PROMOTIONS / GAMEDAY TIMELINE
• Homecoming » 106th #ILLINOIShomecoming is this weekend. For info visit homecoming.illinois.edu
• Grange Statue Giveaway » First 5,000 fans to enter stadium get a mini Red Grange statue replica (doors open at 9:30 am)
• Social Media Day » $30 tix include t-shirt, texting gloves & $10 concession voucher (promo code: SOCIAL)
• Tailgating at Grange Grove » 7-11 am (games, food trucks, beer tent and live music by Parmalee)
• Illini Walk » 8:30 am (Ikenberry Commons to First Street, then through Grange Grove)
• BTN Tailgate Live Broadcast » 9:30-11 am inside Grange Grove. Bring your sign game!
OPENING KICK
• Back Home: The Fighting Illini (2-5, 1-3 B1G) return home to host Minnesota (5-2, 2-2 B1G) at Memorial Stadium as part of the University of Illinois' 106th Homecoming celebration on Saturday (11 am CT on BTN).
• BTN Tailgate in Town: BTN Tailgate will be broadcasting live from Grange Grove from 9:30-11 am CT on Saturday prior to kickoff. Host Dave Revsine and analysts Gerry DiNardo and Anthony Adams are expected to be joined on set by several Fighting Illini special guests.
• Takeaways & Turnovers: The Orange and Blue have done an outstanding job of both taking the ball away and taking care of the ball this season.
» Illinois' turnover margin (+1.0) ranks ninth in FBS and second in the Big Ten.
» Illinois' eight fumbles recovered ranks eighth in FBS and first in the Big Ten.
» The Illini's seven giveaways ranks as the 10th fewest in FBS.
» The Illini have thrown three interceptions, ranking ninth in FBS and second the Big Ten.
• TFL U: As a team the Illini defense has been making plays in the backfield often in 2016.
» Illinois ranks eighth in the nation and third in the Big Ten in TFLs per game (8.3)
» Senior DE Carroll Phillips is averaging 1.7 TFLs per game, fifth-most in FBS and most in the Big Ten.
» Phillips (12.0) and senior DE Dawuane Smoot (8.0) have combined for more TFLs (20.0) than any other teammates in the Big Ten.
• Fourth Down 'D': Opponents have converted just 2 of 8 fourth down attempts (.250) against the Illini defense, the second-best conversion percentage in the Big Ten and fourth-best in FBS.
• Tackling Machine: Graduate transfer LB Hardy Nickerson is averaging 10.3 tackles/game to lead the Big Ten and rank 13th in FBS. He has 318 career tackles (246 at Cal, 72 at Illinois), fifth-most among active FBS players. Nickerson has more career tackles than any active Power-5 linebacker.
• Freshman of the Week: RS freshman safety Patrick Nelson has burst onto the scene in Big Ten play. He had 16 tackles at Nebraska in his first career start and then 14 at Rutgers to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. Nelson's 42 tackles since Oct. 1 are the most by any FBS freshman and his 10.5 tackles per game in conference play ranks fifth in the Big Ten.
• Smoot Point: Senior DE Dawuane Smoot has come on strong in conference play, averaging 1.5 TFLs per game to rank third in the Big Ten during league play. For the season, he has 31 tackles, 8.0 TFLs, one sack, five hurries, two forced fumbles and one safety, wreaking even more havoc than the stats indicate.
• Big Play Run Game: Illinois has four runs of 50+ yards this season, tied for fourth-most in the nation. Kendrick Foster had a pair of 56-yard TD runs against Murray State, Ke'Shawn Vaughn had a 65-yard TD scamper vs. North Carolina and Reggie Corbin busted a 53-yard run at Rutgers.
• Target Turner: Junior WR Malik Turner accounts for 43.3 percent of Illinois' total receiving yards (513/1184 yards), the highest percentage of any FBS player. Turner has 33 receptions for 513 yards and four touchdowns this season. He ranks fifth in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (73.3) and seventh in receptions per game (4.7).
• Reggie, Reggie, Reggie: RS freshman RB Reggie Corbin is averaging 8.41 yards per carry this season (328 yards on 39 carries), which ranks fourth among FBS players with at least 35 carries. In Big Ten play (4 games), the former HS rugby star has 257 rushing yards on 32 carries (8.0 ypc) and 305 all-purpose yards.
THE ILLINOIS-MINNESOTA SERIES
• Saturday's game between Illinois and Minnesota will be the 69th meeting between the two teams. Minnesota leads the all-time series 36-29-3, but the Illini hold a 17-15-1 margin in Champaign.
• The Illini forced three turnovers and had 11 TFLs to beat Minnesota 28-24 in 2014, despite being out-gained 411-263 in the Gophers last visit to Champaign. V'Angelo Bentley returned a fumble 12 yards for a touchdown with 6:33 left in the fourth quarter for the game's final score.
• The 2014 win over Minnesota was the Illini's last over a ranked opponent, as the Gophers came in ranked No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. It was the first win over an opponent ranked in either the Associated Press or coaches poll since a 17-14 victory over No. 22 Arizona State on Sept. 17, 2011.
• The Gophers have won seven of the last 10 meetings, with Illinois winning in 2014 (28-24 in Champaign), 2009 (35-32 in Minneapolis) and 2007 (44-17 in Minneapolis).
• Tracy Claeys is in his first full season as Minnesota's head coach. Last year's win over Illinois was his first after being named head coach on Nov. 11, 2015. Claeys replaced his colleague Jerry Kill, who resigned his position on Oct. 28, 2015, due to health reasons.
HIGHLIGHTS AGAINST THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
• WR Malik Turner caught 11 passes for 126 yards and one touchdown at Minnesota last season. The 11 receptions is still Turner's career high.
• QB Wes Lunt was 34-of-47 for 279 yards and 2 TDs against Minnesota in 2015. He missed the 2014 game against the Gophers due to an injury.
• RB Kendrick Foster had a breakout game against UM last season, with 11 carries for a then-career-high 56 yards.
• TE Andrew Davis caught his first career touchdown against Minnesota last season.
• The Illini's single-game record for tackles of 34 was set by John Sullivan vs. Minnesota in 1977.
• Last 100-yard receiver vs. Minnesota: Malik Turner, 126, 11/21/2016
• Last 100-yard rusher vs. Minnesota: Mikel Leshoure, 141, 11/13/2010
• Last 300-yard passer vs. Minnesota: Juice Williams, 462, 10/11/2008
TOUGH ROAD
• Illinois is the only team in the country that has faced three teams that are currently undefeated – Michigan (7-0), Nebraska (7-0) and Western Michigan (8-0).
• The Illini have played the 9th-toughest schedule in the nation based on winning percentage vs. FBS teams (.686).
• Illinois' six FBS opponents are combined 33-12 this season – No. 2 Michigan (7-0), No. 7 Nebraska (7-0), No. 20 Western Michigan (8-0), No. 21 North Carolina (6-2), Purdue (3-4) and Rutgers (2-6). When projecting out future games, the Illini schedule ranks as the fourth-toughest in the nation according to NCAA stats.
• Five Illinois opponents are ranked in the latest AP Top 25 (Oct. 24) – No. 2 Michigan, No. 7 Nebraska, No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 20 Western Michigan and No. 21 North Carolina.
• Only four college football teams will play against more 2015 bowl teams during the 2016 season. Illinois' nine bowl opponents are tied for fifth in the nation behind USC (11), BYU (10), Colorado (10) and Ole Miss (10).
• The Big Ten moved to a nine-game conference slate this season, meaning each team plays three division crossover games. Illinois' cross-division games are home against Michigan State, at Michigan and at Rutgers, meaning the Illini have five road games and four home games in B1G play.
HONORING THE GALLOPING GHOST
• For the third straight Homecoming game, the Fighting Illini will honor Hall of Famer Harold "Red" Grange, the Galloping Ghost, by wearing special "Gray Ghost" alternate uniforms against the Gophers.
• The uniforms debuted at Homecoming 2014 on the 90th anniversary of Grange's historic Homecoming performance against Michigan in the Memorial Stadium dedication game on Oct. 18, 1924. In that game, Grange scored four touchdowns and racked up 262 total yards in the first 12 minutes, then ran for a fifth touchdown and threw for a sixth to lead the Illini to a 39-14 victory in what many consider the greatest single-game performance in college football history.
• The first 5,000 fans to Saturday's game will get a mini Red Grange statue to help commemorate his historic Homecoming performance.
ILLINOIS HOMECOMING FACTS
• The first homecoming celebrated on Illinois' campus was on Oct. 15, 1910, which the Illini won 3-0 over Chicago. This year's game against Minnesota marks the 106th #ILLINOIShomecoming.
• Illinois has an all-time record of 45-58-2 on Homecoming, with its last victory coming against the Gophers in 2014.
• This year marks the 18th time overall and the second time in the last three years that the Illini host Minnesota for Homecoming. Illinois is 9-7-1 all-time in Homecoming games against the Gophers, including a 28-24 victory in 2014.
• Illinois boasts being one of the first universities to celebrate Homecoming, a tradition on almost every college campus. It was conceived in 1909 by students C.F. Williams and W. Elmer Ekblaw, members of the Shield and Trident senior society. They joined with another society, Phoenix, to organize the three-day event.
• For years, there has been a debate over which university had the first homecoming. Historians from various schools found research that puts Illinois among one of the first five universities to celebrate the Homecoming tradition. Baylor has documented proof of a formally named Homecoming celebration in 1909, but took a six-year hiatus before celebrating the second event at the school in 1915. Northern Illinois had alumni events beginning in 1906, but didn't use the proper noun "Homecoming" until 1911. Indiana University renamed their 1909 Gala Day to Homecoming on Nov. 5, 1910, and Michigan began inviting alumni back to campus in 1897, but the formal name began on the Ann Arbor campus in 1916.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
• Illinois has had 23 first-time starters this season, tied for the most in the nation (Bowling Green). Including in that number are nine freshmen (three true-freshmen and six redshirt-freshmen).
• As the season has progressed, several new faces have seen their playing time and production increase, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
» RS freshman SS Patrick Nelson played only on special teams the first two games, making zero tackles. In the last five games, he's racked up 48 tackles at safety, making three starts.
» True-freshman Stanley Green did not play in the first two games before seeing some action on special teams in games three and four. In week five against Purdue, he saw his first action at safety and made three tackles before starting at Rutgers and Purdue and making 16 tackles in those two games.
» Junior college transfer CB Ahmari Hayes did not play in three of the first four games and did not make his first tackle until week five against Purdue. He started at cornerback at Rutgers and posted four tackles.
» A pair of freshmen have seen increasing snaps the senior-laden defensive line. After playing sparingly in the first two games, RS freshman DT Jamal Milan has come on to post 16 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, two forced fumbles and one sack in his last four games (missed Purdue due to injury). Meanwhile, true-freshman DT Kenyon Jackson has made 11 of his 13 tackles in the last four games and has started twice.
» RS freshman RB Reggie Corbin had 7 carries for 71 yards in the first three games before breaking out for 31 carries for 257 yards the last four games.
GRAD TRANSFERS MAKING BIG IMPACT
Both of Illinois' graduate transfers have made a huge impact for the Fighting Illini defense.
• Cal transfer LB Hardy Nickerson is averaging 10.3 tackles per game to lead the Big Ten and rank 13th nationally. He has added 4.5 TFLs, fourth-most on the team, a team-high two interceptions and 2.0 sacks.
• Auburn transfer DE Gimel President has 6.5 TFLs to rank third on the team and 17th in the Big Ten. He has 26 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, two QB hurries and one PBU on the season.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
• Redshirt-freshman QB Jeff George Jr. made his first career start at Michigan on Oct. 22 with both sophomore QB Chayce Crouch and senior QB Wes Lunt missing the game with injuries. George had taken just six snaps (all versus Murray State) and had not attempted a collegiate pass prior to the tart.
• George and his father, former Illinois QB Jeff George, became the first father/son duo to start at quarterback for the Fighting Illini.
• Jeff George Sr. played for Illinois in 1988 and '89, throwing for 5,189 yards and 31 touchdowns while leading the Illini to a 16-7-1 record and two bowl games. The Indianapolis Colts selected George No. 1 overall in the 1990 NFL Draft.
TARGET TURNER
• Junior WR Malik Turner is THE target in the passing game, leading all Illini receivers with 33 catches for 513 yards (15.5 ypc) and four TDs. He accounts for 43.3 percent of Illinois' total receiving yards (513/1184 yards), the highest percentage of any FBS player.
• Turner ranks fifth in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (73.3) and seventh in receptions per game (4.7).
• Always a deep threat, Turner has three catches of 40+ yards this season – a career-long 68-yard catch against Murray State and two 43-yard snares at Michigan.
• Turner went over 100 yards for the third time in his career Oct. 8 vs. Purdue, totaling a career-high 129 yards on nine receptions.
• Turner's high school coach, Ken Leonard (Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin), is the father of senior QB Wes Lunt's high school football coach, Derek Leonard (Rochester HS).
HE'S LUNT, HE'S LUNT, HE'S LUNT, HE'S IN MY HEAD
• Streak Snapped: Senior QB Wes Lunt missed the Rutgers game on Oct. 15 with an injury, snapping a streak of 17 consecutive starts. He also missed the Michigan game on Oct. 22 due to the same injury.
• Throwing Strikes: QB Wes Lunt is one of the most accurate passers in the nation during his time with the Illini.
» Now in his third season starting at Illinois, Lunt has thrown 34 touchdowns against just 10 interceptions on 851 attempts (85.1 att/int).
» Lunt's interception percentage (1.18 percent) at Illinois is the second-lowest in FBS since 2014 behind only Northern Illinois' Drew Hare (0.93 percent)
» With one interception on 129 pass attempts in 2016, Lunt is one of three players in the nation with at least 125 attempts and 1 or less INT.
• Lunt's Legacy: QB Wes Lunt ranks in the top 10 on several UI career lists:
» 5,364 passing yds – 7th (1,667 behind Tony Eason for 6th)
» 501 completions – 7th (60 behind Tony Eason for 6th)
» 122.7 passing efficiency – 8th (just behind Jeff George's 122.8 for 7th)
» 34 passing touchdowns – 9th (1 behind Johnny Johnson for 8th & 4 behind Tony Eason for 7th)
» 5,093 yards of total offense – 9th (65 behind John Beutjer for 8th)
• Lunt was named to four preseason watch lists heading into 2016 – Maxwell Award, Davey O'Brien Award, Unitas Golden Arm and Manning Award.
• With six interceptions in 481 pass attempts in 2015, Lunt was one of just three players in the nation with over 400 attempts and six or less INTs. Paxton Lynch of Memphis (4 INT on 444 attempts) and Dak Prescott of Mississippi State (5 INT on 477 attempts) were the other two. Both are currently playing in the NFL.
• Lunt led game-winning drives in the final minute of two games during the 2015 season (Middle Tennessee and Nebraska) and has led five fourth-quarter comeback wins in his first two seasons with the Illini.
• Despite missing three full games and parts of two others with a fractured fibula, Lunt still managed to break the UI single-season QB efficiency record in 2014 (141.61).
OFFENSIVE NOTES
• Three-headed Monster: The backfield trio of junior Kendrick Foster, sophomore Ke'Shawn Vaughn and redshirt-freshman Reggie Corbin has been explosive at times, combining for 1,021 yards on 160 carries (6.4 ypc) and eight touchdowns in the first seven games of 2016.
» Foster broke out for a career-high 118 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries in the opener vs. Murray State (29.5 ypc), breaking a 61-year old Illini record for most yards per rush in a game. Foster had two 56-yard touchdown runs against the Racers on back-to-back drives and has four TDs on the season. He had his second 100-yard game at Rutgers with 108 yards on 21 carries. He has a team-high 429 yards on the ground and seven total touchdowns. His 122.0 all-purpose yards per game rank fifth in the Big Ten.
» After playing sparingly in the first three games, Corbin has burst onto the scene with 257 yards in four conference games. For the year, he is second on the team with 328 yards on only 39 carries (8.4 ypc). Entering the Nebraska game, he had 7 carries for 71 yards in his brief Illini career.
» Vaughn started the North Carolina game with a 65-yard touchdown run and finished the night with 116 yards on 15 carries, his second career 100-yard game. He has 264 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and has added 86 receiving yards (on eight catches) this season. The sophomore is closing in on 1,000 career rushing yards (987 entering Saturday's Minnesota game).
• Running Men: Illinois has rushed for 616 yards over the last three games (205.3 ypg) – 315 vs. Purdue, 228 at Rutgers and 77 at Michigan (the second-most against the Wolverines this season). The Illini are now averaging 173.7 yards per game on the ground, sixth-most in the Big Ten.
• Crouch Provides Spark: Sophomore QB Chayce Crouch came in for an injured Wes Lunt against Purdue and had a career game, completing 10-of-14 passes for 142 yards and rushing for 137 yards and two TDs. It marked the fourth-most single-game rushing yards by a QB in Illinois history. With Lunt hurt, Couch got his first career start and win at Rutgers on Oct. 22 before missing the Michigan game with an injury.
• Big Play 'O': Illinois has seven scrimmage plays of 50+ yards this season, tied for 17th-most in the nation (four runs and three passes). The team's four runs of 50+ yards is tied for the fourth-most in FBS.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
• Mild Peppers: The Illinois defense held Michigan's Jabrill Peppers to nine yards on five carries (1.8 yards per carry) after he averaged 19.6 yards per carry (5 for 98) with two TDs in the first six games. Defensively, Peppers had two tackles without a TFL. He came into the game as Michigan's second-leading tackler and had 10.0 TFLs.
• Pick Six FTW: Mosely's 78-yard fourth-quarter interception return for touchdown sealed the win against Rutgers on Oct. 15. It was the first pick-six for the Illini since Mason Monheim on Nov. 28, 2015 vs. Northwestern. Overall, Illinois had five takeaways at Rutgers, the most for the Illini since Nov. 29, 2014, at Northwestern (5).
• Push 'Em Back: The Illini are eighth in the nation in TFLs per game (8.3) and rank 50th in sacks per game (2.43), led by senior Carroll Phillips, whose 1.7 TFLs per game leads the Big Ten.
• Hardy Pickerson: Senior LB Hardy Nickerson grabbed two interceptions against Purdue, the second and third interceptions of his career. He had one interception in three years at Cal. The linebacker is the first Illini to grab two interceptions in a game since Taylor Barton on Sept. 12, 2015 against Western Illinois. Nickerson leads the team and the Big Ten in tackles (10.3 tpg).
• Full Nelson: Redshirt-freshman safety Patrick Nelson made his first career start at Nebraska on Oct. 1 and it took him just one quarter to tie his previous career high in tackles (6). He finished the game with 16 tackles, the most by an Illini this season. Three games later he is tied for second on the team with 48 tackles and ranks fifth in the Big Ten with 10.5 tpg in conference play.
• Junior CB Jaylen Dunlap had a big game at Michigan, making nine tackles and a career-high 2.5 TFLs. For the season, Dunlap is fourth on the team with 42 tackles and 4.5 TFLs.
» COMPLETE ILLINOIS-MINNESOTA GAME NOTES (PDF)
