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Big Ten Football: Fighting Illini Return Home to Memorial Stadium as Illinois Hosts Iowa

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Football

Illinois (4-1, 1-1) returns to Memorial Stadium on Saturday to open a two-game home stand, taking on Iowa (3-2, 1-1) under the lights at 6:30 p.m. CT.

The Fighting Illini enter the contest on a three-game winning streak, most recently beating Wisconsin in Madison for the first time in 20 years, while Iowa heads to Champaign off a 27-14 home loss to Michigan.

The Illinois defense remains one of the best units in the country, and it held Wisconsin to just two rushing yards in Saturday's 34-10 win. The Illini currently rank first nationally in points allowed per game (8.4), joint-first in touchdowns allowed (three through five games), third in total yards allowed (228.0 per game), third in rushing yards allowed (70.2 per game), and fourth in yards allowed per play (3.79).

The offense continued its strong start to the season, using a balanced attack through the air and on the ground to put up 34 points and 304 yards in the victory. Chase Brown remains the nation's leading rusher with 733 yards, with 129 of those coming against Wisconsin.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday night on Big Ten Network.

Series vs. Iowa

Series: Illinois leads, 38-37-2
Last: L, 33-23 (11/20/21 at Champaign)
Streak: L8
In Champaign: Illinois leads, 20-16
Bielema vs. Iowa: 3-3

The Illinois-Iowa Series

  • Saturday will be the 78th meeting between the Illini and Hawkeyes in a series that dates back to 1899.
  • Illinois and Iowa did not play a game from 1953-1966 because of a fight following the 1952 game.
  • Illinois leads the all-time series 38-37-2.
  • Iowa has won eight straight meetings dating back to 2008, their longest streak in the series history.
  • Last year, Illinois led 10-0 in Iowa City before falling 33-23. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema could not make the return trip to his alma mater due to being isolated in COVID protocols.
  • In Iowa's last visit to Champaign, Illinois jumped out to a 14-0 lead before the Hawkeyes stormed back for a 35-21 win over Illinois. Illini starting quarterback Brandon Peters finished the game with 10 completions for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Al Brosky started one of the most impressive streaks in college football history when he intercepted a pass Nov. 11, 1950 against Iowa. That was the first of Brosky's NCAA record 15 consecutive games with an interception.
  • Shawn Wax tied a program record with three touchdown receptions vs. Iowa 11/3/1990.
  • Dike Eddleman set an Illinois record with an 88-yard punt vs. Iowa 11/6/1948.

Illinois Superlatives vs. Iowa

  • Illinois' most rushing yards vs. Iowa: 178 Jack Pierce 11/10/1945, 174 John Karras 10/8/1949
  • Illinois' most receiving yards vs. Iowa: 190 Rex Smith 11/8/1952, 148 Geronimo Allison 10/10/2015
  • Illinois' most passing yards vs. Iowa: 358 Jason Verduzco 11/3/1990, 317 Wes Lunt 10/10/2015
  • Illinois' longest rush vs. Iowa: 65 Buddy Young 10/14/1944, 63 John Karras 10/8/1949, 62 Chubby Phillips 10/27/1973, 61 Dick Raklovits 11/11/1950
  • Illinois' longest pass vs. Iowa: 67 O'Connell to Smith 11/8/1952

Illinois-Iowa Connections

  • Illinois head coach Bret Bielema played football at Iowa as a defensive linemanfrom 1989-92.
  • Bielema served as a graduate assistant at Iowa from 1994-95 before spending five years as linebackers coach (1996-2001) for the Hawkeyes.
  • Iowa offensive line coach George Barnett was a graduate assistant at Illinois during the 2004 season.
  • Iowa senior Henry Marchese is the twin brother of
  • Illinois senior Michael Marchese's twin brother, Henry, played football for Iowa. Their dad, John Marchese, played football at Iowa from 1982-86.
  • Illinois head football athletic trainer Jeremy Busch graduated from Iowa and worked as an undergraduate athletic trainer for the Hawkeyes.