College football preview: Illini, Wildcats hope to stir up new Big Ten
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The Illinois Fighting Illini start their season Thursday night against Eastern Illinois. Photo: Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Illini kick off the season Thursday night hoping to return to their 2022 form and push for a Big Ten championship.
Why it matters: College football is all about who can stay undefeated the longest, bringing excitement to marquee matchups later in the season.
Driving the news: The Illini open with a rare Thursday night game, taking on Eastern Illinois.
The big picture: With the expansion of the Big Ten conference, it will be harder than ever for the orange and blue to chase a conference championship, let alone a national title.
Zoom out: The Illini took a step backward last year after pushing for a Big Ten title two years ago. Coach Bret Bielema returns for his fourth season, but many of the stars who helped bring him early success have graduated or transferred.
- It also doesn't help that Illinois has a brutal season ahead, including road games at Penn State and Oregon, as well as a home game versus Michigan.
The vibe: It's the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium this season, so that should bring some excitement to campus.
The other side (of the state): The Wildcats had a surprisingly good year in 2023 under new coach David Braun, who was promoted to head coach after the university fired Pat Fitzgerald over the hazing scandal.
- The team found a defensive identity under Braun and rattled off five straight wins to wrap up last season, including the Las Vegas Bowl.
State of play: Northwestern will play games on a makeshift field near the back of their Evanston campus. Ryan Field has been demolished, and a new stadium is expected to be ready in 2026.
- They will also play two games at Wrigley Field this season.
Most notable players: Defensive end Adrian Hubbard and quarterback Mike Wright, who transferred from Mississippi State.