EASTERN MICHIGAN GAME PROMOTIONS | LINK
• Tailgating at Grange Grove – 8-11 am (Interactive games, food trucks and live music)
• Illini Walk – 8:45 am through Grange Grove
• Band Day – High school bands from across the state join the Marching Illini
• Extra Yard for Teachers – Local teachers will be honored during the game
• Grainger Grove – Celebrate the Grainger College of Engineering in Grange Grove
• Scout Day – Pregame activities, post-game movie & camping overnight in Memorial Stadium
OPENING KICK
• Back to Chambana: After a 31-23 road victory over UConn, the Fighting Illini return to Champaign-Urbana with a 2-0 record, ready to face Eastern Michigan (1-1) at Memorial Stadium on Saturday (11 am CT on BTN). Illinois is looking to begin the season 3-0 for the first time since 2011, when the team got off to a 6-0 start.
• Boys of Summer: The Illini are 28-6 in Aug./Sept. home games dating back to the start of 2007.
• New Look D: This year's Lovie Smith-led defense has been dominant in the first two victories. (More on the dramatic defensive improvement can be found on page 2).
» The Illini allowed just 10 rushing yards at UConn and rank seventh in FBS for the season at 37.0 ypg allowed.
» Illinois ranks third in FBS in both sacks per game (5.5) and TFLs per game (12.0).
» Illinois had 12.0 TFLs in both games this season. It is the first time since at least 2000 that Illinois had 24+ TFLs in the first two games of the season.
» The defense had six sacks in the opener and five sacks at UConn. Last season's season-high for a game was three.
» The Illini are allowing 238.5 yards per game this season to rank 18th in FBS, up 109 spots from their final 2019 rank of 127 (508.3 ypg).
• No Way, Wole: Junior DL Oluwole Betiku Jr., a graduate transfer from USC, has been the centerpiece of the defensive resurgence.
» Betiku leads the nation in both sacks (5.0) and tackles for loss (6.5) on the season.
» The 5.0 sacks already are more than or equal to Illinois' season leader in nine of the last 20 seasons. He is one of only 12 players with 5+ sacks in the first two games of the season since 2000, including Elvis Dumervil (LOU), Derrick Morgan (GT), Von Miller (TXAM), and Danny Shelton (WASH).
» 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.
• Impact Transfers: As expected, transfers have made a huge impact on the field this season. Illinois started six transfers at UConn – 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) – after starting five in the opener (all except Sidney). Their production has been large.
» QB Peters – 390 passing yards, 7 TD passes, 52 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD
» WR Sidney – 7 catches, 51 yards, 1 touchdown
» WR Imatorbhebhe – 6 catches, 76 yards, 2 touchdowns
» DL Betiku Jr. – 10 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, 4 QB hurries, 1 fumble recovery
» LB Eifler – 9 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 PBU
» OL Petitbon – 2 starts at guard
• Peters Can Sling It: Michigan transfer QB Brandon Peters has been as good as advertised thus far.
» Ranks seventh in FBS in passing touchdowns (7) and points responsible for (48)
» Has already tied or surpassed the Illinois season passing touchdown leader for each of the past two seasons: 2018 - AJ Bush Jr. (6) and 2017 - Jeff George Jr. (7).
» 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.
» He completed his last 10 passes of the first half at UConn (10-10, 135 yards, 3 TDs), tied for the 10th-longest completion streak in UI history.
» 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.
• Hansen, So Hot Right Now: Junior LB Jake Hansen is off to a fast start in 2019, just like he did last season.
» Hansen is the No. 1 graded linebacker in the nation by PFF (90.5)
» Hansen leads the team with 14 tackles and has added 1.5 sacks, one interception and one forced fumble
» In 2018, Hansen exploded onto the scene with a 15-tackle, 6.0-TFL performance to open the season vs. Kent State en route to a 95-tackle season.
• James and the Giant Leg: Junior K James McCourt's 53-yard field goal to end the first half tied for the longest field goal on the road in Illinois history (Mike Bass at Syracuse 9/18/1982; Dave Finzer at Purdue 10/15/1977). The 53-yarder, the first made field goal of McCourt's career, tied for the fifth-longest field goal in Illinois history.
• More than One Way to Win: Illinois' first two wins of 2019 came in very different fashion.
» Against Akron, the Illini wasted little time getting things going, winning the coin toss, taking the ball, and promptly droving 63 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown to open the season. By halftime, the Illini led 28-3 en route to a 42-3 season-opening victory over Akron.
» In week two at UConn, the Illini fell behind 13-0 before roaring back with a 24-point second quarter to lead 24-13 at halftime. They then held off the Huskies late for a nail-biting 31-23 win.
• Talent Upgrade: The 2019 recruiting class was small in numbers (16) but big on talent. The average recruit rating of .8679 by 247Sports was the highest rated Illini class in the online recruiting era (since 2002), ranking 31st nationally and seventh in the Big Ten. 2019 signees Marquez Beason (.9564 rating, No. 99) and Isaiah Williams (.9479 rating, No. 116) are the highest rated Illini recruits since 2009 (Terry Hawthorne, No. 72), and the highest duo since 2007 (Arrelious Benn, No. 12, and Martez Wilson, No. 15).
GETTING DEFENSIVE
The rejuvenated Illinois defense, directed by head coach/defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, has made huge improvements early in 2019. While still early, the Illini have made huge jumps in the national rankings from 2018 to 2019 in several key offensive categories, including a 100+ jump in rushing defense (+114), total defense (+109) and scoring defense (+100).
| ILLINOIS DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT IN 2019 |
| Category |
2018 (Final Nat'l Rk) |
2019 (Current Nat'l Rk) |
Difference |
| Rushing Defense (ypg) |
245.3 (121) |
37.0 (7) |
+114 |
| Total Defense (ypg) |
508.3 (127) |
238.5 (18) |
+109 |
| Scoring Defense (ppg) |
39.4 (123) |
13.0 (23) |
+100 |
| Sacks (per game) |
1.75 (97) |
5.5 (3) |
+94 |
| TFLs (per game) |
5.4 (88) |
12.0 (3) |
+85 |
TRANSFER PORTAL U
Lovie Smith and staff also used the transfer portal to load up the roster with talent, adding seven new power-five transfers, five of which are eligible to play immediately in 2019 as graduate transfers. In addition, LB Milo Eifler (Washington) and WR Donny Navarro (Valparaiso) are now eligible to play after sitting out the 2018 season, and RB Chase Brown (Western Michigan) also transferred in. In all, 10 transfers have joined the team over the last two off-seasons, with seven eligible to play in 2019.
Transfers On the Field in 2019
DL Oluwole Betiku Jr. (USC) » 2 years left
QB Brandon Peters (Michigan) » 2 years left
OL Richie Petitbon (Alabama) » 1 year left
LB Milo Eifler (Washington) » 2 years left
WR Trevon Sidney (USC) » 2 years left
WR Josh Imatorbhebhe (USC) » 2 years left
WR Donny Navarro (Valparaiso) » 3 years left
Transfers Sitting Out 2019
TE Luke Ford (Georgia) » 3 years left starting in 2020
LB Derrick Smith (Miami) » 2 years left starting in 2020
RB Chase Brown (WMU) » 3 year left starting in 2020
THE ILLINOIS-EASTERN MICHIGAN SERIES
• Saturday's game will be the first ever meeting between Illinois and Eastern Michigan.
• The scheduling of Saturday's game was announced March 2, 2016, five days before Illinois head coach Lovie Smith was hired March 7, 2016.
ILLINOIS-EASTERN MICHIGAN CONNECTIONS
• Eastern Michigan All-American Andy Vanyo played for Illinois coach Bob Zuppke in the 1930 Midwest-Southwest All-Star game on New Year's Day in Dallas, Texas.
• Eastern Michigan freshman kicker Tony Trabold was Joliet Catholic's kicker and punter in JCA's 35-27 win over Lombard Montini in the 2018 IHSA 5A state title game at Memorial Stadium. Trabold's extra point with 7:48 remaining in the fourth quarter gave Joliet Catholic the lead for good and he also had a 63-yard punt in the game. Illinois freshman RB Nick Fedanzo had 17 carries for 186 yards and three touchdowns for Lombard Montini.
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.
ALL OVER THE NFL
• A total of 14 former Fighting Illini are in NFL rosters (as of Sept. 4) – OL Nick Allegretti (Chiefs), OL Jeff Allen (Chiefs), WR Geronimo Allison (Packers), LB James Crawford (Dolphins), FS Clayton Fejedelem (Bengals), CB Justin Hardee (Saints), OL Ted Karras (Patriots), TE Matt LaCosse (Patriots), DL Corey Liuget (Raiders), LB Whitney Mercilus (Texans), DE Dawuane Smoot (Jaguars), WR Malik Turner (Seahawks), DE Jihad Ward (Colts) and DB Tavon Wilson (Lions).
• Additionally, PK Chase McLaughlin (Vikings) and LB Hardy Nickerson (Bengals) have been signed to practice squads.
• In 2018, 19 former Illini were on NFL rosters during the regular season.
• Illinois has had at least one player drafted in 43 of the last 47 years and has 242 all-time NFL Draft picks.
» Complete Illinois-Eastern Michigan Game Notes (PDF)
