The 1951 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1951 Big Ten season. In their 10th year under head coach Ray Eliot, the Fighting Illini compiled a 9–0–1 record (5–0–1 in conference games), won the Big Ten championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 220 to 83. The lone setback was a scoreless tie with Ohio State. The Illini concluded the season with a 40–7 over Stanford in the 1952 Rose Bowl, the first nationally televised college football game. They were ranked No. 4 in the final AP poll. The team was named co-national champion by Boand, which split its selection with Georgia Tech. Defensive back Al Brosky set an NCAA career record 29 interceptions, including an NCAA record 15-game streak covering the entire 1951 season. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Halfback Johnny Karras was a consensus first-team pick on the 1951 All-America team. Linebacker Chuck Boerio was selected as the team's most valuable player. Six Illinois players received honors on the 1951 All-Big Ten Conference football team: Karras (AP-1, UP-1); Boerio (AP-1, UP-1); Brosky (AP-1); tackle Chuck Ulrich (AP-1, UP-1); Chuck Studley (AP-1, UP-1); and end Rex Smith (AP-1). The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Wiki link