Illinois promoted assistant coach Ray Eliot to the position of head coach after Zuppke's retirement. Eliot would lead the Illini football program for 18 seasons, compiling an 83–73–11 record. In 1946, the Illini won the Big Ten Conference title and completed an 8–2 season with a 45–14 win over UCLA in the Rose Bowl. The team's captain was center Mac Wenskunas. Guard Alex Agase was voted the team's most valuable player and received the Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten's most valuable player.