CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman will serve as the No. 22 Illinois football team's honorary captain against No. 24 Michigan on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.
Whitman competed as a tight end for at Illinois from 1997-2000, playing in 45 games while catching 52 career passes and seven touchdowns. He was a two-time First Team Academic All-American and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors his senior season before spending parts of four seasons in the National Football League, including stints with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, and Buffalo Bills.
Whitman owns the third-longest tenure among current Big Ten athletic directors after taking the role at his alma mater in 2016. He serves as the Big Ten representative to the NCAA Division I Council and, in April 2024, was elected chair of the Council, a position he will hold until June 30, 2026.
Whitman has been at the forefront of the Memorial Stadium Rededication Game planning.
Saturday's game against Michigan is sold out.
