The 2011 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 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. In their seventh and final season under head coach Ron Zook, the Fighting Illini compiled a 7–6 record (2–6 in conference games), finished in fifth place out of six teams in the Big Ten's Leaders Division, and outscored opponents by a total of 294 to 255. After opening the season with six victories, the Illini lost the last six games of the regular season. They concluded the season in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl where they defeated UCLA, 20–14. At the end of the regular season, Zook was fired, as were most of the assistant coaches. Defensive coordinator Vic Koenning stayed on as interim head coach for the bowl game. Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase led the team in both passing (2,110 yards) and rushing (624 yards). The team's other statistical leaders included wide receiver A. J. Jenkins (90 receptions for 1,276 yards) and kicker Derek Dimke (64 points scored, 34 of 34 extra points, 10 of 12 field goals). The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Wiki link