CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois is back at home on Saturday, Nov. 16 to take on Michigan State for the final home game of the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary season. The Senior Day kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT on FS1.
Illinois (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) will celebrate its seniors during the final home game at Memorial Stadium, including senior captains Pat Bryant and Seth Coleman. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats 30 minutes before kickoff to see the Senior Day recognition.
Michigan State (4-5, 2-4 Big Ten) is led by quarterback Aidan Chiles, who has thrown for 1,850 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for another three scores. Under the leadership of first-year head coach Jonathan Smith, the Spartans have Big Ten wins over Maryland and Iowa.
Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Robert Smith (analyst) have the call on FS1. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the statewide radio broadcast, with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), and Michael Martin (sideline) on the call.
Tickets are available at FightingIllini.com.
Press Conference
Game Day at Memorial Stadium | Timeline
Senior Day: Illinois will celebrate its seniors during the final home game at Memorial Stadium. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats 30 minutes before kickoff to see the Senior Day recognition.
First Responders Day: A special ticket package for First Responders Day includes an Illinois branded hat with a design honoring police, fire, and medical professionals. Click here for more info and to purchase tickets.
Air Raid Siren: New for 2024, an Illini celebrity will sound the Illini air raid siren right before kickoff to get the crowd pumped up for the Fighting Illini football team. This week's sounder is women's basketball head coach Shauna Green.
Illini Hour: The popular Illini Hour is returning to Memorial Stadium in 2024. From 90 minutes to 30 minutes before kickoff, all hot dogs, non-alcoholic beverages (excluding souvenir cups), and Carbliss and Nutrl seltzers are just $3, and 24 ounce domestic beers will be $7. This week's Illini Hour will run from 12-1 p.m. CT before the 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash: "The Galloping Ghost" has returned to Memorial Stadium for Year 2 of The Freaky Fast 77 Yard Dash presented by Jimmy John's. Between the third and fourth quarters, an Illinois student will race Red Grange 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 beginning three hours prior to kickoff.
100th Anniversary Museum: Illinois has installed a free pop-up museum celebrating the history of Memorial Stadium inside of the Great West Hall. The museum features imagery and artifacts from the greatest moments in Memorial Stadium history.
$4 Hot Dogs: Hot dogs at Memorial Stadium concession stands have been reduced to $4 after being priced at $6 last season.
I FUND, Season Ticket Holder, and ICON Concessions Discount: Fans who purchased or renewed their football season tickets by April 1 received 10% off concessions at all home games during the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary season, while I FUND members will receive an additional 5% savings for 15% off at Memorial Stadium concession stands. ICON members receive 15% off at Memorial Stadium concession stands.
ICON On-Field Experience: The ICON Pregame Party, which became popular in the State Farm Center Beer Cave, is now at Memorial Stadium. ICON members at The Quad level and above ($1,000+) will be invited to field level in the south end zone during pregame warmups.
Notes
Senior Day
- Illinois will honor its seniors during a special presentation pregame.
- Illinois has two senior captains who will be honored: Pat Bryant and Seth Coleman.
Illinois Set for Memorial Stadium Finale vs. Michigan State
- Illinois hosts Michigan State on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT on FS1.
- Illinois is 5-1 at home this season. The Illini are looking for six home wins in a season for the first time since 2001, when Illinois finished 6-0 at home on the way to the Big Ten title and 2002 Sugar Bowl.
The Illinois Offense
- QB Luke Altmyer's 5.3/1 TD/interception ratio (16/3) is the best in the Big Ten and tied for second-best in Power 4 behind only Clemson's Cade Klubnik (24/4) and tied with Miami's Cam Ward (32/6). (min. 10 TDs)
- Altmyer is 36th in the nation in passing efficiency. His 145.1 passing efficiency would be second-best in a single season in Illinois football history.
- Altmyer is fifth in the Big Ten in passing touchdowns (16) and 36th in the nation.
- Altmyer in Illinois wins: 104-for-157 passing (66.2%), 14 touchdown passes, 0 interceptions, 44 rushes, 166 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns
- Altmyer joined an impressive list of Illini QBs who have led the team to three Top 25 wins in a single season over the last 50 years: Jack Trudeau (1983), Jason Verduzco (1990), Kurt Kittner (2001), Juice Williams (2007), and Altmyer (2024).
- Illinois' three interceptions thrown as a team is the fewest in the Big Ten and tied for the fewest in Power 4 with Notre Dame and Vanderbilt. Only Army (1), South Alabama (2), and James Madison (2) have thrown fewer interceptions this season.
- WR Pat Bryant is fifth in the Big Ten in receiving touchdowns (7) and tied for 19th in the nation.
- Bryant has two game-winning touchdown catches in overtime, both coming from Altmyer (at Nebraska, vs. Purdue).
- Bryant has the No. 2 run-blocking grade in the nation among wide receivers (84.1) according to PFF, behind only Virginia Tech's Da'Quan Felton (85.6). (minimum 100 run blocking snaps)
The Illinois Defense
- In Aaron Henry's second season as defensive coordinator, Illinois ranks 31st in the nation in scoring defense (21.1), an improvement of 62 spots in the national rankings year-over-year (93rd, 29.4).
- Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks 14th nationally in forced fumbles (10).
- Illini OLB Gabe Jacas ranks in the top 20 nationally in forced fumbles (t-7th, 3) and sacks (t-19th, 6.5). Jacas leads the Big Ten in forced fumbles and is tied for fourth in sacks.
- Illinois is fourth in the Big Ten in interceptions (9).
- Xavier Scott is one of 15 semifinalists for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation's best defensive back. Scott is the No. 14-graded cornerback in Power 4 and No. 4 in the Big Ten (80.2) according to PFF. He has the No. 2 tackling grade in the nation among Power 4 cornerbacks (88.7) according to PFF.
- Illinois has three defensive backs with multiple interceptions: Xavier Scott (3), Miles Scott (2), and Torrie Cox Jr. (2)
Tough, Smart, Dependable
- Illinois is fifth in the Big Ten in turnover margin (+0.44 per game) and turnovers forced (14).
- Illinois ranks 8th-best in the nation in fewest penalty yards (344).
All-Time Series vs. Michigan State
• Series: Michigan State leads, 27-19-2
» at Illinois: Michigan State leads, 13-10-1
• Last: L, 23-15 (11/5/2022 at Illinois)
• Streak: L1
» at Illinois: L1
• Bielema vs. Michigan State: 3-5
» as Illinois head coach: 0-1
The Illinois-Michigan State Series
- Michigan State leads the all-time series against Illinois, 27-19-2.
- Illinois lost, 23-15, in the last meeting between the two programs, Nov. 5, 2022 in Champaign, snapping a two-game win streak for the Illini that included a road win in 2019, and a home win in 2016. Isaiah Williams recorded two receiving touchdowns, registering a team-high five catches for 98 yards and two scores as the No. 14-ranked Illini fell at Memorial Stadium in 2022. RB Chase Brown notched his 10th consecutive 100-yard rushing and finished with 136 yards on 33 carries. Brown also moved into third place on the program's all-time rushing list with 2,907 career yards on the ground.
- Illinois' win at Michigan State in 2019 was an instant classic, as the Illini trailed 28-3 in the second quarter and 31-10 entering the fourth before completing the biggest comeback in program history. Brandon Peters threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Barker with five seconds left, completing an incredible Illinois comeback to give the Illini a 37-34 victory.
- In the 2016 meeting in Champaign, Jeff George Jr. connected with wide receiver Sam Mays for a 16-yard touchdown with 1:17 left in the game with the Illini trailing 27-24 to give Illinois a 31-27 win. Michigan State drove to the Illinois 15-yard line on the ensuing drive, but Carrol Phillips' fourth-down sack with 0:12 left sealed the game and handed Michigan State its seventh straight loss. It was George Jr.'s first career win as a starter.
- One of Illinois' three wins against No. 1-ranked teams came against Michigan State. The Fighting Illini scored 14 points in the fourth quarter to upset the top-ranked Spartans, 20-13, at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 1, 1956.
Illinois Superlatives vs. Michigan State
- Illinois' most rushing yards vs. Michigan State: 188 Pierre Thomas, 10/9/2004
- Illinois' most receiving yards vs. Michigan State: 178 Josh Imatorbhebhe 11/9/2019, 129 Michael Dean, 9/25/1999
- Illinois' most passing yards vs. Michigan State: 369 Brandon Peters 11/9/2019, 323 Kurt Kittner, 9/25/1999
- Illinois' longest rush vs. Michigan State: 75 Mike Holmes, 9/8/1979
- Illinois' longest pass vs. Michigan State: 82 Offenbecher to Woodson, 10/27/1956
- Last 100-yard receiving game vs. Michigan State: 178 Josh Imatorbhebhe 11/9/2019
- Last 100-yard rushing game vs. Michigan State: 136 Chase Brown, 11/5/2022
- Last 300-yard passing game vs. Michigan State: 369 Brandon Peters 11/9/2019
Michigan State Connections
- Illinois OL Kevin Wigenton II began his collegiate career at Michigan State before transferring to Illinois prior to the 2024 season. Wigenton redshirted at Michigan State in 2021 and appeared in a combined 16 games with six starts in 2022 and 2023 for the Spartans, while earning two Academic All-Big Ten nods.
COMPLETE GAME NOTES (PDF)
