WEEKEND PROMOTIONS | LINK
• Butkus Statue Unveiling – Friday, Oct. 11, at 2 pm outside Smith Center
• Shaker Giveaway – Orange shakers will be given to the first 30,000 fans
• Tailgating at Grange Grove – 8-11 am (games, food trucks and live music)
• Illini Walk – 8:45 am through Grange Grove
• 2-Game Mini-Plan Tickets – Michigan + Northwestern tickets for $70
• Foundation Weekend – U of I Foundation Weekend events run Oct. 10-12
OPENING KICK
• Back Home: The Fighting Illini return home Saturday to host the 16th-ranked Michigan Wolverines at Memorial Stadium (11 am CT on ABC). It will be the 96th meeting between the two teams and the first at Memorial Stadium since 2011 in a series that dates back to 1898.
• Butkus Statue Dedication: The long-anticipated unveiling of the larger-than-life statue of legendary Fighting Illini linebacker Dick Butkus is set for this Friday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. outside the main entrance of the Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center. The statue unveiling and accompanying ceremony are open to the public. Fourth Street will be closed from Kirby Avenue to Pennsylvania Avenue for the event.
• Havoc in the Backfield: Like his signature Chicago Bears defenses, Lovie's Illini D excels at forcing turnovers, scoring points and making negative plays for the offense.
» The Illini rank second in FBS and leads the B1G in forced fumbles (9) and fumbles recovered (8).
» The defense also ranks fourth in FBS in defensive touchdowns (2), eighth in turnovers gained (2.4 per game), and 11th in turnover margin (+1.0).
» Illinois ranks third in the nation in TFLs per game (10.0) and ranks 22nd in sacks per game (3.0).
» The 2019 Illini are one of only 21 FBS teams since 2000 to have at least 50 TFLs in its first five games of a season (@collegefb_ref).
• Scoring on D: With two scores at Minnesota, the Illini defense scored two defensive touchdowns in the same game for the first time since two interception return touchdowns vs. Indiana 10/23/2010. Against the Gophers LB Dele Harding returned an interception 40 yards for a TD in the first quarter. Then in the third quarter, LB Jake Hansen forced a fumble that was picked up by LB Milo Eifler and returned seven yards for a score.
• Corbin Climbing: Senior RB Reggie Corbin climbed to 16th on the Illinois all-time rushing list with 68 yards at Minnesota. Corbin enters the Michigan game with 2,068 yards, just three yards behind the legendary Red Grange (2,071) for 15th place.
» Corbin's 6.59 yards per carry ranks third in the Big Ten and 24th in FBS. Last season, he ranked third in FBS in yards per carry (8.48).
» He ranks 29th in FBS and fourth in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (95.5) and has the 4th-best offensive grade among running backs in the nation according to Pro Football Focus (86.7).
» Corbin became the 18th Illini in program history to gain 2,000 career rushing yards with 134 yards against Nebraska on Sept. 21, his sixth-career 100-yard game (more on Corbin on page 4).
» Corbin's career rushing numbers: 290 carries, 2,068 yards, 7.1 yards per carry, 14 touchdowns.
• No Way, Wole: Junior DE Oluwole Betiku Jr., a graduate transfer from USC, has been a force on the defensive line.
» Betiku ranks third in the nation in both sacks (1.4 per game) and TFLs (2.1 per game) on the season.
» His 7.0 sacks already are more than or equal to Illinois' season leader in 18 of the last 23 seasons.
» His 3.5 sacks at UConn tied for the fifth-most sacks in a game in Illinois history and marked the first Illini with 3.0+ sacks in a game since Whitney Mercilus (3.0) at Indiana 10/8/2011.
• Hansen, So Hot Right Now: All junior LB Jake Hansen is make plays.
» Hansen is the No. 16 graded linebacker in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten by PFF (81.6).
» Leads the nation in both forced fumbles (4) and fumbles recovered (3) .
» He also has 39 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and one interception.
• Dele Domination: Senior LB Dele Harding had 15 tackles at Minnesota and now leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth in FBS in tackles per game this season (11.2). He also had a 40-yard pick-six against the Gophers.
• Very Special Teams: The Illini have excelled in virtually all special teams areas under coordinator Bob Ligashesky.
» Net Punting (team): Eighth in FBS and first in the Big Ten (43.63 ypp)
» Kickoff Returns (team): 20th in FBS and third in the Big Ten (25.93 ypr)
» Dre Brown ranks 12th in the nation and second in the B1G in kickoff return average (28.0 ypr). He has the No. 1 PFF kick return grade in the nation for any player with 10 or more returns (90.5).
» Blake Hayes ranks 24th in FBS and 3rd in the B1G in punting (44.9 ypp).
• Transfer Impact: As expected, the Illini's six power-five transfers have made a huge impact this season. QB Brandon Peters (Michigan), WR Josh Imatorbhebhe (USC), WR Trevon Sidney (USC), OL Richie Petitbon (Alabama), DL Oluwole Betiku Jr. (USC), and LB Milo Eifler (Washington) all are starters making big contributions.
» QB Peters – 797 passing yards, 10 TD passes, 2 rushing TDs
» DL Betiku Jr. – 23 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 7.0 sacks, 5 QB hurries
» WR Imatorbhebhe – 15 catches, 220 yards, 4 touchdowns
» WR Sidney – 16 catches, 123 yards, 1 touchdown
» LB Eifler – 23 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1 PBU, 1 TD
» OL Petitbon – 5 starts at guard
THE ILLINOIS-MICHIGAN SERIES
• Saturday will be the 96th meeting between Illinois and Michigan. The two teams first met in 1898.
• Michigan leads the series 70-23-2 overall, including 34-12-1 in Champaign.
• Michigan visits Memorial Stadium for the first time since 11/12/2011, a 31-14 win for the No. 22 Wolverines.
• Illinois is 2-8 in the last 10 meetings against Michigan with wins in 2008 (in Ann Arbor) and 2009 (in Champaign).
• The teams have met only one time since 2013, a 41-8 loss for Illinois at Michigan Stadium in 2016. The four-year hiatus from 2012-16 was the longest in the Illinois-Michigan series since 1919.
• Illinois is 1-16-1 all-time against AP-ranked Michigan teams at Memorial Stadium. Illinois' only home win against an AP-ranked Michigan team was a 16-6 victory 10/29/1983.
• Illinois and Michigan met for the Memorial Stadium dedication game in 1924, when Red Grange scored four touchdowns in the first 12 minutes to help Illinois beat Michigan 39-14. Grange accounted for six touchdowns in what remains the single greatest performance in Memorial Stadium history. To celebrate the 1924 game, Red Grange's wife, Mrs. Margaret Grange, attended the Fighting Illini's 1994 game against Michigan to help dedicate the Grange Rock, which sits at the north end of Zuppke Field, as a tribute to her husband.
• The 2010 meeting in Ann Arbor was an instant classic, with the Wolverines winning a triple-overtime thriller 67-65. Illinois' 65 points in 2010 are the most any team has ever scored against Michigan. The previous high was 58 points by Cornell in 1891, while the previous high by a Big Ten team was 55 by Northwestern in 1958. RB Mikel Leshoure scored five touchdowns, equaling the second-most in a single game in Illinois history.
ILLINI SUPERLATIVES AGAINST MICHIGAN
• Illinois' most rushing yards vs. Michigan: 212 Red Grange vs. Michigan 10/18/1924
• Illinois' most receiving yards vs. Michigan: 157 Rich Kreitling at Michigan 11/8/1958
• Illinois' most passing yards vs. Michigan: 386 Tony Eason at Michigan 11/7/1981
• Illinois' longest rush vs. Michigan: 79 Jason Ford vs. Michigan 10/31/2009
• Illinois' longest pass vs. Michigan: 83 Easterbrook to Kreitling at Michigan 11/8/1958
• Illinois' most solo tackles vs. Michigan: 16 Dana Howard vs. Michigan 11/16/1991
• Illinois held Michigan to zero first downs 10/27/1934. It was the last time the Illini held an opponent to zero first downs.
MICHIGAN CONNECTIONS
• Illinois QB Brandon Peters played at Michigan from 2016-18, throwing for 680 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games (four starts).
• Illinois offensive coordinator Rod Smith was the quarterbacks coach at Michigan from 2008-10.
• Illinois offensive line coach Bob McClain was a quality control coach at Michigan in 2008.
• Michigan offensive line coach Ed Warinner was Illinois' offensive line coach/run game coordinator from 2005-06.
• Illinois assistant director of athletics, football operations Tim Knox was the director of operations at Western Michigan in 2011 when Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis was WMU's wide receivers coach. Gattis was also the co-offensive coordinator at Alabama last season when current Illini OL Richie Petitbon played for the Crimson Tide.
• Illinois Director of Man Development Jake Zweig earned a master's of business administration from the University of Michigan in 2002.
• Illinois senior LB Dele Harding was originally a Michigan commit before eventually signing with the Illini. Harding enters this week's game leading the Big Ten in tackles (11.2 per game).
• After the Indianapolis Colts traded away former Illinois QB and No. 1 overall pick Jeff George prior to the 1994 season, they signed QB Jim Harbaugh. George's son, Jeff George, Jr., was a quarterback for the Illini and started in Illinois' last game against Michigan 11/22/2016.
• After a distinguished collegiate playing career at the University of Michigan, College Football Hall of Famer Pete Elliott went on to have a long collegiate coaching career and helped lead Illinois to the 1963 Big Ten title and a 1964 Rose Bowl victory. A native of Bloomington, Ill., Elliott graduated from Michigan in 1949 after quarterbacking the Wolverines to undefeated seasons in 1947 and 1948, winning the 1948 Rose Bowl and earning a national championship in his senior season.
FRESHMAN REDSHIRT WATCH
• The NCAA passed legislation prior to the 2018 that allows players who play in up to four games -- regardless of when they take place -- to redshirt for that season and preserve a year of eligibility. Here's look at games played for each of the 12 Illini true-freshmen that has played in 2019.
» Played in 5+ games (4): TE Bryce Barnes (5), LB Tarique Barnes (5), WR Dalevon Campbell (5), DB Devon Witherspoon (5)
»Have played in 4 or fewer games (9): LB Shammond Cooper (3), RB Nick Fedanzo (3), DL Keith Randolph Jr. (2), WR Casey Washington (2), WR Kyron Cumby (2), DL Seth Coleman (1), DB Matthew Judd (1), DL Moses Okpala (1), and QB Isaiah Williams (1).
RUNNIN' REGGIE
Senior RB Reggie Corbin is the Illini's home run hitter.
» No. 4 graded offensive running back (86.5) in the nation by PFF (min. 50 carries), behind only Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor (91.9), Lafayette's Trey Ragas (91.1), and TCU's Darius Anderson (87.1)
» Ranks 24th in FBS and third in B1G in yards per carry (6.59)
» Ranks 29th in FBS and fourth in B1G in yards per game (95.5)
» Has two 100-yards games this season (144 vs. EMU and 134 vs. NEB) and six career 100-yard games.
» He has 382 yards on the season to bring his career total to 2,068 yards, good for 16th on Illinois' all-time rushing yardage list.
» Ranked third in the nation in yards per carry (8.48) in 2018 for any player with at least 10 carries per game.
» Led FBS in runs of 70+ yards (4), second in runs of 50+ (7) and 80+ yards (1), and third in 60+ (5) in 2018.
» Had 1,085 rushing yards in 2018, the 13th 1,000-yard rushing season in Illinois history and the first since Mikel Leshoure ran for an Illinois record 1,697 yards in 2010.
» Career yards per carry of 7.13 ranks third among all active FBS player with at least 200 carries. He has had 10 scrimmage plays over 50 yards in his career, all coming against Big Ten competition.
» 80 yard TD run at Wisconsin (2018)
» 77 yard TD run vs. Minnesota (2018)
» 73 yard TD run at Rutgers (2018)
» 72 yard TD run vs. Minnesota (2018)
» 69 yard TD run at Maryland (2018)
» 66 yard TD run vs. Nebraska (2019)
» 53 yard run at Rutgers (2016)
» 52 yard run at Rutgers (2018)
» 52 yard reception vs. Purdue (2018)
» 51 yard run vs. Penn State (2018)
Active Career Yards Per Carry Leaders (min. 200 carries)
1. Travis Etienne, Clemson » 7.6 (378-2,886)
2. Greg McCrae, UCF » 7.6 (227-1,724)
3. Reggie Corbin, Illinois » 7.1 (290-2,068)
4. D'Andre Swift, Georgia » 6.9 (310-2,127)
5. Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin » 6.9 (709-4,916)
Career Yards Per Carry Among Illinois 2,000 yard rushers
1. Reggie Corbin, 2016-19 » 7.1 (290-2,068)
2. Rashard Mendenhall, 2005-07 » 6.5 (388-2,539)
3. Mikel Leshoure, 2008-10 » 6.0 (424-2,557)
4. Pierre Thomas, 2003-06 » 5.6 (453-2,545)
5. Red Grange, 1923-25 » 5.3 (388-2,074)
ILLINI STANDOUTS
• BP Scores TDs: Michigan transfer QB Brandon Peters was putting up solid numbers before exiting the Minnesota game in the second quarter with an injury he did not return to action.
» Despite missing most of the Minnesota game, Peters ranks in the top-35 nationally and top-5 in the Big Ten in both passing touchdowns (10) and points responsible for (72)
» Peters already has surpassed the Illinois season passing touchdown leader for each of the past three seasons: 2018 - AJ Bush Jr. (6), 2017 - Jeff George Jr. (7), 2016 - Wes Lunt (8).
» Peters threw four touchdown passes at UConn, tied for seventh-most in Illinois history, and the most since Wes Lunt threw 4 TDs vs. Kent State 9/5/2015.
» Peters was officially announced as the starter by Lovie Smith on Aug. 20. He graduated from Michigan in three years and transferred to Illinois this summer with two years of eligibility remaining.
• Oh, BheBhe: Junior WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, a transfer from USC, has four touchdown catches in his first five games as an Illini to rank second in the Big Ten and 32nd nationally. He leads the team with 220 receiving yards and is third in catches (15). He had three catches for 82 yards on Illinois' game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter against Eastern Michigan.
• Tackling Machine: Senior LB Dele Harding had a career-high 17 stops against EMU, the most by an Illini since Clayton Fejedelem had 19 against Wisconsin in 2015. Last week, he has 15 tackles at Minnesota and now has team-high 56 tackles on the season to lead the Big Ten in tackles per game (11.2).
• James and the Giant Leg: Junior K James McCourt has hit four field goals in his Illinois career and he's already established himself as one of the biggest legs in program history.
» McCourt tied the Illinois record with a 57-yard field goal against EMU, tying Dan Beaver's 44 year old mark (vs. Purdue, 10/18/1975). It's also tied for the longest field goal in FBS this season.
» His first Illini make was from 53-yards at UConn Sept. 7, tying for the longest road field goal in Illinois history (Mike Bass at Syracuse 9/18/1982; Dave Finzer at Purdue 10/15/1977).
» McCourt is one of just five players in FBS with at least two 50+ field goals this season.
» On kickoffs, McCourt ranks 16th in FBS in average (64.31 ypk) and 27th in touchback percentage (69.0%)
• Hayes, Australian for Boot: Punter Blake Hayes was named Big Ten Special Teams player of the week on Sept. 23 after averaging 46.0 yards per punt and dropping five punts inside the 20 against Nebraska, including a 59-yard boot to the 2-yard line that set up an Illini score.
» Hayes ranks 24th in FBS in third in the B1G in punting average (44.9) and his versatility, whether it's booming kicks or bouncing rugby-style kicks, have helped the Illini rank eighth in FBS in net punting (43.63 ypp).
» Of Hayes' 30 punts, 17 has been downed inside the 20 with zero touchbacks. He is the only player in the nation with at least 15 punts inside the 20 without a touchback (Missouri's Hunter McCann has 14, the 2nd-most).
» Eight of Hayes' punts have been downed within the 10-yard line and three have been downed at the two. Only eight of his punts have been returned.
» Hayes' current season average of 44.9 yards per punt is second-best in Illinois history behind only Steve Weatherford's program record of 45.4.
» Hayes' career punting average of 43.1 yards per punt is only 0.4 yards behind Weatherford's Illinois career record set from 2002-05.
ILLINI STORYLINES
• More Than a Football Player: Graduate transfer Oluwole Betiku Jr. has been a beast on the field since arriving at Illinois (7.0 sacks and 10.5 TFLs in four games), but there's much more to the former 5-star recruit than football. Off the field, Betiku's passions include painting, sketching and playing guitar and piano. An immigrant from Lagos, Nigeria, at the age of 16, Betiku had never played football before coming to the U.S. Two years of high school football were enough for a scholarship to USC, but injuries and circumstances kept him off the field. After earning a bachelor's degree in international relations in three years from USC, Betiku came to Champaign this summer.
• Future Coaches: Illini RB Reggie Corbin got a taste of coaching over the summer. Corbin, along with Illini teammates Justice Williams and Dele Harding coached the 'Chargers' to a successful second season in the Tuscola Flag Football League. The trio connected with 10-year old Illini superfan Colton Rahn, who has cerebral palsy, in the winter of 2017 when a group of football student-athletes drove to Tuscola to cheer on Colton's basketball team. It marked the second straight summer Corbin and Williams coached a flag football team in Tuscola.
• Rugby Champ: In addition to being an undefeated flag football coach, Reggie Corbin was a national champion rugby player while also starring on the football field in high school. Corbin helped Gonzaga HS in Washington D.C. to back-to-back rugby national titles in 2014 and 2015 after joining the team on a dare by star player Ben Cima, who plays on the U.S. national rugby team. The team lost only two games in Corbin's two years on the team.
• Best Buds: RB Reggie Corbin and OL Richie Petitbon, best friends at Gonzaga HS in Maryland, are reunited in Champaign this season after four years apart. Both fifth-year seniors, Corbin has become one of the top backs in the nation while Petitbon spent the last four years at the University of Alabama, where he was a part of two national championship teams as a backup. Now reunited with Corbin, Petitbon has been a mainstay on the Illini offensive line.
• Scholarship Earned: Coach Lovie Smith had a special announcement at the first game-week team meeting on Aug. 26. Walk-on long snapper Ethan Tabel was awarded a scholarship for the 2019 season by Lovie. Tabel was mobbed by his teammates after the announcement. A redshirt-junior, Tabel is in his third season as the team's primary long snapper.
• First-time Footballer: Junior punter Blake Hayes, a native of Melbourne, Australia, had never played in or attended an American football game until making his Illini debut against Ball State on Sept. 2, 2017. Hayes played Australian rules football before training at ProKick Australia for two years in hopes of getting a college scholarship in the United States. It paid off, as the Aussie earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a true-freshman and then upped that to third-team All-Big Ten in 2018. This year has been his best yet, averaging 45.4 yards per punt.
GRADS ON GRADS ON GRADS
The 2019 Fighting Illini roster features 11 student-athletes that already earned 12 college degrees prior to the season – seven at Illinois and five at different schools
Student-Athlete | Bachelor's Degree » Degree Pursuing
Oluwole Betiku Jr.| International Relations (May '19 at USC) » Recreation, Sport & Tourism
Dre Brown | Recreation, Sport & Tourism (Dec. '18 at Illinois) » Management
Reggie Corbin | Communication (May '18 at Illinois » Recreation, Sport & Tourism
Josh Imatorbhebhe | Business Administration (May '19 at USC) » Strategic Brand Communication
Jamal Milan | Sociology (May '19 at Illinois) » Communication (2nd bachelor's)
Brandon Peters | General Studies (June '19 at Michigan) » Recreation, Sport & Tourism
Richie Petitbon | Communication Studies (Dec. '18 at Alabama) » Sport Management
Caleb Reams | Community Health (May '19 at Illinois) » Management
Trevon Sidney | Communication (June '19 at USC) » Recreation, Sport & Tourism
Bobby Walker | Political Science (Dec. '18 at Illinois) » Management
Justice Williams | Business Management (Aug. '18 at Illinois) » Already finished M.S.
Justice Williams | M.S., Business Administration (Aug. 19 at Illinois) » Spanish (2nd bachelor's)
STATE-OF-THE-ART SMITH FOOTBALL CENTER OPENS TO ILLINI
The state-of-the-art Henry Dale and Betty Smith Football Center opened its doors for the team Aug. 18, becoming the new home of Illinois football. The $79.2 million Smith Center is a 107,650 square foot facility adjoining to the south end of the Irwin Indoor Practice Facility. The facility features new and expanded strength and conditioning and sports medicine space, coaches' offices, position meeting rooms, player development areas, locker rooms, and other areas for recruiting and prospect hosting. The grand opening is scheduled for Oct. 12 when the Fighting Illini host Michigan at Memorial Stadium. More information on the project can be found on page 21 of these Game Notes and at http://illinoisrenaissance.com.
» Complete Illinois-Michigan Game Notes (PDF)
