The 1942 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1942 Big Ten Conference football season. In their first season under head coach Ray Eliot, the Illini compiled a 6âÂÂ4 record and finished in a tie for third place in the Big Ten Conference. Illinois was ranked at No. 11 (out of 590 college and military teams) in the final rankings under the Litkenhous Difference by Score System for 1942.
End Elmer Engel was selected as the team's most valuable player. Guard Alex Agase received second-team honorshonors from the United Press on the 1942 All-Big Ten Conference football team.
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.