The 1949 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois as a member of the Big Nine Conference during the 1949 Big Nine season. In their eighth year under head coach Ray Eliot, the Fighting Illini compiled a 3âÂÂ4âÂÂ2 record (3âÂÂ3âÂÂ1 in conference games), finished in fifth place in the Big Nine, and outscored opponents by a total of 149 to 140.
Halfback Johnny Karras was selected as the team's most valuable player. Karras and guard Charles Gottfried received first-team honors on the 1949 All-Big Nine Conference football team.
The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois.