Illinois Hosts Dads Day, Indiana on Saturday

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Coming off a thrilling 27-26 win at Minnesota on Saturday, Illinois returns to Memorial Stadium for a Dads Day matchup against Indiana. The two teams are scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m. CT on Big Ten Network.

Both teams are coming off Big Ten wins in their last outings. Indiana (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) got its first Big Ten win of the season on Saturday with a 20-14 victory over Wisconsin at home. 

Illinois (4-5, 2-4 Big Ten) is looking to avenge a 23-20 loss to Indiana in Bloomington last season. Shaun Shivers' 1-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left sealed Indiana's win during the second game of the Illini's eight-win 2022 season.

Connor Onion (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), and Elise Menaker (reporter) have the television coverage on Big Ten Network. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the radio call with Brian Barnhart, Martin O'Donnell, and Michael Martin.

Press Conference

Promotions

Dads Day – To continue the proud Illinois tradition of the Dads Association which began in 1920, this game will honor the dads of all Fighting Illini and crown King Dad at halftime.

Military Appreciation Day – This game will honor and recognize those brave servicemen and women who protect our freedom, while also paying tribute to the strong connection and history between the University and the military community. 

Pregame will feature a special guest coin toss with Samuel Skinner, a University of Illinois alum and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and White House Chief of Staff under President George H. W. Bush. Prior to the Bush administration, Skinner served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois under President Gerald R. Ford from 1975-1977.

All active military personnel are eligible for two free tickets to the game. Contact wlyz@illinois.edu 217-333-1397 to learn more.

Illini Hour — Fans are now incentivized more than ever to enter Memorial Stadium during the first hour gates are open. From 90 minutes to 30 minutes before kickoff, all hot dogs, non-alcoholic beverages (excluding souvenir cups), domestic beers, and Trulys are just $3. Fans can visit any stand where items are sold to take advantage of the early bird deals. For the Indiana game, gates open at 9:30 a.m. CT and Illini Hour runs from 9:30-10:30 a.m. CT before the 11 a.m. CT kickoff. 

Season Ticket Holder Punch Card — 
» Illini Concessions: $3 hot chocolate. Deal can be redeemed at the all Champaign Classics and UI Grill Zone stands.
» Gameday Spirit: Save $15 on a navy Illinois Football hooded sweatshirt (sale price $44.99). Locations available in Grange Grove and inside Memorial Stadium, not available at Neil St. and Green St. locations.

Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash — "The Galloping Ghost" is returning to Memorial Stadium for The Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash presented by Jimmy John's! This new promotion occurs between the third and fourth quarters of Fighting Illini football games all season long, and will feature a race between Red Grange and a University of Illinois student who will be given a headstart inside the hashes of Zuppke Field at Memorial Stadium. The student racing the modern-day version of Red will have a chance to win free Jimmy John's for a year. Fans can interact and take photos with Red Grange inside Grange Grove on game days from three hours prior to kickoff. 

Grange Grove Tailgates are SOLD OUT — This week's Grange Grove tailgate reservations are sold out. Fans can still reserve a tailgate in Grange Grove for FREE for the Northwestern game or book a fully turnkey tailgate with add-ons such as televisions, tailgate games, BBQs, high-top tables, and speakers. Catering options include; Nelson's Catering, Hickory River BBQ & Friar Tuck Beverages. Make your FREE or turnkey reservation through our official University of Illinois tailgate service provider Tailgater Concierge for Illinois' final home game of the year on Nov. 25.

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Notes

Illinois Hosts Indiana After B1G Win at Minnesota
• Illinois is coming off a thrilling 27-26 win at Minnesota. After starting quarterback Luke Altmyer was injured, back-up John Paddock entered the game for the first time with 1:25 remaining facing a 4th-and-11 from the Illinois 15-yard line with the Illini trailing by five. He needed just 35 seconds to drive the Illini 85 yards on three straight completions, including a 46-yard game-winning touchdown throw to Isaiah Williams, who also caught the 22-yard pickup on fourth down to keep Illinois alive. Paddock finished 3-for-3 passing for 85 yards, one touchdown, and a 448.0 passer rating in one of the all-time great performances by an Illini back-up quarterback. 
• Bret Bielema secured his seventh Big Ten road win in his first three seasons as Illinois' head coach with the victory at Minnesota. His seven Big Ten road wins are tied for the third-most by a head coach in Illinois history through their first three seasons. Only John Mackovic (9, 1988-90) and Lou Tepper (8, 1992-94) won more Big Ten road games in their first three seasons at Illinois than Bielema.
• Bielema's 11 Big Ten wins through his first three seasons at Illinois are the most since Lou Tepper won 13 in his first three seasons (1992-94). Bielema already has the fifth-most Big Ten wins through three seasons among the Illini's 13 head coaches in modern history (post-1940).
• Illinois is looking to avenge a 23-20 loss to Indiana in Bloomington last season. Shaun Shivers' 1-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left sealed Indiana's win last season.
• Illinois has lost four straight games against Indiana dating back to 2012. It is tied for the longest losing streak ever for Illinois against Indiana. The Hoosiers also won four straight from 1967-70.

Three Final-Minute Wins
• Three of Illinois' four wins this season have come in the final minute of fourth quarters. Caleb Griffin has game-winning field goals to beat Toledo and Maryland, and Isaiah Williams caught a 46-yard touchdown reception with 50 seconds left to beat Minnesota.
• Illinois opened its 2023 campaign in dramatic fashion, using a 29-yard Caleb Griffin field goal with five seconds to play to take down Toledo, 30-28, at Memorial Stadium during Week 1.
• QB Luke Altmyer led his second game-winning drive of the season and K Caleb Griffin drilled his second last-second game-winning field goal to give Illinois a 27-24 upset victory at Maryland during Week 7. 
• Griffin's 43-yard game-winner at Maryland made him the first kicker to have two game-winning field goals (final minute) in a single season in Illinois history.
• Casey Washington has two game-changing catches in the wins. He had a 33-yard fourth-down catch during Illinois' final drive to beat Toledo, then he had a 29-yard catch during Illinois' final drive at Maryland that set up Griffin's game-winning field goal. 

Paddock's Improbable Drive at Minnesota
• Back-up quarterback John Paddock threw for 85 yards on Illinois' final drive at Minnesota, despite only playing 35 seconds. He completed passes of 22 yards, 17 yards, and 46 yards in succession.
• Paddock averaged 28.3 yards per attempt while going 3-for-3 passing. Prior to Paddock, Big Ten quarterbacks coming off the bench had averaged 5.28 yards per attempt (111-for-205 passing for 1,082 yards) when coming off the bench in Big Ten games over 35 appearances.

The Law Firm of Newton and Randolph
• Defensive tackles Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton and Keith Randolph Jr., who go by the nickname "The Law Firm," are one of the top defensive tackle duos in the nation over the last two seasons.
• Newton was named to this year's AP Midseason All-American First Team. He is looking to become the second Illini defender to earn Consensus All-American honors in as many years, following DB Devon Witherspoon last season. Illinois has not had back-to-back years with consensus All-Americans since linebackers Dana Howard (1994) and Kevin Hardy (1995) from 1994-95.
• Newton is the national leader in QB pressures among interior defenders with 33, according to PFF. Newton leads Big Ten defensive tackles by 10 pressures with the next closest being Ohio State's Michael Hall Jr. (23).
• Newton has been one of the most durable interior defenders in the nation, as he leads all Power-5 defensive tackles in snaps played with 531 (59.0 per game). Newton has played 46 more snaps than any other Big Ten interior defensive lineman, even after missing the first half at Minnesota.
• Newton's two biggest games have come against two of Illinois' best opponents. He had eight pressures against Wisconsin, tied for the most by any defensive tackle in the nation this season, and seven pressures against #7 Penn State in Illinois' Big Ten opener, the third-most by any defensive tackle in a game this season. Newton was the highest-rated Power-5 defensive tackle in the nation during Week 3 vs. Penn State and Week 8 vs. Wisconsin (minimum 30 snaps), according to PFF. His 95.0 grade against Wisconsin was the highest by a Big Ten defender since 2019.
• Newton is tied for the national lead with two blocked kicks. Both have come in Big Ten games, a field-goal attempt vs. Penn State (9/16/23) and an extra point at Purdue (9/30/23).
• Randolph is second in the nation in tackles per game among defensive tackles with 5.6, behind only Western Michigan's Marshawn Kneeland (6.6).
• Both Newton and Randolph were named Preseason All-Americans by multiple outlets prior to the start of the 2023 season. Newton was Illinois' first-ever Preseason AP All-American.

#1 Among Nation's Most Reliable
• Isaiah Williams leads the Big Ten in receptions with 59, seven ahead of Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr., who ranks second with 52.
• Williams ranks second in the Big Ten in receiving yards with 693, trailing only Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 914 receiving yards.
• Williams ranks second in the Big Ten in first-down receptions with 33, trailing only Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.'s 37 first-down receptions.
• Williams leads the Big Ten in yards after catch with 371, according to PFF.
• Williams has at least one catch in all 34 games since he switched from QB prior to the start of the 2021 season, the longest active streak in the Big Ten and tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the nation.
• Williams has at least three catches in 23 straight games.
• Williams had career highs in receptions (13), receiving yards (131), and touchdown receptions (2, tied) in Illinois' 27-26 win at Minnesota (11/4/23). He had the game-winning 46-yard touchdown catch with 50 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and Illinois trailing by five points, after also keeping the Illini alive earlier in the drive with a 22-yard reception on 4th-and-11 from the Illinois 15-yard line with 1:25 remaining.
• Williams' 13 receptions at Minnesota are the most by a Big Ten player this season and tied for the fifth-most by any FBS player in 2023. The 13 receptions are tied for the second-most in a single game in Illinois history and the most by an Illini in 35 years.
• Williams is No. 2 in Illinois history in career receptions with 191. In the Illinois record book, Williams trails only College Football Hall of Famer David Williams' 262 receptions (1983-85).
• Williams has 1,942 career receiving yards, ninth all-time in Illinois history. 
• Williams is the Power-5 active leader in receptions among players who have eligibility remaining.

True Freshmen Impact
• Illinois' 2023 recruiting class was the program's highest-ranked class since 2009 according to Rivals and highest ranked since 2011 according to 247Sports. Bielema's first two-year stretch of recruiting was Illinois' best since 2008-09 according to 247Sports and Rivals.
• Running back Kaden Feagin has been the headliner of the class. His 418 rushing yards are third in the nation among true freshman, behind only Minnesota's Darius Taylor (591) and BYU's LJ Martin (438). He is sixth in the nation in rushing yards among all freshmen (including redshirt).
• Feagin ranks in the top ten in the Big Ten in yards/carry (7th, 4.7) and yards/game (10th, 52.2).
• Feagin has started the last three games. If he starts the final three games of the regular season, he would tie Robert Holcombe's Illinois record of six starts by a true freshman running back set in 1994.
• In his first significant playing time against Florida Atlantic, corner Zachary Tobe was the highest-graded true freshman defender in the nation during Week 4 (87.0), according to PFF. Tobe was also the highest-graded freshman in the Big Ten (all positions) during Week 4 (87.0).
• Tobe and fellow true freshman CB Saboor Karriem both had three pass breakups against FAU.
• Wide receiver Malik Elzy has five receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown on the season, all coming in Big Ten games.
• 10 Illinois true freshmen have passed the four-game redshirt limit: DL Alex Bray, DB Jaheim Clarke, WR Malik Elzy, RB Kaden Feagin, OL Brandon Henderson, DB Saboor Karriem, K David Olano, DB Mac Resetich, DB Zachary Tobe, and WR Kenari Wilcher.

Discher Leading Top-Ranked Special Teams
• Illinois leads the nation in blocked kicks (4) under first-year coordinator Robby Discher.
• PFF ranks Illinois' overall special teams unit at #8 in the nation.
• All-American Johnny Newton has two blocked kicks (vs. Penn State, at Purdue), and the Illini have blocked punts by Ashton Hollins (at Purdue) and Ryan Meed (vs. Penn State). Iowa (3) is the only other Big Ten team with more than two blocked kicks/punts.
• Illinois is one of only 13 teams in the nation with two blocked punts.
• K Caleb Griffin is the first Illini kicker to have two game-winning field goals in a single season. His 43-yard winner at Maryland was the second walk-off field goal on the road in Illinois history, along with Mike Bass' 46-yard winner as time expired at Wisconsin in 1982.
• Griffin hit a 53-yard field goal to end the first half at Purdue, his career long. It was the 6th-longest in program history and the longest ever by an Illini in a road game.
• P Hugh Robertson's average is up to 42.7 yards/punt, 2.7 better than last season. 

The Illinois-Indiana Series
• Saturday will be the 74th all-time meeting between Illinois and Indiana.
• Illinois leads the all-time series against Indiana 45-25-3.
• Indiana claims a 26-45-2 record in the series because they claim that they were declared the winner of the 1931 game (Tie, 0-0) because they had more first downs than Illinois.
• Illinois and Indiana are meeting for just the third time since 2013 after also meeting in 2017 and 2022. 
• Illinois dropped a 23-20 decision at Indiana last season in the second game of the year. Indiana scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 23 seconds left to seal the win. Chase Brown rushed for 199 yards for Illinois.
• Illinois fell 24-14 in Indiana's last trip to Champaign in 2017. Jeff George Jr. connected with Lou Dorsey on a 77-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, the longest reception in Illinois history by a true freshman.
• In Illinois' visit to Bloomington in 2013, Illinois had 30 first downs and Nate Scheelhaase threw for a career-high 450 yards, but Illinois fell, 52-35. Steve Hull had nine receptions for 224 yards, the second-most ever by an Illini, and caught touchdowns of 60 and 54 yards. Indiana gained 650 total yards. 
• Illinois' most receiving yards vs. Indiana: 224 Steve Hull 11/9/2013
• Illinois' most rushing yards vs. Indiana: 214 Rashard Mendenhall 9/22/2007
• Illinois' most passing yards vs. Indiana: 450 Nate Scheelhaase 11/9/2013
• Illinois' longest rush vs. Indiana: 83 John Karras 10/27/1951, 67 Robert Holcombe 10/5/1996, 67 John Karras 10/28/1950
• Illinois' longest pass vs. Indiana: 77 Scheelhaase to Jenkins 10/8/2011, 67 Scheelhaase to Jenkins 10/8/2011
• Last 100-yard receiving game vs. Indiana: Lou Dorsey, 107, 11/11/2017
• Last 100-yard rushing game vs. Indiana: Chase Brown, 199, 9/2/2022
• Last 300-yard passing game vs. Indiana: Nate Scheelhaase, 450, 11/9/2013