Like Lazy Montez Sweat, I may only perform my game thread creating duties half the time.
All stolen because I am Lazy.
#24 Illinois (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) vs. Minnesota (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten)
Date/Time Saturday, Nov. 2 | 11 a.m. CT
Location Champaign, Illinois (Memorial Stadium)
Watch FS1
Radio Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | SiriusXM (160/196/SXM App)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 24 Illinois returns to Memorial Stadium on Saturday to take on Minnesota for Dads Day and Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT on FS1.
The Fighting Illini most recently dropped a road contest to the top-ranked Oregon Ducks in Week 9 [that's putting it lightly], which saw the Orange and Blue's record move to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Big Ten play. Illinois remained in the AP poll for the seventh consecutive week and has already earned three ranked wins heading into the final four weeks of the regular season.
Minnesota arrives in Champaign on a three-game winning streak, which has featured wins over USC, UCLA, and Maryland. The Golden Gophers took care of business against the Terrapins in Week 9, recording a 48-23 victory on Homecoming.
Illinois and Minnesota last met in 2023, when the Orange and Blue registered a last-minute 27-26 victory in Minneapolis. The game featured the emergence of former Illini quarterback John Paddock, who came in off the bench with under 90 seconds to play and made three completions on Illinois' game-winning drive.
Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), and Josh Sims (sideline) have the call on CBS. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the statewide radio broadcast, with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Kevin Mitchell (analyst), and Michael Martin (sideline) on the call.
Dads Day: Continuing the proud 100+-year Illinois tradition of the Dads Association, which began in 1920, Saturday's game will be marked as Dads Day, honoring the dads of all Fighting Illini. A "King Dad" will be crowned at halftime. [I am skeptical that I will be named "King Dad." They are cowards I tell you!]
Military Appreciation Day: Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium will honor and recognize the brave servicemen and women who protect our freedom. Active military personnel are eligible for two free tickets to the game.
Illini Walk Rappelling: Prior to the Illini Walk on Saturday, an Army cadet will rappel from the Memorial Stadium colonnades to the ground level to deliver a game ball at 8:30 a.m. CT. Saturday's Illini Walk is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. CT.
Pregame Military Tailgate: The Chez Veterans Center staff is hosting a pregame tailgate in Grange Grove, including a VR gaming setup for fans to use for free.
Air Raid Siren: New for 2024, an Illini celebrity will sound the Illini air raid siren right before kickoff to get the crowd pumped up for the Fighting Illini football team. This week's sounder is former Fighting Illini baseball player and NCAA gold glove winner Michael Massey, who is now the second baseman for the Kansas City Royals.
*Illinois is 5-0 at home this season. The Illini are looking to start the season with six straight home wins for the first time since 2001, when Illinois finished 6-0 at home on the way to the Big Ten title and 2002 Sugar Bowl.
*Illinois has been ranked for seven consecutive weeks. The seven AP Poll appearances are the Illini's most since the 2001 Big Ten championship team was ranked for 10 weeks.
*Illinois has six or more wins through eight games for the second time in the last three seasons. Illinois started 7-1 in 2022.
Illinois, #6 Texas, #7 Tennessee, and #8 Notre Dame are the only teams in the nation with three AP Top 25 wins this season.
*Illinois is the only Big Ten team with three AP Top 25 wins this season.
*Illinois is 3-2 against AP Top 25 teams this season. From the 2008 Rose Bowl game through the 2023 season, Illinois went 3-40 against AP Top 25 teams. [JFC]
*Illinois has three AP Top 25 wins in a single season for the first time since 2007. Only two teams in Illinois history have more ranked wins than this year's Illini squad: the 1946 and 1983 teams that went 4-0 against AP Top 25 teams.
*Illinois will play in the postseason twice in a three-year span for the first time since making back-to-back bowl games in 2010 and 2011. [This remains depressing.]
*Altmyer joined an impressive list of Illini QBs who have led the team to three Top 25 wins in a single season over the last 50 years: Jack Trudeau (1983), Jason Verduzco (1990), Kurt Kittner (2001), Juice Williams (2007), and Altmyer (2024).
*In Aaron Henry's second season as defensive coordinator, Illinois ranks 32nd in the nation in scoring defense (20.6), an improvement of 61 spots in the national rankings year-over-year (93rd, 29.4).
*Kicker David Olano is 13-for-16 on field goals, including 12-for-14 inside of 50 yards and 8-for-8 inside of 40 yards.
*Punter Hugh Robertson has landed 60.0% (15/25) of his punts inside the 20, which is on pace for an Illinois record.
*Saturday's game between Illinois and Minnesota will be the 77th meeting between the two teams.
*Illinois trails in the all-time series against Minnesota, 33-40-3 [Seriously?], but the Illini are 20-17-1 in home games vs. the Golden Gophers, and the Orange and Blue have won three straight in the series.
*Dike Eddleman [been awhile since we had a Dike Eddleman reference] set Illinois' single-game punt return average record of 51.0 vs. Minnesota 10/18/1947
*Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck is a native of Sugar Grove, Illinois, and went to Kaneland High School.
*Illinois chancellor Robert J. Jones had a 34-year career at the University of Minnesota, where he began as a plant physiologist in the department of agronomy and plant genetics and rose through a series of academic administrative appointments, serving as senior vice president for academic administration at the University of Minnesota System from 2004 to 2013.
GAMBLING! Holy crap! Illini started +3! At home. To Minnesota! WTF? Down to +2.5 at Fan Duel. Vegas must not be as impressed with the Illini as many here and, undoubtedly, at Loyalty are. O/u started at 45.5. Can still get that or 45. Moneyline started Illini +127 and Minn -153. Can get Minn -152 to -155. Illini +126 to +130. Hmmm. Betters like The Boat Rower instead of...what is Bielema's nickname? The Twinkie Eater? Of course I will be wearing my cup and expecting the Illini to put "the pain" in Champaign.