Looking to continue their hot start to the 2024 season, the Fighting Illini will take on Central Michigan of the Mid-American Conference on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The 11 a.m. kickoff will serve as the final event of the week-long Homecoming festivities across the Champaign-Urbana community.
Illinois, which will don Arched Illini throwback helmets against the Chippewas, recorded its first ranked home win since 2019 in front of a sold-out crowd after the Orange and Blue took down No. 19 Kansas last week. With the stands at Memorial Stadium filled with orange for the program's Hail to the Orange Out contest, the Illini forced four turnovers and outscored the Jayhawks, 10-0, in the fourth quarter en route to victory.
"There are a lot of positives," said head coach Bret Bielema after the game. "To go out there and play the way we did, make it a four-quarter game, and at the end have that environment and celebration is a memorable thing. You just can't replace moments. We must build on this now."Â
The Illini aim to continue their positive momentum against Central Michigan, which makes the trip to Champaign following a 52-16 road loss against Florida International last week. CMU outgained the Panthers (369-309), registered more first downs (22-15), and had a greater time of possession (34:18-25:42), but the Chippewas could not overcome a -6 turnover margin in their 36-point defeat.
Central Michigan will be eager to right the ship on Saturday, and Bielema knows his Illini squad will have to be ready for a hungry CMU team this weekend.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for their head coach, Jim McElwain, who I know fairly well," Bielema said. "It's just a really impressive staff. I think they do a good job overall. I know they will come in here ripping and roaring.Â
"To be a 2-0 football team here at Illinois out of the gate is an awesome feeling. The chance to play a Homecoming game against Central Michigan and hopefully get that crowd back to a similar state should be exciting. It'll be an 11 o'clock kickoff, which will be the first one for us this year, so that's a challenge for our guys. There are a lot of things to be excited about."
Here are three things to know before the Fighting Illini and Chippewas square off for the first time in series history.
Winning the Turnover Battle
Through the first two weeks of the 2024 college football season, the Illini have recorded only one turnover, their fewest through their opening two games since 2018. Illinois has found success by taking care of the ball, posting the joint-best turnover margin (+7, along with Cal and Oklahoma) thus far this season.
"I was proud of the guys and the way we handled our preparation throughout the week," said defensive coordinator Aaron Henry while reflecting on his unit's performance against No. 19 Kansas. "Their mentality coming into that week, I thought they prepared the right way. When you go through all of that, you see the preparation behind the scenes, and you see it come to life, it's because we have a group of guys in that building who have truly bought in."
The Chippewas have had their struggles with turnovers, holding the sixth-worst turnover margin (-4) in the FBS through the first two weeks of the season. CMU's six turnovers against FIU last week are tied for the most in a game among FBS programs thus far this year.
Across the Chippewas' 2022 and 2023 seasons, Central Michigan has ranked among the bottom four teams in the country in turnovers gained. Through the first two games of the 2024 slate, CMU has generated one forced turnover, one of 36 teams with one or fewer forced turnovers this season.
Central Michigan has won its last four games in which it has won the turnover battle, a trend that dates back to the 2021 season.
Homecoming History
Saturday's contest will be Illinois' earliest Homecoming game in program history, and it marks the first time since 2007 that the Illini will take on a nonconference opponent on Homecoming weekend.
The Orange and Blue hold an all-time record of 47-62-2 in Homecoming games, with the first contest dating back to 1910. The Illini's last Homecoming victory came in 2022, when No. 24-ranked Illinois defeated Minnesota, 26-14, in front of a crowd of 45,683.
Illinois boasts being one of the first universities to celebrate Homecoming, a tradition on almost every college campus. It was conceived in 1909 by students C.F. Williams and W. Elmer Ekblaw, members of the Shield and Trident senior society. They joined with another society, Phoenix, to organize the three-day event.
Opponent ScoutÂ
Central Michigan sits at 1-1 on the season after opening the campaign with a 66-10 home win over Central Connecticut State in Week 1. The Chippewas fell on the road to FIU in Week 2, 52-16. CMU looks to win a nonconference road game for the second consecutive season after defeating South Alabama away from home on Sept. 23, 2023.
The Chippewas' last win against a Big Ten opponent occurred in 2014, when CMU defeated Purdue on the road, 38-17. CMU has fallen to B1G teams in six consecutive meetings since then.
Offensively, quarterback Joe Labas – a transfer from Iowa – has totaled 493 passing yards, five touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 60% of his passes. The Chippewas have seen four different rushers amass double-digit carries thus far, though running back Myles Bailey has team-high tallies in rushes (17), rushing yards (122), and rushing touchdowns (2). Two receivers have eclipsed the century mark in receiving yards – Solomon Davis and Chris Parker – through two games, while four different pass-catchers have hauled in a touchdown through the air.Â
Defensive back Elijah Rikard leads the team in tackles (14.0), while defensive lineman and Illinois native Jonah Pace has a team-most 3.5 tackles for loss.
The Chippewas have two special teams touchdowns this season:Â Stephon Bracey Jr. recorded an 87-yard kickoff return and Donte Kent notched a 68-yard punt return in CMU's Week 1 win over CCSU.
Saturday's 11 a.m. kickoff will be available on Peacock.
