W   31 - 21 

Going into the game, Iowa had a 3-game losing streak to Illinois, including two blowout losses in 1993 and 1994. Vernon Rollins' 20-yard interception return for a touchdown - set up by the pressure defense of Jared DeVries - broke open a 17-14 Iowa lead and sparked the 25th-ranked Hawkeyes to a 31-21 win over Illinois. The weather was windy and bitterly cold as the wind chill was near zero. The Hawkeyes fought off the elements and took the lead in the first quarter on a 13-yard run by Sedrick Shaw. Shaw, who had his best day of the year with 159 yards on 32 carries, had a 41-yard run as he was the workhorse on the drive. Illinois came back strong with 14 straight points on a 17-yard pass-play and a 16-yard fumble return. But the Hawkeyes countered with a 10-play, 50-yard drive capped by Damon Gibson's eight yard touchdown reception. Iowa, which edged Illinois 320-272 in total yards, added another touchdown on Tim Dwight's 11-yard reception from Sherman to take a 31-14 lead. Defensive end Brett Chambers's diving interception at the Illinois 19 set up the score. Damien Robinson again led with 10 tackles, and Matt Hughes had eight. The win kept Iowa in second place in the conference.

	1	2	3	4	F
Iowa	7	7	3	14	31
Illinois	7	7	0	7	21