Illinois opens Big Ten play at Indiana on Friday night after its convincing 38-6 win Saturday against Wyoming. The Hoosiers, playing their season opener, have won the last three in the series. The teams haven’t met since 2013. The Hoosiers enter the season on an eight-game losing streak. Indiana coach Tom Allen hasn’t announced whether Jack Tuttle or Missouri transfer Connor Bazelak will start at quarterback. Allen has resumed calling the defensive signals. He was Indiana’s defensive coordinator for a year before getting the head coaching job in 2017.
Line: Indiana by 2 ½, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
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Series record: Illinois leads 44-24-3.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema wanted a nonconference game before opening Big Ten play. Athletic department officials obliged, and the Illini beat Wyoming convincingly. Bielema hopes the expected improvement between the first two games comes to fruition. Indiana, meanwhile, opens against a conference opponent for the fourth time in six years. The last time the Hoosiers won their opener, in the 2020 pandemic season, they went 6-2. This time they’re trying to snap a nine-game losing streak in Big Ten play.
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Indiana’s quarterback versus Illinois’ secondary. Hoosiers coach Tom Allen hasn’t announced his starting QB. Either way, the challenge will be facing what appears to be an improved Illinois defense. A year ago, the Illini allowed 215.2 passing yards per game. But they yielded only 30 yards Saturday for their lowest single-game total since 2012. The Cowboys also converted just one of 12 third downs.
Illinois: Running back Chase Brown. After topping the 1,000-yard mark last season, Brown opened 2022 with a bang. His 151 yards rushing rank fourth in the nation and his three touchdowns — two rushing, one receiving — are tied for the national lead. Friday’s game should give everyone a better glimpse of what Brown could do for the Illini.
Indiana: Cornerback Tiawan Mullen. While most fans have been fixated on the quarterback battle, the return of a healthy, All-America-caliber cover corner could give the Hoosiers defense a huge lift. An injury in practice limited Mullen to only four starts and seven appearances last season. It showed. The Indiana defense struggled mightily without him.
Illinois and Indiana are squaring off for just the second time since 2013. … The Illini have held five of their last six opponents to 20 points or fewer. … Indiana lost its final eight games in 2021 but has won three straight in the series. … Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito will make his conference debut just six days after going 27 of 37 with 194 yards and two touchdowns in his first game since transferring from Syracuse. … Allen, who was initially hired by Indiana to be the defensive coordinator, has resumed calling the defensive signals. … Illini receiver Jonah Morris attended Indiana in 2016 and 2017.
