1990 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

1990 Illinois Fighting Illini football
Big Ten co-champion
Hall of Fame Bowl, L 0–30 vs. Clemson
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
AP	#25
1990 record	8–4 (6–2 Big Ten)
Head coach	John Mackovic (3rd year)
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium

1990 Big Ten football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
#7 Michigan +	6	–	2	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
#16 Michigan State +	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	3	–	1
#25 Illinois +	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
#18 Iowa +	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Ohio State	5	–	2	–	1			7	–	4	–	1
Minnesota	5	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Indiana	3	–	4	–	1			6	–	5	–	1
Northwestern	1	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Purdue	1	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Wisconsin	0	–	8	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

The 1990 Illinois Fighting Illini football team was an American football team that represented the University of Illinois during the 1990 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their third year under head coach John Mackovic, the Illini compiled an 8–4 record, finished in a four-way tie for first place in the Big Ten Conference, were ranked #25 in the final AP Poll, and lost to Clemson in the 1991 Hall of Fame Bowl.

The team's offensive leader were quarterback Jason Verduzco with 2,567 passing yards, fullback Howard Griffith with 1,115 rushing yards, and Shawn Wax with 863 receiving yards.

Award winners

• Darrick Brownlow - linebacker (1st-team All-America pick by Football News; 1st-team all-Big Ten pick by AP)
• Moe Gardner - defensive lineman (consensus 1st-team All-American; 1st-team all-Big Ten pick by AP)
• Howard Griffith - fullback (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP)
• Doug Higgins - placekicker (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP)
• Henry Jones - defensive back (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP)
• Marlon Primous - defensive back (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP)
• Tim Simpson -offensive guard (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP)
• Shawn Wax - receiver (2nd-team all-Big Ten pick by AP)