Illinois Athletics

August 15, 2024

On Oct. 18, 1924, Red Grange put together one of the greatest performances the college football world has ever seen. On the day of Memorial Stadium's Dedication Game and against a Michigan team that arrived in Champaign on a 20-game unbeaten streak, Grange glided through the Wolverine defense with ease. He set the tone early with a 95-yard return on the opening kickoff, and he was only just getting started.

Five minutes later, he recorded his second score of the game, this time on a 67-yard rush. Within the opening 12 minutes of play, he amassed four touchdowns, and he finished the contest with six total scores and over 400 total yards of offense.

The Wolverines allowed only 32 points during their 20-game unbeaten run. In the Illini's 39-14 win over Michigan, Red Grange accounted for 36 points on his own.

Earning the now-iconic "Galloping Ghost" nickname following a performance that remains unrivaled one century later, Grange cemented himself in college football history forever.

"Michigan never knew Red Grange, the Illinois wildcat, until today. Now Michigan knows him well," wrote James Crusinberry of the Chicago Tribune in 1924. "He stamped himself as one of the greatest football stars of all time, East or West."

IlliniGuys Exclusive:

To find out more about Red Grange, his historic performance on October 18, 1924, and his impact on the fledgling NFL and American sports in general please listen/view this podcast with Doug Villhard, author of the historical novel, "The Golden Age of Red: A Novel of Red Grange, The Galloping Ghost"