Iowa Hawkeyes win on Homecoming 29-20 over Illinois to improve to 6-0 in 2015

Honorary team captain Colin Cole, a former DT on Iowa's 2002 B1G championship team (8-0), 

with Iowa game captains #27 Jordan Lomax, #63 Austin Blythe, #16 C.J. Beathard and #95 Drew Ott, 

who suffered a season ending injury on Saturday, during Iowa's 29-20 Homecoming win 

over the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Iowa City, IA -- The Iowa Hawkeyes (6-0, 2-0 B1G West) for the first time, since the beginning of division play, in the Big Ten, in 2011, sit on top of their division at 2-0. The #22 ranked Hawkeyes have paid a price on the injury front though heading into the second half of the 2015 season, as senior defensive end Drew Ott is done, after an ACL injury impacted the four year starter, in the second half, of today's 28-20 win on Homecoming over the Illinois Fighting Illini (4-2, 1-1 B1G West).

Iowa senior DE #95 entering his final game, as a Hawkeye, after suffering
a season ending ACL injury in the 29-20 win on Homecoming at Kinnick
Stadium. The senior DE from Nebraska helped the Hawkeyes with one of three
sacks and two of five tackles for loss in the win over the Fighting Illini.

The Hawkeyes are 2-0 in the Big Ten for the sixth time under Kirk Ferentz (2002, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015). For the second straight year, in year two of the West division, the Hawkeyes are undefeated in conference play. The Hawkeyes control their own destiny, with six B1G conference games remaining, with a road game @ Northwestern (5-1, 1-1 B1G West) next Saturday.

The Big Ten will not see a repeat of the 1995 season, when Northwestern went 8-0. Or a repeat of the 1995 season, when Iowa lost back to back games against Illinois and @ Northwestern, after Iowa defeated the Fighting Illini on Homecoming at Kinnick; while #18 Michigan (5-1, 2-0 B1G East) blanked #13 Northwestern 38-0 for their Homecoming victory in Ann Arbor.

Iowa junior QB #16 C.J. Beathard is making a huge difference using his feet
and through the air, as Iowa's signal caller in 2005. Numbers include
116-of-199 (58.3) passing for 1,484 yards, 10 touchdowns,
and three interceptions, and 221 yards rushing with three rushing touchdowns.
 The last Iowa quarterback to win his first seven career starts was Matt Sherman,
who won seven from 1994-95. Beathard will seek to top Sherman next week.

In 1985, another QB wore
#16, as Chuck Long lead
the Black and Gold at
Iowa. Long was another 
Iowa QB to make plays 
with both his arm and legs.

The decision of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz to replace #1 signal caller Jake Rudock with C.J. Beathard, in January, for 2015 season has worked out well for the Hawkeyes. Beathard is now 7-0 as a starting quarterback for the Hawkeyes. Rudock graduated at Iowa in the Spring. He is now leading the Michigan Wolverines now as their #1 signal caller.

More and more Hawkeye fans in Iowa City want to see a repeat of the 1985 game, in a battle of #1 vs. #2 in the nation. For it to take place, the Hawkeyes and Wolverines will have to win their respective divisions. There are six B1G conference games remaining. Next week:

• Iowa @ Northwestern, as the Wildcats host Homecoming and look to get back into the B1G West race head to head with the B1G West leading Hawkeyes
• Michigan State @ Michigan in the Big House for a huge game in the early Jim Harbaugh era for the Wolverines, as former Iowa QB Chuck Long ('85 team) says the Wolverines are back tonight on the Big Ten Network, as he provided color for the MSU @ Rutgers game

Former Iowa QB, now Michigan QB #15 Jake Rudock leading Wolverines
offense. The Wolverines won 38-0 for their third straight shutout in '15.
Rudock is now 3-0 against Northwestern, after two wins a Hawkeyes QB.
Northwestern will host Iowa next Saturday for their Homecoming game.

Iowa is bowl eligible for the 14th time in the last 15 seasons under head coach Ferentz. The Hawkeyes are 6-0 for the first time since 2009, the second time under Ferentz, and the seventh time in school history, with the win over the Fighting Illini on Homecoming, as Ferentz moves to 13-4.

Dean of Big Ten coaches, Kirk Ferentz
during the 2015 Homecoming game.

The win today gives Ferentz 121 wins as a member of the Big Ten Conference, The ninth most in conference history. Ferentz is one win shy of tying Lloyd Carr for eighth all-time (122). Ferentz has 70 Big Ten wins, tied for the ninth most in conference history (John Cooper). A victory @ Northwestern will move Ferentz up the all-time conference list, as the current dean of the Big Ten coaches.

The Hawkeyes are one of three final undefeated Big Ten teams in 2015, joining the past two Big Ten champions, Ohio State and Michigan State. In the East, there are four undefeated team in Big Ten play, with Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State all 2-0, but it is early, with six B1G games remaining.

Iowa senior RB #33 Jordan Canzeri is off to a monster senior season, as he
runs the ball against the Illinois Fighting Illini. It was another career day with
two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving for his 9th and 10th of season!

In the win over Illinois, Iowa’s 51 rushing attempts ties for the 10th most in the Ferentz era. The Hawkeyes outgained the Illini 278-46 on the ground. Iowa last rushed 51 times in 2014 against Purdue, which was Beathard's first career start as a Hawkeye QB.

Iowa senior RB Jordan Canzeri running untouched for a 75 yard TD run in the
third quarter to put the Hawkeyes up 23-13 against the Fighting Illini.

Senior RB Jordan Canzeri’s 75-yard touchdown run was the longest touchdown run by a Hawkeye since Shonn Greene’s 75-yard TD in 2008 against Purdue. It is the longest rush by a Hawkeye since Adam Robinson’s 75-yard rush in 2010 against Iowa State, the last season Iowa was ranked and won a bowl game.

Iowa's offensive line has been stung by injuries in 2015, but senior RB #33
Jordan Canzeri is providing outstanding leadership by example on the field.
Senior C #63 Austin Blythe has been anchoring the O-Line very well in '15.

Canzeri recorded career highs in rushing yards (256) and attempts (43). The 43 carries is a Iowa school record, and the rushing yards ranks third all-time. It is the second week in a row he set a career high in attempts (26 vs. Wisconsin). His previous career-best rushing performance was 165 yards against Purdue in 2013. He has four 100-yard rushing games this season, six in his career.

Iowa junior TE #46 George Kittle is leading Hawkeye TEs in scoring in 2015,
including a TD  in each of the last games. He is playing a big role in the passing game,
with the injuries to two key seniors, WRTevaun Smith and TE Jake Duzey.

Junior Iowa TE George Kittle caught a 21-yard touchdown for the first score of the game. Kittle has three career touchdown receptions, one in each of the last three weeks. Kittle's senior cousin, TE Henry Krieger Coble, matched his career high with five receptions against the Fighting Illini.

Senior TE #80 Henry Kreiger Coble with one of his five catches vs. Illinois.

True freshman WR Jerminic Smith entered the game with no career catches. He caught four passes for 118 yards, becoming the first true freshman in the Kirk Ferentz era to record 100 yards receiving in a single game. Four times since 1997 an Iowa redshirt freshman had 100 yards receiving in a single game (listed by most recent):

• James Cleveland, 101 yards vs. Purdue (11/20/07)
• Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, 119 yards vs. Northwestern (11/3/07)
• Calvin Davis, 109 yards vs. Illinois (11/1/03)
• Kevin Kasper, 115 yards vs. Arizona (9/9/98)

Iowa has missed two key seniors in the passing game lately. Senior wide receiver Tevaun Smith has missed the past two B1G games due to a bruised knee, while senior TE Jake Duzey has missed most of the first half, due to injuring his knee during spring practice and having surgery.

Iowa true freshman #9 Jerminic Smith brings explosiveness to the Hawkeyes
passing game, as finally connects with C.J. Beathard, after making his
second career start, against the Illinois Fighting Illini.

WR Jerminic Smith’s 118 receiving yards is the most by a Hawkeye since TE Duzey in 2013 (138 vs. Ohio State). It is the highest receiving yards total by a wide receiver since WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos had 119 receiving yards against Northwestern in 2007. 

By the way, the 2007 season was the last time Iowa opened the Big Ten season @ Wisconsin, and later hit the road @ Northwestern. The Hawkeyes last win 28-17 in Evanston was in 2007. Back then, the Hawkeyes were lead by first year starter Jake Christensen at quarterback.

Unlike, 2007 leading Western Michigan, Illinois Bill Cubit didn't enjoy a
win, after a game at Kinnick Stadium vs. the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Ironically in 2007, present Illinois head coach Bill Cubit won in Iowa City with his Western Michigan team by the score of 28-19. It wasn't the case on Saturday, with his interim role leading the Fighting Illini, they didn't go away easy against the Hawkeyes on Homecoming, but they didn't win.

Illinois true freshman RB #5 Ke'Shawn Vaughn put Illinois on the scoreboard in the first
quarter on a 4-yard run, preceded by a one-handed catch by Malik Turner earlier in the drive.
The Hawkeyes gave up their first rushing TD of the season against Illinois and
trailed 7-6, after the first quarter. The Hawkeyes lead 16-7 at the half.

The Fighting Illini failed to complete a fourth-quarter come back win and snapped its three-game winning streak in Big Ten games. Illinois moves to 3-2 on the season. They showed a lot of improvement over last season's 30-14 loss against Iowa in Champaign.

In the fourth quarter, the Fighting Illini completed seven-play, 85-yard touchdown drive to close the deficit to 23-20. The touchdown drive was the longest the Illini have produced this season.

Iowa did give up explosive plays against an improving Fighting Illini team,
especially in the passing game, but the run defense gave up their first TD run.
The Hawkeyes faced Illinois senior WR #8 Geronimo Allison, who came
into the game as the Big Ten's leading receiver and showed why.

Iowa junior DT Jaleel Johnson, an Illinois native, had a career best six tackles, including one quarterback sack. Sophomore DT Nathan Bazata matches his career with four tackles, including one sack. Sophomore MLB Josey Jewell led Iowa with 12 tackles.

Iowa sophomore DT #99 Nathan Bazata recorded one of the three Iowa sacks. 

Iowa was plus-two in turnovers today and is plus-five on the season. Iowa has 12 takeaways this season, and turned them into 44 points. Junior CB Greg Mabin had an interception today, while MLB Jewell recovered a fumble, which was forced by redshirt freshman DE Parker Hesse, in for the injured Ott. Iowa’s 12 takeaways through six games is its highest total since recording 12 in 2013.

Iowa junior CB #13 Greg Mabin was happy to intercept this Illini pass from
WR Geronimo Allison, after a long day defending the talented receiver.

Iowa PK Marshall Koehn was perfect on three field goals (19, 34, 40). He is 8-for-9 on the season, including 4-for-4 on attempts 40 yards or longer. Koehn had 11 points today, raising his career total to 119, 24th all-time. He did overcome an early miscue, when he missed his second extra point, after the first touchdown of the game, to give Iowa a 6-0 lead.

The Hawkeyes gave up explosive plays against the Fighting Illini, including a 53 yard touchdown recepiton. Though the Hawkeyes are 6-0, there is a lot of work ahead, with a road trip against Northwestern ahead. The Hawkeyes have won back to back games against at home, and three of the last four, with each of the wins at Kinnick.

Iowa true freshman James Daniels has been playing at both guard spots this
season, but when starting sophomore RT Ike Boettger went out, Daniels
made the move outside. It was troubling at times, but Iowa found a way to
prevail in the second half, after the injury.

Northwestern won three straight over Iowa from 2008 to 2010, including a knockout loss, when Iowa was 9-0 in 2009 at Kinnick, after quarterback Ricky Stanzi was injured on a tackle in the end zone. The Wildcats also won the last game played in Evanston, with a 28-17 win, during the 2012 season.

The 1985 Iowa Hawkeyes opened the season 7-0. There seventh straight win was in Evanston against the Northwestern Wildcats 49-10. The Wildcats are up for the Hawkeyes in 2015, as the Hawkeyes seek to go 7-0 again. The Hawkeyes are an under the radar team nationally in 2015. They weren't thirty years ago in Evanston, as they arrived ranked #1 in Evanston ranked in 1985.

Iowa Kirk Ferentz after winning his 70th all-time Big Ten game against
the Fighting Illini. The Hawkeyes have a lot on the line heading into next week.

Homecoming Saturday at Kinnick: Iowa's opponent the Illinois Fighting Illini

Illinois interim coach Bill Cubit has the Fighting Illini 4-1, 1-0 B1G West.
Cubit's last meeting in Iowa City was as head coach at Western Michigan,
where the former MAC coach pulled the upset over Iowa 28-19 to close
out Iowa's 2007 season. The Hawkeyes have had Cubit's respect for years.

Champaign, IL -  Illinois is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten West after Saturday's win over Nebraska 14-13 in the final minute, the program's best start since 2011, when the Illini were 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the B1G to start the season. Illinois has won three straight B1G games and four of last six dating back to last season. In the 25 Big Ten games prior to those last six, the Fighting Illini were 1-24.

Saturday, the Fighting Illini will travel to Iowa City to face the #22 Iowa Hawkeyes, 5-0 overall and 1-0 in the Big Ten West, at Kinnick Stadium for a 11 a.m. kickoff, televised on the ESPNU. Clay Matvick and John Congemi will have the coverage on Saturday. It is Homecoming in Iowa City on Saturday.

Illinois coach Bill Cubit is 0-4 against AP-ranked opponents in his 8+ years as a Division I head coach. He is 1-1 against Iowa, as a head coach, with the win coming in Iowa City, in 2007, when he lead his Western Michigan team to a 28-19 to close out Iowa's Senior Day.

Iowa's Kirk Ferentz against Illinois
in the 2014 game on the road.

Illinois holds an 18-16-2 advantage in games played in Iowa City in the all-time series. Illinois has an all-time series lead of 38-30-2.

The Hawkeyes are 5-5-2 against the Illini on Homecoming, and 12-4 in Homecoming contests under Kirk Ferentz.

Kirk Ferentz is in his 20th year as a college head coach and his 17th year as Iowa's head coach. His career record is 132-106 and he is 120-85 at Iowa. He ranks ninth in the Big Ten Conference in coaching wins and is Dean of Big Ten coaches, since Joe Paterno's departure at Penn State in 2011.

Ferentz is 6-3 all-time against the Illini, as a head coach. Iowa is the last Big Ten team to beat Illinois, which is on a three-game conference winning streak. Iowa defeated Illinois 30-14, on the road last season to reach their seventh win.

"We're going to play Iowa. Watching them on tape, a really physical football team. I think a really well-coached offense, line wise. They've been around football a long, long time and it's one of the few offensive lines that I really enjoy watching. Even when I was at the last place, I would always try and get film just to see how synced they are; they do such a good job. The quarterback is playing really well and then defensively their front collectively is the best we've played against. They've got some guys there that are really good football players and then the [Desmond] King kid in the back, he's leading the league in interceptions, he's a ball hawk and I remember being involved in recruitment with him back then when he was from Detroit so really a good player. For our kids, we've just got to stay with the process; understand what we're trying to do every day and I think they'll do that. I think they're buying in pretty well for us. We've got an opportunity to go up there and play a really good Iowa team so that's exciting." - Bill Cubit talking about Illinois' upcoming game with Iowa during his weekly media conference on Monday

Illinois' win over Minnesota last season gave the Illini their first win over a ranked team in either the AP or Coaches poll since 2011, as the Golden Gophers were No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches poll (they were not ranked in the AP poll).

The Illini had lost 10 straight and 19 of their last 20 against foes ranked in the AP poll since beating No. 1 Ohio State 28-21 on Nov. 10, 2007. The lone win during that span came on Sept. 17, 2011, over No. 22 Arizona State, 17-14. Illinois has lost its last nine road games against ranked foes since beating OSU in 2007.

This is the Fighting Illini's first road trip to Iowa in the Big Ten, since the 2007 season, when Iowa upset Illinois 10-6. The Fighting Illini won a birth in the Rose Bowl after the 2007 regular season. Iowa's longest winning streak in the series (five games) was snapped with the Illini's 27-24 win in 2008, in Champaign.

Illinois faces its first Associated Press Top 25-ranked opponent of the season on Saturday as Iowa is No. 22 in this week's AP poll. The Hawkeyes are No. 23 in USA Today coaches poll. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 10-6 win @ Wisconsin to open the 2015 Big Ten season. The Hawkeyes are ranked for the first time, since the 2010 season. The win over Wisconsin was the first win over a ranked opponent, since the Hawkeyes beat Michigan in 2011.
Both programs have had Cardiac moments lately in 2015

Illinois senior WR #8 Geronimo
Allison celebrates after his 1-yard
TD reception with 10 seconds
remaining in game vs. Nebraska.

Cardiac Illini: The last two Fighting Illini games, both victories, have each been decided in the final 10 seconds of regulation by a total of three points. Against Nebraska, QB Wes Lunt found WR Geronimo Allison for a 1-yard TD with 10 seconds left for a 14-13 Illini victory. That followed up a 27-25 win over Middle Tennessee on Sept. 26 after the Blue Raiders missed a 43-yard field goal with four seconds on the clock.

Cardiac Iowa: The Hawkeyes clinched wins in the fourth quarter this year @ Iowa State with two late touchdowns to clinch the game 31-17; with a 57 yard field goal on the last play against Pittsburgh at home to win 27-24 and in the fourth quarter @ Wisconsin in the 10-6 win.

Captain Comeback: Illinois has seven fourth-quarter comeback wins in the last two seasons (five in 2014 and two so far in 2015). QB Wes Lunt has orchestrated five of those seven fourth-quarter comebacks, including both this season (vs. Middle Tennessee and vs. Nebraska).

Last year, Iowa's starting quarterback for 12 of 13 games was Jake Rudock, who is now leading Michigan (4-1, 1-0 B1G East), after transferring to the Wolverines as a post-graduate transfer. In last year's 30-14 win in Champaign, Iowa's current quarterback, C.J. Beathard, finished the game 3-of-3 for 73 yards, with one touchdown pass.

Ferentz decided to move junior Beathard  to #1 in January. Beathard is now 6-0 as a starter at Iowa. He has shown a good ability to help make plays both running and passing the football in 2015. The Hawkeyes are 5-0 for the second time under Kirk Ferentz. A win Saturday would be Iowa's second 6-0 start in the Ferentz era (2009). The 2009 Hawkeyes won their first nine games, finished 11-2 overall, and won the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl over #9 Georgia Tech.

Here is Iowa's DE #95 Drew Ott
tackling Illinois QB #12 Wes Lunt
in last year's game in Champaign.

Illinois is currently without sophomore WR Mike Dudek, due to a knee injury in the Spring. Dudek caught two touchdown passes against Iowa, in last year's game leading the Illini in receiving. QB Wes Lunt played part of the game, finishing 14 for 25, with one interception and one touchdown against Iowa. The Hawkeyes defense sacked Luck once.

D-Fence: The Fighting Illini defense over the first five games has shown vast improvement since last season. The same can be said about the Hawkeyes in 2015.

The Illini rank in the top-25 nationally in nine different stat categories, including blocked kicks (1), third down defense (4), TFLs (15), interceptions (18), passing efficiency defense (19), total defense (21), first downs allowed (23), scoring defense (23) and turnovers gained (24).

Iowa is the only school in the country yet to allow a rushing touchdown. The Hawkeyes yield an average of 84.4 rushing yards per game, second best in the Big Ten and 11th nationally. Iowa limits its opponents to 2.6 yards per carry (161 attempts, 422 yards), 10th best in the country.
 

Through five games in 2014, the Illini were allowing 468.6 ypg and 35.0 ppg. This season, they're allowing 303.4 ypg and 17.8 ppg through five games.

Iowa averaged 37.8 points per game in its first four wins, but scored just 10 in its Big Ten opener against Wisconsin. It marked the fewest points scored in a Big Ten win since defeating No. 18 Illinois, 10-6, in 2007. The 151 points scored (37.8 ppg) through four games was Iowa's highest total since 2011, when it also scored 151 points (34, 41, 31, 45).

The Illini have forced 31 three-and-out drives this season (6.2 per game), tied for the fifth-most in FBS. Illinois forced 44 three-and-out drives in all of 2014 (3.4 per game). 

The Illini rank fourth in the nation in third down conversion defense, allowing just 17 first downs in 78 third down attempts this season (.218).

Block Party: Illinois is tied for the FBS lead as one of four teams with three blocked kicks this season. The Fighting Illini have blocked two punts, returning both for touchdowns, and one field goal on the season.

Senior RB Josh Ferguson has climbed up to 11th on the Illinois career rushing list with 2,259 career yards. Ferguson was injured, during the game with Nebraska. It is unlikely he will play against Iowa. Next man in for the Fighting Illini will be true freshman Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who is coming off a 98 yard rushing game against the Cornhuskers.

Iowa RB Jordan Canzeri carried 12 times for 68 yards, as a backup last season against Illinois. Now a senior, Canzeri rushed 26 times for 125 yards against Wisconsin. It is his third 100-yard rushing game this season, and the fifth of his career.
 

Illinois senior WR Geronimo Allison leads the Big Ten in both receptions (32) and receiving yards (453), ranking in the top-20 nationally in both categories. A recent addition to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, Allison had eight catches for 91 yards against Nebraska, pushing him over 1,000 career receiving yards (1,051).

Iowa junior WR Matt VandeBerg is second in the Big Ten in receptions (31) and has 303 receiving yards on the season. He has scored on two touchdowns from Beathard.

Last year, Illinois CB #2 V'Angelo
Bentley came up short defending on
Iowa's QB C.J. Beathard's TD pass.

Senior CB V'Angelo Bentley is the Illinois career leader in kick return yardage (1,530). He surpassed Pierre Thomas' record of 1,495 yards against MTSU on Sept. 26. The Hornung Award candidate is the first Illinois player in school history to record kick, punt, interception and fumble returns for TD in his career.

Senior WLB Mason Monheim has 331 career tackles, the second-most among active FBS players. The Butkus and Lombardi Award candidate has forced seven career fumbles, tied for fourth most in Illinois history and the fourth-most among active FBS players. Monheim had a career high 15 tackles against the Hawkeyes in 2014.

Last year, eight different Hawkeye players combined for seven tackles-for-loss against Illinois. 

Iowa junior CB Desmond King
against Illinois in 2014.

Iowa and Illinois tie for the conference lead with seven interceptions in 2015. Iowa CB Desmond King leads the Big Ten with five interceptions. Illinois DB Taylor Barton ties for second in the league with three interceptions.

Junior CB Desmond King was named Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Iowa's 10-6 win at Wisconsin. The Big Ten honor is the second for King. He was also recognized on Oct. 21, 2013, after recording 12 in a 34-24 loss at #3 Ohio State.

Illinois junior  SS #3 Taylor Barton
working to break up a reception by
Iowa senior TE #87 Jake Duzey.

Illinois junior SS Taylor Barton has three interceptions this season, tied for 10th-most in the nation through the first five weeks of the season. It's the most for an Illini in a season since Terry Hawthorne in 2011 and equal the total for the entire team in all of 2013. 

Iowa is one victory from becoming bowl eligible for the 14th time in 15 years under Ferentz. The Fighting Illini need two more wins to reach bowl eligibility and their first back to back bowls, since the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Iowa senior RB #33 Jordan Canzeri is tied for the lead in rushing TDs in the
Big Ten and is #6 in rushing. Illinois senior CB #27 Eaton Spence had a
career high three pass breakups against Iowa, last year.

First Friday of the 2015 College Football Season

Friday, September 4th

Two Big Ten programs have opened the 2015 College Football season. Tonight, two more will open up, the new season ...

Senior QB 18 Connor Cook leads Spartans to first ever trip @
Western Michigan to open the 2015 season for #6 Michigan State.

• #6 Michigan State at Western Michigan 6:00 pm on ESPNU

• Coach Mark Dantonio is 7-1 in season-opening games with MSU

• Michigan State leads the all-time series 11-2, including an 8-0 mark in games played in Spartan Stadium

• Michigan State return seven starters each on offense and defense for 2015 season

• Third year coach P.J. Fleck (8-5 in '14) returns nine starters on offense and seven starters on defense for the 2015 season. Last game was opener in 2013, where Spartans won 26-13 in East Lansing

Illinois senior RB 6 Josh Ferguson provides offense as a runner and
receiver. 

• Kent State at Illinois 8:00 pm on BTN as the Bill Cubit era begins in short order for the Fighting Illini in 2015 ...

• Kicking Off: The Fighting Illini open their 126th year with Kent State coming to Memorial Stadium

• The Fighting Illini had one week to regroup, under new head coach Bill Cubit, after University administration pulls the blug on Tim Beckman

• Eight offensive starters and 7 defensive starters back for the Fighting Illini

• First meeting between teams, as MAC Kent State is coming off 2-9 season under coach Paul Haynes

• Charlotte at Georgia State 2:30 pm on ESPNU - only 3rd season for Charlotte, as they face full FBS schedule for first time in 2015; Georgia State was 1-11 in '14 lead by senior QB ...
• #4 Baylor at SMU 6:00 pm on ESPN - this isn't the Southwest Conference anymore; the Bears have won 11 straight in this series, since '86
• Fordham at Army 6:00 pm on CBSSN - the Black Knights were only 4-8 in '14, but hold a 4-0 record in this FBS vs. FCS match up
• Weber State at Oregon State 7:00 pm on PAC-12 Network - Gary Anderson left Wisconsin to return back to Pacific Northwest to coach the Beavers; first meeting in this FBS vs. FCS game
•  Washington at #18 Boise State 9:15 pm ESPN - Washington coach Chris Peterson returns to his former program, as the Huskies kick off his second season, against coach Bryan Harsin and the Broncos ...
• Rhode Island at Syracuse 6:00 pm on espn3 - The Orange open the third season under Scott Shafer, coming off a 3-9 season; The Rams are 0-2 against the Orange, losing 21-14 in '11 ...

The University of Iowa named Bruce Harreld the
21st president ahead of the 2015 football season.