 10: Tennant's 62 Yard Spring Provides Win|newspaper=The Capital Times|date=November 3, 1940|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120471324/badgers-nip-illini-13-6-take-fourth-in/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 9

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Northwestern

| opprank = 10

| site_stadium = Dyche Stadium

| site_cityst = Evanston, IL

| gamename = rivalry

| score = 14–32

| attend = 35,000

| source = {{cite news|title=N.U. Wins: Wildcats Subdue Illini, 32-14; Score 3 Times in Last Quarter|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|author=Irving Vaughan|date=November 10, 1940|pages=II-1, II-6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120462704/nu-wins-wildcats-subdue-illini/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 16

| w/l = l

| opponent = Ohio State

| site_stadium = Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Illibuck

| score = 6–14

| attend = 15,571

| source = {{cite news |last1=Dunkley |first1=Charles |title=Scott Sparks Scarlet To 14-6 Win Over Illini |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111701073/the-south-bend-tribune/ |access-date=October 20, 2022 |work=The South Bend Tribune |agency=Associated Press |date=November 17, 1940 |page=2:1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 23

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Iowa

| site_stadium = Iowa Stadium

| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA

| score = 7–18

| attend = 19,759

| source = {{cite news|title=Iowa Whips Illinois, 18-7|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|author=Bert McGrane|date=November 24, 1940|pages=Sports 1, 6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/120471697/iowa-whips-illinois-18-7/|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

References

Illinois

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football seasons

Illinois Fighting Illini football