CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The Illinois football team begins its 2020 season Friday at Wisconsin, the first game of the season for any Big Ten teams. Big Ten Network will carry the television broadcast at 7 p.m. CT with Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), James Laurinaitis (analyst), and Rick Pizzo (sideline) on the call. 

WELCOME TO THE 2020 BIG TEN SEASON

THE SCHEDULE

• The Big Ten will play a 9-game conference-only schedule in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
• Illinois has not played a conference-only schedule since 1919, when the Illini went 6-1 to win the Big Ten title and claim to the national championship during the 1918 Flu Pandemic.

OCTOBER START

Oct. 23 is the latest start date in Illinois football history. The previous latest start date was Oct. 19, 1907 (L, 42-6 vs. Chicago).      

• This will be the first time Illinois has started the season in October since Oct. 4, 1941, a 45-0 win over Miami (Ohio).
• Illinois has won nine straight October season openers.
• Illinois is 29-6-1 all-time in October season openers, including 21 shutouts. 

NO FANS DUE TO COVID-19

• Wisconsin will not host fans at Camp Randall Stadium. The Big Ten allows families of players and coaches to attend, but due to increased rates of COVID-19 in the state, Wisconsin will not have any fans.
• Illinois has played one game in its history without fans, a 7-0 loss to Municipal Pier on Oct. 26, 1918. The game was limited to players, coaches, and staff for health concerns during the 1918 Flu Pandemic. 

PANDEMIC TIMELINE

• March 13 » Big Ten suspends all athletic activities.
• June 8 » Members of the Illinois team begin returning to campus for voluntary workouts.
• June 30 » Lovie Smith and the staff begin returning to campus.
• Aug. 5 » Big Ten announces 10-game schedule beginning Sept. 3.
• Aug. 6 » Illinois begins football practice. 
• Aug. 11 » Big Ten presidents and chancellors postpone all fall sports. 
• Sept. 16 » Big Ten announces the season will begin Oct. 23-24.
• Sept. 19 » Big Ten schedule announces 9-game schedule. 
• Sept. 30 » Illinois begins padded practices, exactly nine months after the Redbox Bowl.
• Oct. 12 » Illinois at Wisconsin moved to Friday, Oct. 23.

ILLINOIS STATS AND NOTES

YOUTH BECOMES EXPERIENCE

The Illini put one of the youngest teams in the nation on the field in Lovie's first few years at Illinois. Now, those young rosters have turned to a veteran 2020 squad.      

• Illinois has more seniors on the 2020 roster (25) than 2018 and 2019 combined (21).
• In 2019, the Illini started a true-freshman just eight times (DB Devon Witherspoon three games and WR Casey Washington five games) after totaling 118 true-freshman starts over the previous two seasons (86 in 2017 and 32 in 2018).
• 2018's roster featured just eight seniors and 24 total upperclassmen, both the fewest in the nation, while the 2019 roster had 13 seniors and 48 upperclassmen. In 2020, Illinois has 25 seniors and 44 upperclassmen.
• The 2018 Illini roster had the highest percentage of underclassmen in the nation – 76.5% (78 of 102), while the 2019 roster had 55.1% of the roster as underclassmen (59 of 107) and 2020 has 56.9% (58 of 102).
• 2020 class breakdown: 25 seniors, 19 juniors, 21 sophomores, 37 freshmen (21 true-frosh, 16 RS frosh)

ALL-ILLINOIS OFFENSIVE LINE

The offensive line returns four starters from one of the best groups in the Big Ten in 2019. Returning are junior Kendrick Green, senior Doug Kramer, senior Vederian Lowe, and senior Alex Palczewski.      

• In addition to the returning four, Illinois will likely start an all-Illinois offensive line. Sophomores Verdis Brown and Jordyn Slaughter have been competing for the open right guard spot. 
• Palczewski-Kramer-Green-Lowe have started 24 games together (all 12 in 2018, 12 of 13 in 2019). The group had started 24 straight games together before Kramer missed the Redbox Bowl with an injury.
• The four have combined for 125 career starts.
• Illinois has the highest rated returning offensive line in the Big Ten according to Pro Football Focus. The Illini's returners grade 81.6, ahead of second place Ohio State (80.1) and third place Iowa (79.8).

ROSTER BREAKDOWN BY YEAR

Percent underclassmen      

• 2017 - 73.8% (76/103)
• 2018 - 76.5% (78/102)
• 2019 - 55.1% (59/107)
• 2020 - 56.9% (58/102)

Total upperclassmen      

• 2017 - 27
• 2018 - 24
• 2019 - 48
• 2020 - 44

TRANSFER U

The Illini's have had huge success in the transfer market. Some of the notables...      

• RB Chase Brown – Brother of DB Sydney Brown transferred from WMU and has competed for the starting running back spot
• WR Desmond Dan Jr. – New Mexico State grad transfer adds WR depth
• LB Milo Eifler – Second-year starter for the Illini after transferring from Washington
• TE Luke Ford – Former No. 1 TE recruit in the nation sat out last year after transferring from Georgia
• WR Brian Hightower – Former four-star recruit transferred from Miami (Fla.)
• TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe – Brother of Josh and former USC TE is a grad transfer
• WR Josh Imatorbhebhe – Illini's leading receiver last year after transferring from USC
• OL Blake Jeresaty – FCS All-American grad transferred from Wofford (injured, out for the year)
• WR Donny Navarro – Valpo transfer had a big second-half of the season in 2019
• DL Roderick Perry II – NFL Draft prospect grad transferred from South Carolina State
• QB Brandon Peters – Second-year starter for the Illini after transferring from Michigan
• WR Trevon Sidney – USC transfer had 16 catches for 123 yards last year before an injury
• LB Derrick Smith – Potential starter sat out last year after transferring from Miami (Fla.)

#LOVIEBALL

In each of the last four seasons the Illini defense has created different ways to play "#LovieBall." 
     

• In 2019, the Illini forced 28 turnovers in 13 games, 12 interceptions and 16 fumbles, ranking fourth in FBS in turnovers gained. The Illini's 18 forced fumbles ranked fourth in FBS.
• Illinois forced at least one turnover in every regular season game in 2019. It was the third-longest streak in FBS until it was snapped in the Redbox Bowl.
• Illinois forced at least two turnovers in seven of nine Big Ten games in 2019.
• In conference play, the Illini forced 22 turnovers, third-most in most in the nation and three more than any other Big Ten team in 2019. The +10 turnover margin in B1G play was the best in the league by two (Ohio State, +8).
• The 2018 defense ranked 20th in FBS in interceptions (15) and 18th in interceptions per game (1.25).
• In 2017, forced fumbles were the Illini's forte. The defense forced 17 fumbles in 2017 to rank second in the nation (1.42 per game). The total of 17 forced fumbled tied for fourth-most.
• The Illini have forced at least one turnover in 36 of their last 39 games.

2020 WATCH LISTS

• Kendrick Green- Outland Trophy (OL)
• Jake Hansen - Bednarik (Def. Player of the Year), Butkus (LB), Nagurski (Def. Player of the Year)
• Blake Hayes - Ray Guy (Punter of the Year)
• Doug Kramer - Wuerffel (community)
• Alex Palczewski - Outland Trophy (OL)
• Brandon Peters -  Maxwell (Off. Player of the Year)
• Ethan Tabel - Mannelly (LS)

ALL-TIME SERIES

ILLINOIS vs. WISCONSIN

• Series: Wisconsin leads, 42-38-7
• Last: Illinois 24, Wisconsin 23 (at Champaign, 10/19/19)
• Streak: Illinois W1
• at Madison: Wisconsin leads, 24-16-4
• Illinois pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history last season against Wisconsin. James McCourt's 39-yard field goal as time expired beat the No. 6/6 Badgers, 24-23, on Illinois' Homecoming, as the Illini won as 30.5-point underdogs (according to ESPN). Illinois had the most points (24), takeaways (3), rushing yards (141), passing touchdowns (2, tied), rushing touchdowns (1, tied), yards per carry (4.0), and the longest rush (43, Corbin) against Wisconsin to that point in the season.
• Illinois is 2-10 all-time against Wisconsin teams ranked in the AP Poll.
• No. 23 Wisconsin beat Illinois, 49-20, on Oct. 20, 2018 in Illinois' last trip to Madison. Despite a strong rushing attack, the Fighting Illini couldn't overcome four first half turnovers. Reggie Corbin ran for 100 of Illinois' 210 rushing yards, including an 80-yard touchdown run.