Illinois Rounds Out Nonconference Schedule With First-Ever Game Against FAU

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois concludes its 2023 nonconference schedule on Saturday at Memorial Stadium, where the Fighting Illini will square off with Florida Atlantic at 2:30 p.m. CT. The Orange and Blue came up short against #7 Penn State in the team's Big Ten opener last week, while the Owls head to Champaign with a 1-2 record after falling to Clemson, 48-14, last weekend.

The two sides will meet for the first time in program history, with FAU making the trip to take on a Big Ten opponent for the second consecutive season after playing at Purdue in 2022.

Saturday's game will air on Big Ten Network with Jason Ross Jr., Illini legend Howard Griffith, and Justine Ward on the call. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the radio call with Brian Barnhart, Martin O'Donnell, and Michael Martin.

Press Conference

Promotions

Extra Yard for Teachers – As part of the College Football Playoff Foundation's national platform to promote and reward educators, Illinois will pay tribute to local and national impactful teachers. Teachers from 74 schools around the area were given free tickets to the game, including multiple schools getting deliveries from Fighting Illini football players on Monday.

Band Day – High School bands from across the state will come for a special performance with the Marching Illini at halftime.

iSEE Tailgate Recycling — DIA is partnering with the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment to setup two large recycling collection points set up on game day; one in Lot 31 and one in Lot 32. Blue recycling bags will be handed out to each car that enters those two lots, which people can fill up with cans/bottles and take to the collection centers. Volunteers will also be working in Grange Grove to encourage people to use smaller recycling bins. 

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 FAU game, gates open at 1 p.m. CT and Illini Hour runs from 1-2 p.m. CT before the 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff. 

Season Ticket Holder Punch Card — 
ILLINI CONCESSIONS: $2 bags of cotton candy. Deal can be redeemed at all beer portables (Gate 24, 22, 12, 10, 17, 11, Section 115) and at the Champaign Classics stand in the Colonnades Club.
GAMEDAY SPIRIT: $5 off gray short-sleeved Illini football t-shirt (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 after convincing victories in his first two showings in 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 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.

Need a tailgate spot? — Reserve a tailgate in Grange Grove for FREE 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.

Notes

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," were one of the top defensive tackle duos in the nation over the last two seasons
• Newton leads the nation in QB pressures among interior defenders with 14, according to PFF.
• Newton had seven pressures against #7 Penn State last week, the most by a Power-5 defensive tackle in a game this season. Newton was the highest rated Power-5 defensive tackle in the nation during Week 3 (minimum 30 snaps), according to PFF.
• Randolph leads the nation in tackles (20) among defensive tackles.
• Newton sacked Kansas dual-threat QB Jalon Daniels twice in Week 2. His 2.0 sacks on the season is tied for fourth in the nation among defensive tackles.
• Among defensive linemen (both interior and edge), Newton is tied for the national lead in PFF's defensive stops statistic with 13.
• Both Newton and Randolph were named Preseason All-Americans by multiple outlets prior to the start of the 2023 season.
• Johnny Newton was the No. 9 graded defender in the nation by PFF (91.5) in 2022.
• Newton led the nation in QB hits (19) and ranked sixth in the nation in pressures (54) in 2022.
• Newton and Randolph led the nation in TFLs (27.0) and QB pressures (81) among defensive line partners (81) in 2022.
• Newton and Randolph were second and third in the Big Ten in TFLs (14.0, 13.0) and ranked first and second among interior defensive linemen in 2022.
• Newton tied Pitt's Calijah Kancey (14.0) for the most TFLs by any Power-5 interior defensive linemen in 2022, and Randolph was third (13.0). Kancey was the ACC Def. Player of the Year.

#1 Among Nation's Most Reliable
• Isaiah Williams ranks second in the Big Ten in receptions (16) and sixth in receiving yards (213). 
• Williams has at least one catch in all 28 games since he switched from QB prior to the start of the 2021 season, which is the second-longest active streak in the Big Ten behind Penn State's Dante Cephas (30) and the 12th-longest active streak in the nation.
• Williams has at least three catches in 17 straight games.
• Williams has 11 first-down receptions this season, tied for the second-most in the Big Ten and only two back for the most in the conference. 

The Illinois-FAU Series
• Illinois and FAU will meet for the first time on Saturday.
• Illinois is 6-4 all-time against teams currently in the American Athletic Conference (Charlotte 1-0, East Carolina 4-0, Navy 1-0, Tulane 0-1, USF 0-2, UTSA 0-1).