<page_title> 1946 Big Nine Conference football season </page_title> <section_title> Results and team statistics </section_title> <table> <cell> 1 <col_header> Conf. Rank </col_header> </cell> <cell> Illinois <col_header> Team </col_header> </cell> <cell> Ray Eliot <col_header> Head coach </col_header> </cell> <cell> #5 <col_header> AP final </col_header> </cell> <cell> 8–2 <col_header> Overall record </col_header> </cell> </table>
The 1946 Illinois football team, under head coach Ray Eliot, won the Big Nine championship, compiled an 8–2 record, and was ranked No. 5 in the final AP Poll.