1945 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1945 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record2–6–1 (1–4–1 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPMac Wenskunas
CaptainRalph Serpico
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1945 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Indiana $ 5 0 1 9 0 1
No. 6 Michigan 5 1 0 7 3 0
No. 12 Ohio State 5 2 0 7 2 0
Northwestern 3 3 1 4 4 1
Purdue 3 3 0 7 3 0
Wisconsin 2 3 1 3 4 2
Illinois 1 4 1 2 6 1
Minnesota 1 5 0 4 5 0
Iowa 1 5 0 2 7 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1945 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 1945 Big Ten season. In their fourth year under head coach Ray Eliot, the Illini compiled a 2–6–1 record (1–4–1 in conference games), finished in seventh place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 104 to 93.

Center Mac Wenskunas was selected as the team's most valuable player. Other key players included tackle Alex Agase, guard Les Bingaman, and end/linebacker Jim Valek.

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