CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 12 Illinois dominated its 2025 season opener, defeating Western Illinois, 52-3, on Friday night in front of 56,040 spectators in Memorial Stadium. Head coach Bret Bielema improved to 5-0 in season openers since taking the helm in 2021.
Hank Beatty led the Illini in receiving with five catches for 108 yards including a 59-yard strike, which tied his career long; he also compiled 133 punt return yards, bringing back a 69-yard return for a touchdown. His 133 punt return yards broke Red Grange's 102-year-old single-game school record of 125 set Oct. 6, 1923, against Nebraska.
Gabe Jacas recorded five tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Jacas is tied for fifth with four other Illini (Jer'Zhan Newton, Whitney Mercilus, Kevin Hardy, and Moe Gardner) on the program's all-time career quarterback sacks list with 18.
Luke Altmyer went 17-21, throwing for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Justin Bowick caught three passes for 23 yards with two scores. Aidan Laughery led the Illini rushing attack with nine carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Altmyer's first touchdown of the 2025 season came eight minutes into the game when he found tight end Tanner Arkin wide open for a three-yard reception to give Illinois the early 7-0 lead. It's the second-straight campaign Arkin's caught a touchdown in the season opener.
Jacas forced the first turnover of the season for the Illini on the Leathernecks' ensuing drive with a strip sack recovered by Kaleb Patterson. Additionally, this is the second-straight season opener Patterson has recovered a fumble.
Bowick caught his first touchdown as a Fighting Illini near the end of the first quarter on a three-yard pass from Altmyer to raise their lead, 14-0.
Laughery broke free down the sideline two minutes into the second quarter to punch in the Orange and Blue's first rushing touchdown of the season on a 25-yard scamper, pushing their lead to 21-0. David Olano knocked in a 35-yard field goal on Illinois' next possession to go up 24-0.
Bowick later added another score right before halftime on a 13-yard pass from Altmyer to break the 30-point threshold, 31-0.
Halfway through the third quarter, Beatty brought back a punt 69 yards to the house for the Orange and Blue's first punt return touchdown since V'Angelo Bentley on Nov. 16, 2013, vs. Ohio State. Illinois led 38-0 after this moment.
Western Illinois broke into the scoring column to start the fourth quarter on a 20-yard field goal before Kaden Feagin later powered his way to a seven-yard rushing touchdown to further bolster the Illini lead, 45-3.
Laughery broke away on a 57-yard sprint to score his second rushing touchdown of the game and break the century mark on rushing yards for the contest. This score pushed Illinois over 50 points for the final score of 52-3.
Beatty ended his night with a 43-yard punt return - which raised his total to 133 yards - breaking Red Grange's 102-year-old school record of 125.
Illinois returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 6, when the No. 12 Illini travel to Durham, N.C. to take on the Duke Blue Devils. Â
HIGHLIGHTS
PRESS CONFERENCES
POSTGAME NOTES
TEAM NOTES
- Illinois is 5-0 in season openers under head coach Bret Bielema.
- Illinois leads the all-time series against Western Illinois, 4-0.
- Illinois is 18-0 all-time against the other public universities in the state (4-0 vs. Northern Illinois, 4-0 vs. Southern Illinois, 4-0 vs. Western Illinois, 3-0 vs. Illinois State, 3-0 vs. Eastern Illinois).
- Illinois is 20-0 all-time against FCS opponents (formerly I-AA).
PLAYER NOTES
- Luke Altmyer was 17-of-21 passing for 217 yards and three touchdowns.
- Hank Beatty broke the school's 102-year-old single-game punt return record, totaling 133 yards on four returns. That eclipsed the record of 125 yards set by Red Grange vs. Nebraska (10/6/1923)
- Highlighting Beatty's returns was a 69-yard TD in the third quarter.
- Beatty's punt return TD was the first for an Illini player since V'Angelo Bentley vs. Ohio State (11/16/2013)
- The 69-yard score was Illinois' longest punt return touchdown since Christian Morton (80 yards) vs. Indiana (11/4/2000)
- Beatty also had five receptions for a career-high 108 yards, marking his first career 100-yard receiving game.
- Justin Bowick is the first player to record two receiving TDs in his Illini debut since Edwin Carter on Sept. 8, 2018 (Week 2) vs. Western Illinois. Carter did not play in Week 1 vs. Kent State, but hauled in two passes for 34 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Leathernecks.
- Aidan Laughery had a pair of rushing TDs, with a 25-yard score in the second quarter and a 57-yard score in the fourth quarter.
- Laughery now has seven career rushing touchdowns.
- Laughery has posted a ground score in three straight regular-season games for the Illini.
- Laughery finished with 101 yards rushing, his second career 100-yard game
- Gabe Jacas recorded 2.0 sacks and now has 18.0 for his Illini career.
- Jacas is now tied for fifth in the Illinois record book with Jer'Zhan Newton, Whitney Mercilus, Kevin Hardy, and Moe Gardner.
- Tanner Arkin scored his fifth-career receiving touchdown.
- Arkin has scored in each of the Fighting Illini's last two season openers
- Kaden Feagin scored his sixth career rushing touchdown with a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter
- Feagin's first rushing TD since 9/14/2024 vs. Central Michigan.
- Gentle Hunt and Eli Coenen combined to share a third quarter sack, the first for each as Fighting Illini.
QUOTES
Opening statement:
We had a long night, but it was very productive, I was excited. We had three keys for us. First, build our routine this week as best as humanly possible. I thought our guys were really locked in, even though, obviously, we knew we were playing an FCS team in Western Illinois, I thought our guys handled this week well. We talked about respect to all, fear none, and I thought they did a good job of prepping that. Our second thing tonight was just go out and play clean and communicate. I know there were a couple penalties, but I thought our guys, for the most part, played pretty clean. There's a couple things we got to clean up. I didn't love the end of the half series with our one offense, we were able to win the toss and defer. We were trying to double dip coming out of the end of the half and start of the second. That is something we need to continue to improve on. The third thing was just to start fast and physical and finish the same way. I got a lot of guys out there, and I thought they all kind of did their best to hold their end of the rope. I'm super excited, we stayed pretty clean and health wise, didn't have anybody of significance so get this one to bed tomorrow. With the holiday weekend, we can build an advantage with the work week on Monday and get a good jump on Duke. I'm excited to get into this week. Obviously, a very talented team that won their opener as well. So we got a tremendous task on the road at Duke this week.
On Hank Beatty:
I think even last year, you know, just a great example of how one thing affects another, he started to have some success in the punt returning game, and it really helped him at the line of scrimmage as a wide receiver, and going into bowl prep last year, I could see a really big jump coming. He played well in the bowl game and all spring, just the confidence he had, and then to go out there today. I was talking with the head coach beforehand, and Hank went right in front of me, and I'm like, I really like that player from Rochester, Springfield, an Illinois player. We definitely don't want to punt to him, but they obviously punted to him, and played extremely well. There is a lot of really good effort to get that ball in the end zone. It was really high-level play.
On Gabe Jacas:
Gabe is a very gifted player, and I would say since we came back in January, he's been a highly motivated player for success, but everything he does right now and then to see him get elected captain, I think that just builds even more confidence in him. He obviously is a freak of nature, and now he's getting coached extremely well. I brought in Joe Kim who has really helped him in some of his pass rush stuff. So I'm super excited with his skill set and highly motivated. He's a big playmaker. He's a guy that's never satisfied. It's fun to see his energy and just fun kind of fall out to other people as well.Â
On running back room:
Ca'Lil is a nice change up, but you know, Kaden and Aidan both have unique skill sets. I've said this before, when I was in my previous life at another institution, I had some combos of two or three back. They were all different skill sets. A lot of people try to have cookie cutters that all look the same, but I like a little variety. As a defense coordinator, I always thought it was challenging when you had three or four different styles of runners in there, because every play looks a little bit different depending on the skill set. It was good to see Ca'Lil get in there and pop one. I thought Aiden to get that hit at the end was awesome. Kaden Feagin, just to see him get out there and do what he does, dragging some people around was pretty fun to watch. So I think those three guys could be a very, very tough trio to defend.Â
On Hank Beatty and Justin Bowick:
"It was a lot of fun. Hank obviously had an awesome day, historic day, and he earned it; he's on his way to doing some really cool things. Nobody's happier and more excited than I am for him. You saw it tonight, you know, throw a kind of higher ball in the back of the end zone, you know, he can go get it, he's got all the tools. Our confidence is growing and excited to keep working with them. We got a lot of things to get better at, but they're excited to move forward.
On the last month:
"Every day, every rep, I'm always trying to learn from them, you know, and vice versa. We've played one week, and some guys showed up and did some cool things. Very, very encouraging and confident moving forward, never take anything for granted. Scoreboard looked really good, but I got to play a whole lot better within the pocket. First game, there's a little bit of jitters, but I'm confident that I'll handle those pressures.
On going on the road next week:
Yeah, we're not afraid, we've been tested and we've played well in those environments. We know we got to respect everybody but we're not going to shy away or be intimidated at all. We got a veteran, mature group. It's kind of a one play at a time game, and all the external factors are not important at all.
What was the moment of that punt return like, take us through what you saw and that last push into the end zone:
A big part of that was my guys block for me on that. I really didn't have to make a move on anybody until I was inside the 20-yard line. Then, I just wanted to get into the end zone, I was cutting it back no matter what.Â
What'd you like better, the punt return for a touchdown or the 100 yards and being a part of the passing game:
They were both awesome; feel great. But I wouldn't be able to do that without the guys around me and the coaches around me. They put me into a position to be successful, and I appreciate that.Â
It seems like you and Luke have a connection, do you feel like if you get a step on someone, he's going to get you the ball:
I think Luke did a great job of that today and I thought he played a really great game overall finding us. Obviously, he hit [Justin Bowick] two times in the end zone, which was amazing to see for [Justin]. I'm grateful that he's my quarterback and hopefully it'll be a good year.
That first sack, strip sack, and being able to do that take me through that play. How did it feel to kind of after this whole offseason to have a play like that:
Yeah it felt great, you know obviously, just waiting for that moment, been practicing since spring and fall obviously, you cant touch a quarterback so to just go out there and depend on my, our DC , and depend on my teammates and be in the rignt position to make that play. I wouldn't be able to do it without my teammates.
Focus on speed and getting lighter. Did you feel lighter and more explosive out there:
Yeah, for sure, you know definitely from the weight loss it felt good on my knees and just going out there and playing American football was great.
There's a tough road trip to a team that was receiving votes. What does sport mean for you guys? How do you guys, how do you prepare for this? How do you lean on your past experience:
You know, going on road trip is you got to be locked in. You got to have a great week, a week of prep. And then the prep continues once you get there. And so it's really about, you know, getting there, you know, remembering the plan, watching film, keeping the preparation going, and turn the page tomorrow morning and start that prep and get ready to roll.
What were you more excited for? For Hank, the punt return for a touchdown, or just having a huge day in the receiving first 100-yard game? What's more exciting for you? As a friend?:
I was out there for the for the big, long catch. I don't know how far it was, 59? Yeah, he doesn't like touchdowns. He didn't want to score that one. I don't know what it is, so that one was good. But, you know, watching on the sideline that punt return that was awesome. I mean, that was super stoked. Just awesome.
It's a big night for you. Hank also, Caden was productive as well. What does it mean with essential Illinois kids? What's it like for y'all to succeed together?:
Yeah, you know, it's special. Obviously, you know, we all came here for the same reason to be, you know, homegrown, stay home and, you know, change, change the program and keep building it. And so, it's special. You know, all of us, all of us, this whole team, works so hard and just to go out there week one, have some successes, Is awesome. We're looking to carry it forward.
What was the uniqueness of this game? How did that count into effect how you guys kind of prepared for this week? And then maybe ended fall camp how you wanted the defense:
I mean, even though it was unique, we were prepared for every game that they were showing us, so there wasn't really too much we hadn't seen. Some of the plays they might have chosen were from like years previous, but we were ready for everything, so they just gave us the call, and we just executed.
When you guys in the back end watch the film from this game, what do you think is going to be some of the biggest takeaways:
Just having good eyes. They got to hit us with a double move twice, just having good eyes, man. I understand that other teams are going to see that and want to do it again the week after, so, just got to be on point, I mean, the communication was great, but we just have to have great eyes.
What was coach Henry's message after the game? Was he happy about this performance? You know? What was he saying after the game:
It was a good performance. We still left some meat on the bone, but that's what we got film for. We are just trying to make sure we watch that and capitalize on what we can do better next week.
