1956 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1956 Illinois Fighting Illini football
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record2–5–2 (1–4–2 Big Ten)
Head coach
MVPDave Walker
CaptainJames Minor
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
1956 Big Ten Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Iowa $ 5 1 0 9 1 0
No. 7 Michigan 5 2 0 7 2 0
No. 12 Minnesota 4 1 2 6 1 2
No. 9 Michigan State 4 2 0 7 2 0
No. 15 Ohio State 4 2 0 6 3 0
Northwestern 3 3 1 4 4 1
Purdue 1 4 2 3 4 2
Illinois 1 4 2 2 5 2
Wisconsin 0 4 3 1 5 3
Indiana 1 5 0 3 6 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1956 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 1956 Big Ten season. In their 15th year under head coach Ray Eliot, the Fighting Illini compiled a 2–5–2 record (1–4–2 in conference games), tied for seventh place in the Big Ten, and were outscored by a total of 154 to 124.

The team's statistical leaders included Miles Stout (278 passing yards, 51.3% completion rate) and halfback Abe Woodson (599 rushing yards, 5.4 yards per rushing carry, 12 receptions, 257 receiving yards). Woodson received first-team honors on the 1956 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

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