The 2006 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represented the University of Illinois in the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Ron Zook, who was in his second season with the Illini. Illinois had a record of 2–10, as they did the year before. However, unlike 2005, they suffered few blowout losses, and played competitively with the Big Ten powerhouses, including #1 ranked Ohio State to whom Illinois lost 17–10 on November 4.