CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois will wear four throwback helmets, a military appreciation helmet, and its primary Block I helmet throughout the 2024 home schedule of the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary season. The helmet designs cover nearly the entirety of the Fighting Illini program, all the way back to the 1920s.
Memorial Stadium Helmet Schedule
| Block I (vs. Eastern Illinois, Aug. 29): Illinois has made the current version of the Block I helmet its primary helmet since Coach Bielema’s arrival in 2021. The helmet features an orange lid with blue and white center stripes and a white facemask. | |
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Underlined Illinois (vs. Kansas, Sept. 7): Illinois wore versions of the underlined Illinois helmets from 1989-2012. A blue stroke was added in 2005 after the original version featured an all-white underlined Illinois from 1989-2004. The 2024 helmet will feature a white facemask and blue-white-blue center stripes. |
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Arched Illini (vs. Central Michigan, Sept. 14): Illinois wore the arched Illini helmets from 1971-87. Facemasks, helmet stripes, and decal sizing varied throughout the period. The 2024 edition will feature gray facemasks and a blue-white-orange-white-blue center stripe cadence. |
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Four Stars (vs. Purdue, Oct. 12): Famously worn during Dick Butkus’ years at Illinois, the Fighting Illini wore versions of the four-star helmets from 1962-68. Players’ numbers were featured under the four stars, and the helmet donned a gray facemask with white-blue-white center stripes. |
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Painted Leather (vs. Michigan, Oct. 19): Hand painted to match the look of the Red Grange era leather helmets, Illinois will wear these one-of-a-kind custom lids for the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Rededication Game against Michigan on Oct. 19. Memorial Stadium’s Dedication Game famously occurred against Michigan on Oct. 18, 1924 — 100 years and one day prior to this season’s rededication — when Grange gained national headlines after scoring four touchdowns in the first 12 minutes then later running for a fifth touchdown and throwing for a sixth to take down the previously undefeated Wolverines. |
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Military Appreciation (vs. Minnesota, Nov. 2): Illinois wears its USA-themed helmets once per year for the Military Appreciation Game. The helmet features… |
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