Program history
Illinois Record vs Ranked Teams
Every opponent's AP Top 25 rank is taken from the time of the game—not the final poll—with all-time, site, decade, and season splits.
Big TenMemorial Stadium (Champaign, IL)
- Overall record
- 53-225-8
- Win percentage
- 19.9%
- Current streak
- 1W
AP-ranked opponent summary
All Top 25
53-225-8
286 games · 19.9%
Against Top 10
14-118-4
136 games · 11.8%
Against Top 5
6-64-3
73 games · 10.3%
Streaks
1W
Current ranked-opponent streak · longest win streak 3
Record by site
| Site | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 25-108-5 | 138 | 19.9% |
| Road | 20-108-3 | 131 | 16.4% |
| Neutral | 8-9 | 17 | 47.1% |
Record by decade
| Decade | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 7-11 | 18 | 38.9% |
| 2010s | 3-28 | 31 | 9.7% |
| 2000s | 5-31 | 36 | 13.9% |
| 1990s | 10-33-1 | 44 | 23.9% |
| 1980s | 8-21-2 | 31 | 29% |
| 1970s | 3-37 | 40 | 7.5% |
| 1960s | 2-21-1 | 24 | 10.4% |
| 1950s | 10-18-1 | 29 | 36.2% |
| 1940s | 5-18-2 | 25 | 24% |
| 1930s | 0-7-1 | 8 | 6.3% |
Record by season
| Season | Record | Games | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 2024 | 4-2 | 6 | 66.7% |
| 2023 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 2022 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 2021 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 2020 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2019 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2018 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2017 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 2016 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2015 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2014 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 2013 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2012 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 2011 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 2010 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 2009 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2008 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 2007 | 3-2 | 5 | 60% |
| 2006 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2005 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 2004 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 2003 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 2002 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 2001 | 2-2 | 4 | 50% |
| 2000 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1999 | 3-2 | 5 | 60% |
| 1998 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1997 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 1996 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 1995 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 1994 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1993 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 1992 | 1-1-1 | 3 | 50% |
| 1991 | 2-3 | 5 | 40% |
| 1990 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 1989 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1988 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1987 | 0-3-1 | 4 | 12.5% |
| 1986 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1985 | 1-4-1 | 6 | 25% |
| 1984 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1983 | 3-0 | 3 | 100% |
| 1982 | 1-3 | 4 | 25% |
| 1981 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1980 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1979 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 1978 | 0-6 | 6 | 0% |
| 1977 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1976 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1975 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 1974 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1973 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1972 | 0-5 | 5 | 0% |
| 1971 | 1-4 | 5 | 20% |
| 1970 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1969 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1968 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1967 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1966 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1965 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1964 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1963 | 2-0-1 | 3 | 83.3% |
| 1962 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1961 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1960 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
| 1959 | 1-1-1 | 3 | 50% |
| 1958 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1957 | 2-3 | 5 | 40% |
| 1956 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1955 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1954 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1953 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1952 | 1-2 | 3 | 33.3% |
| 1951 | 1-0 | 1 | 100% |
| 1950 | 2-1 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 1949 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1948 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1947 | 1-1-1 | 3 | 50% |
| 1946 | 2-1 | 3 | 66.7% |
| 1945 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1944 | 0-0-1 | 1 | 50% |
| 1943 | 0-4 | 4 | 0% |
| 1942 | 1-1 | 2 | 50% |
| 1941 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1940 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1939 | 0-1 | 1 | 0% |
| 1938 | 0-3 | 3 | 0% |
| 1937 | 0-1-1 | 2 | 25% |
| 1936 | 0-2 | 2 | 0% |
Highest-ranked wins
Win over No. 1
Ohio State, 2007
28-21 · Road · Illinois was unranked
Win over No. 3
Michigan, 1955
25-6 · Home · Illinois was unranked
Win over No. 4
Michigan State, 1956
20-13 · Home · Illinois was unranked
Win over No. 4
UCLA, 1946
45-14 · Neutral · Illinois was No. 5
Win over No. 5
Wisconsin, 2007
31-26 · Home · Illinois was unranked
Win over No. 5
Ohio State, 1985
31-28 · Home · Illinois was unranked
Win over No. 6
Wisconsin, 2019
24-23 · Home · Illinois was unranked
Win over No. 7
Penn State, 2021
20-18 · Road · Illinois was unranked
Win over No. 8
Stanford, 1951
40-7 · Neutral · Illinois was No. 4
Win over No. 8
Michigan, 1946
13-9 · Road · Illinois was No. 5
All 286 qualifying games
| Season | Result | Opponent at game time | Team rank | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | W 30-28 | No. 18 Tennessee | No. 23 | Neutral |
| 2025 | L 16-34 | No. 1 Ohio State | No. 17 | Home |
| 2025 | W 34-32 | No. 21 USC | No. 23 | Home |
| 2025 | L 10-63 | No. 19 Indiana | No. 9 | Road |
| 2024 | W 21-17 | No. 14 South Carolina | No. 21 | Neutral |
| 2024 | L 9-38 | No. 1 Oregon | No. 20 | Road |
| 2024 | W 21-7 | No. 24 Michigan | No. 22 | Home |
| 2024 | L 7-21 | No. 9 Penn State | No. 19 | Road |
| 2024 | W 31-24 | No. 22 Nebraska | No. 24 | Road |
| 2024 | W 23-17 | No. 19 Kansas | Unranked | Home |
| 2023 | L 13-30 | No. 7 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2022 | L 10-19 | No. 24 Mississippi State | No. 21 | Neutral |
| 2022 | L 17-19 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2021 | L 23-33 | No. 18 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 2021 | W 20-18 | No. 7 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 2020 | L 10-28 | No. 15 Northwestern | Unranked | Road |
| 2020 | L 21-35 | No. 24 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 2020 | L 7-45 | No. 14 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2019 | L 20-35 | No. 15 California | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2019 | L 10-19 | No. 19 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 2019 | W 24-23 | No. 6 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2019 | L 25-42 | No. 16 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2018 | L 16-24 | No. 20 Northwestern | Unranked | Road |
| 2018 | L 20-49 | No. 23 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2018 | L 24-63 | No. 10 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2017 | L 7-42 | No. 23 Northwestern | Unranked | Home |
| 2017 | L 14-52 | No. 8 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2017 | L 10-24 | No. 5 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2017 | L 23-47 | No. 22 South Florida | Unranked | Road |
| 2016 | L 3-48 | No. 7 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2016 | L 8-41 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2016 | L 16-31 | No. 15 Nebraska | Unranked | Road |
| 2015 | L 14-24 | No. 17 Northwestern | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2015 | L 3-28 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2015 | L 20-29 | No. 22 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 2014 | L 14-55 | No. 13 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2014 | L 14-45 | No. 21 Nebraska | Unranked | Road |
| 2013 | L 35-60 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2013 | L 32-56 | No. 25 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2013 | L 24-34 | No. 19 Washington | Unranked | Home |
| 2012 | L 22-52 | No. 6 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2012 | L 0-45 | No. 25 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2011 | L 17-28 | No. 15 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2011 | L 14-31 | No. 22 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2011 | L 7-10 | No. 21 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 2011 | W 17-14 | No. 22 Arizona State | Unranked | Home |
| 2010 | W 38-14 | No. 22 Baylor | Unranked | Neutral |
| 2010 | L 6-26 | No. 13 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 2010 | L 13-24 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2009 | L 36-49 | No. 5 Cincinnati | Unranked | Road |
| 2009 | L 17-35 | No. 15 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2009 | L 0-30 | No. 13 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2008 | L 20-30 | No. 10 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2008 | L 24-38 | No. 12 Penn State | No. 22 | Road |
| 2007 | L 17-49 | No. 8 USC | No. 15 | Road |
| 2007 | W 28-21 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2007 | L 17-27 | No. 24 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2007 | W 31-26 | No. 5 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2007 | W 27-20 | No. 21 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2006 | L 10-17 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2006 | L 24-30 | No. 17 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2006 | L 7-24 | No. 14 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 2005 | L 2-40 | No. 12 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 2005 | L 24-41 | No. 15 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 2005 | L 10-63 | No. 12 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 2005 | L 14-61 | No. 17 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 2005 | L 20-35 | No. 15 California | Unranked | Road |
| 2004 | L 13-23 | No. 23 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 2004 | L 19-30 | No. 14 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2004 | L 7-24 | No. 20 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 2004 | L 30-38 | No. 15 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 2003 | L 10-41 | No. 13 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 2003 | L 14-56 | No. 17 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 2003 | L 14-49 | No. 21 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 2003 | L 10-43 | No. 22 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 2002 | L 16-23 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2002 | L 7-18 | No. 20 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 2002 | L 28-45 | No. 14 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 2001 | L 34-47 | No. 12 LSU | No. 7 | Home |
| 2001 | W 34-22 | No. 25 Ohio State | No. 12 | Road |
| 2001 | W 38-13 | No. 20 Purdue | No. 21 | Road |
| 2001 | L 20-45 | No. 17 Michigan | No. 22 | Road |
| 2000 | L 23-61 | No. 23 Northwestern | Unranked | Road |
| 2000 | L 21-24 | No. 13 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 2000 | L 31-35 | No. 10 Michigan | No. 19 | Home |
| 1999 | W 63-21 | No. 24 Virginia | Unranked | Neutral |
| 1999 | W 46-20 | No. 25 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1999 | L 7-27 | No. 2 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 1999 | W 35-29 | No. 9 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1999 | L 10-27 | No. 19 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1998 | L 0-27 | No. 9 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 1998 | L 3-37 | No. 9 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1998 | L 0-41 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1997 | L 6-41 | No. 4 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1997 | L 3-48 | No. 22 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1997 | L 6-41 | No. 2 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 1997 | L 10-38 | No. 11 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 1997 | L 22-35 | No. 19 Washington State | Unranked | Home |
| 1996 | L 0-48 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1996 | L 21-31 | No. 25 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1996 | L 24-27 | No. 11 Northwestern | Unranked | Road |
| 1996 | L 3-55 | No. 19 USC | Unranked | Home |
| 1996 | L 8-20 | No. 12 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1995 | L 3-41 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1995 | L 14-17 | No. 8 Northwestern | Unranked | Home |
| 1995 | W 9-7 | No. 17 Arizona | Unranked | Home |
| 1995 | L 31-34 | No. 24 Oregon | Unranked | Road |
| 1995 | L 14-38 | No. 13 Michigan | No. 25 | Home |
| 1994 | L 31-35 | No. 2 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 1994 | L 14-19 | No. 11 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1994 | W 24-10 | No. 17 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1993 | L 10-35 | No. 12 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1993 | L 14-28 | No. 16 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 1993 | W 24-21 | No. 13 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1993 | L 12-20 | No. 6 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1993 | L 14-16 | No. 15 Arizona | Unranked | Home |
| 1992 | L 17-27 | No. 24 Hawai'i | Unranked | Neutral |
| 1992 | T 22-22 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1992 | W 18-16 | No. 21 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1991 | L 3-6 | No. 22 UCLA | No. 25 | Neutral |
| 1991 | L 0-20 | No. 4 Michigan | No. 25 | Home |
| 1991 | L 21-24 | No. 15 Iowa | No. 13 | Road |
| 1991 | W 10-7 | No. 11 Ohio State | No. 20 | Home |
| 1991 | W 51-10 | No. 21 Houston | Unranked | Home |
| 1990 | L 0-30 | No. 14 Clemson | No. 16 | Neutral |
| 1990 | L 17-22 | No. 16 Michigan | No. 22 | Road |
| 1990 | L 28-54 | No. 6 Iowa | No. 17 | Home |
| 1990 | W 23-22 | No. 20 Colorado | No. 15 | Home |
| 1990 | L 16-28 | No. 20 Arizona | No. 21 | Road |
| 1989 | W 31-21 | No. 15 Virginia | No. 11 | Neutral |
| 1989 | L 10-24 | No. 3 Michigan | No. 8 | Home |
| 1989 | L 7-38 | No. 8 Colorado | No. 10 | Road |
| 1988 | L 10-14 | No. 20 Florida | Unranked | Neutral |
| 1988 | L 9-38 | No. 13 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1988 | W 21-20 | No. 20 Indiana | Unranked | Home |
| 1987 | L 22-34 | No. 16 Indiana | Unranked | Road |
| 1987 | T 14-14 | No. 20 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1987 | L 6-10 | No. 9 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1987 | L 7-21 | No. 15 Arizona State | Unranked | Home |
| 1986 | L 13-69 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1986 | L 14-59 | No. 4 Nebraska | Unranked | Home |
| 1985 | L 29-31 | No. 19 Army | No. 20 | Neutral |
| 1985 | L 0-59 | No. 6 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 1985 | T 3-3 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1985 | W 31-28 | No. 5 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1985 | L 25-52 | No. 18 Nebraska | No. 20 | Road |
| 1985 | L 10-20 | No. 6 USC | No. 11 | Home |
| 1984 | L 38-45 | No. 8 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1983 | W 16-6 | No. 13 Michigan | No. 6 | Home |
| 1983 | W 17-13 | No. 17 Ohio State | No. 11 | Home |
| 1983 | W 33-0 | No. 15 Iowa | No. 19 | Home |
| 1982 | L 15-21 | No. 17 Alabama | No. 15 | Neutral |
| 1982 | L 10-16 | No. 15 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1982 | W 42-24 | No. 19 Minnesota | Unranked | Road |
| 1982 | L 3-20 | No. 3 Pittsburgh | No. 19 | Home |
| 1981 | L 21-70 | No. 12 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1981 | W 24-7 | No. 16 Iowa | Unranked | Home |
| 1980 | L 42-49 | No. 7 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1980 | L 14-45 | No. 18 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1980 | L 7-52 | No. 12 Missouri | Unranked | Road |
| 1979 | L 7-44 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1979 | L 7-27 | No. 10 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1979 | L 14-28 | No. 16 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1979 | L 6-14 | No. 9 Missouri | Unranked | Home |
| 1979 | L 16-33 | No. 10 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 1978 | L 7-45 | No. 19 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1978 | L 19-59 | No. 17 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1978 | L 0-13 | No. 17 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1978 | L 3-45 | No. 19 Missouri | Unranked | Road |
| 1978 | L 10-35 | No. 20 Stanford | Unranked | Home |
| 1978 | L 0-31 | No. 5 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1977 | L 0-35 | No. 4 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1977 | L 0-26 | No. 14 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1977 | L 9-37 | No. 1 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1976 | L 7-38 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1976 | L 10-42 | No. 8 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1976 | L 7-14 | No. 17 Texas A&M | Unranked | Home |
| 1975 | L 15-21 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1975 | L 3-40 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1975 | W 21-19 | No. 16 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 1975 | L 13-43 | No. 8 Texas A&M | Unranked | Road |
| 1975 | L 20-30 | No. 5 Missouri | Unranked | Home |
| 1974 | L 6-14 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1974 | L 7-49 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1974 | W 41-7 | No. 19 Stanford | Unranked | Road |
| 1973 | L 6-21 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1973 | L 0-30 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1973 | L 10-17 | No. 20 West Virginia | Unranked | Home |
| 1972 | L 7-31 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1972 | L 7-26 | No. 4 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1972 | L 17-35 | No. 16 Penn State | Unranked | Home |
| 1972 | L 11-31 | No. 14 Washington | Unranked | Road |
| 1972 | L 20-55 | No. 1 USC | Unranked | Home |
| 1971 | W 21-7 | No. 17 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1971 | L 6-35 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1971 | L 10-24 | No. 15 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1971 | L 14-52 | No. 15 Washington | Unranked | Home |
| 1971 | L 0-28 | No. 16 USC | Unranked | Road |
| 1970 | L 0-42 | No. 4 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1970 | L 29-48 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1969 | L 0-57 | No. 14 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1969 | L 22-49 | No. 10 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1969 | L 0-41 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1969 | L 6-37 | No. 9 Missouri | Unranked | Road |
| 1968 | L 0-36 | No. 7 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1968 | L 17-35 | No. 6 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1968 | L 24-31 | No. 2 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1968 | L 8-58 | No. 6 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1967 | L 9-42 | No. 5 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1966 | L 10-26 | No. 1 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1965 | L 12-22 | No. 5 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 1964 | L 6-21 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1964 | L 0-26 | No. 1 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1963 | W 17-7 | No. 10 Washington | No. 3 | Neutral |
| 1963 | W 13-0 | No. 10 Michigan State | No. 3 | Road |
| 1963 | T 20-20 | No. 4 Ohio State | No. 7 | Home |
| 1962 | L 6-35 | No. 3 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1962 | L 16-28 | No. 3 USC | Unranked | Home |
| 1962 | L 15-51 | No. 6 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1962 | L 7-28 | No. 8 Washington | Unranked | Road |
| 1961 | L 7-34 | No. 8 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 1961 | L 0-44 | No. 7 Ohio State | Unranked | Road |
| 1960 | L 10-21 | No. 6 Minnesota | Unranked | Road |
| 1960 | L 7-34 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1959 | W 9-6 | No. 9 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1959 | T 7-7 | No. 14 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1959 | L 9-20 | No. 7 Penn State | Unranked | Road |
| 1958 | L 12-31 | No. 5 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1958 | L 8-31 | No. 8 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1958 | L 13-19 | No. 3 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1957 | L 13-24 | No. 18 Wisconsin | Unranked | Road |
| 1957 | W 20-19 | No. 18 Michigan | No. 15 | Home |
| 1957 | L 14-19 | No. 6 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 1957 | W 34-13 | No. 14 Minnesota | No. 16 | Home |
| 1957 | L 6-16 | No. 19 UCLA | Unranked | Road |
| 1956 | L 7-17 | No. 10 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1956 | W 20-13 | No. 4 Michigan State | Unranked | Home |
| 1956 | L 6-26 | No. 5 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1955 | W 25-6 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1955 | L 7-21 | No. 6 Michigan State | Unranked | Road |
| 1954 | L 14-27 | No. 14 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1954 | L 14-28 | No. 9 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1954 | L 6-19 | No. 11 Minnesota | Unranked | Road |
| 1954 | L 7-40 | No. 10 Ohio State | Unranked | Home |
| 1953 | L 7-34 | No. 8 Wisconsin | No. 7 | Road |
| 1953 | W 41-20 | No. 17 Ohio State | No. 9 | Road |
| 1952 | W 22-13 | No. 20 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1952 | L 12-40 | No. 9 Purdue | Unranked | Home |
| 1952 | L 6-20 | No. 12 Wisconsin | No. 17 | Road |
| 1951 | W 40-7 | No. 8 Stanford | No. 4 | Neutral |
| 1950 | W 20-13 | No. 12 Washington | No. 10 | Home |
| 1950 | W 14-6 | No. 18 UCLA | No. 12 | Road |
| 1950 | L 6-7 | No. 16 Wisconsin | Unranked | Home |
| 1949 | L 0-13 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1949 | W 20-14 | No. 15 Iowa | Unranked | Road |
| 1948 | L 20-28 | No. 1 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1948 | L 0-6 | No. 14 Minnesota | Unranked | Road |
| 1948 | L 21-26 | No. 4 Army | Unranked | Home |
| 1947 | L 7-14 | No. 2 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1947 | W 40-13 | No. 20 Minnesota | No. 11 | Home |
| 1947 | T 0-0 | No. 9 Army | No. 11 | Home |
| 1946 | W 45-14 | No. 4 UCLA | No. 5 | Neutral |
| 1946 | W 13-9 | No. 8 Michigan | No. 5 | Road |
| 1946 | L 6-26 | No. 2 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1945 | L 0-19 | No. 7 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1945 | L 0-6 | No. 6 Indiana | Unranked | Home |
| 1945 | L 0-7 | No. 2 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1944 | T 26-26 | No. 13 Great Lakes Navy | Unranked | Home |
| 1943 | L 6-42 | No. 3 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1943 | L 0-47 | No. 1 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1943 | L 21-40 | No. 4 Purdue | Unranked | Road |
| 1943 | L 18-32 | No. 7 Iowa Pre-Flight | Unranked | Home |
| 1942 | L 14-21 | No. 8 Notre Dame | Unranked | Home |
| 1942 | W 20-13 | No. 16 Minnesota | No. 13 | Home |
| 1941 | L 0-20 | No. 6 Michigan | Unranked | Home |
| 1941 | L 14-49 | No. 4 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1941 | L 6-34 | No. 2 Minnesota | Unranked | Road |
| 1940 | L 0-28 | No. 7 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1939 | L 0-26 | No. 3 USC | Unranked | Road |
| 1938 | L 0-14 | No. 16 Michigan | Unranked | Road |
| 1938 | L 0-13 | No. 15 Northwestern | Unranked | Home |
| 1938 | L 6-14 | No. 1 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1937 | L 6-13 | No. 20 Indiana | Unranked | Road |
| 1937 | T 0-0 | No. 18 Notre Dame | Unranked | Road |
| 1936 | L 2-13 | No. 7 Northwestern | Unranked | Home |
| 1936 | L 6-24 | No. 15 USC | Unranked | Home |
Methodology and coverage
A game qualifies when the opponent was ranked in the AP Top 25 at kickoff. Regular-season games use the poll recorded for that game week; postseason games use the last regular-season AP poll before bowl and playoff results. Final-season rankings never change qualification. Top 5 is a subset of Top 10, and Top 10 is a subset of Top 25. Games without a final score or a matching game-time poll row are excluded. Records use the final scores stored in the database and are not adjusted for wins or losses that were later vacated.
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