The University of Illinois participates in the NCAA's Division 1-A and forms part of the
Big Ten athletic conference. UIUC offers 9 men's and 10 women's
varsity sports including baseball, basketball, football, and track and field.
Athletes
- Red Grange - professional football player for the NFL's Chicago Bears
- Dick Butkus - professional football player for the NFL's Chicago Bears
- Jeff George - professional
football player for a variety of teams, from the Indianapolis Colts to the Washington Redskins
- Perdita Felicien, first female in Illinois track & field
history to win a gold medal in an individual event at the World Championships
- Simeon Rice - professional football player for the NFL's Tampa Bay
Buccaneers
- Nick Anderson - professional
basketball player for the Orlando Magic and Sacramento Kings
- Kendall Gill - professional
basketball player for a variety of teams, currently playing for the Milwaukee Bucks
