CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Illinois kicks off the football season Thursday night at 8 p.m. for the 100th season of Memorial Stadium. The Illini squad will host Eastern Illinois University.
Illinois; head coach Bret Bielema seeks his fourth straight season-opening win with the Fighting Illini. The team won in a 30-22 victory over Nebraska in 2021, a 38-6 win against Wyoming in 2022, and a 30-28 win over Toledo in 2023.
Bielema’s 2024 team has a mix of returning and new players on both offense and defense. The team nominated six team captains at the start of the practice season.
Their opponent, Eastern Illinois, finished its 2023 season with an 8-3 record. EIU earned votes in the first AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 poll of the year while being picked to finish second in the Big South-OVC preseason poll.
It is the third time the Illini and Panthers meet – their first since 2008. Illinois leads the all-time series, 2-0. Both victories were achieved at home.