UNDATED (AP) — Illinois opens the season at home Thursday night against Eastern Illinois. Illinois needs a decisive victory to get some momentum ahead of Big Ten play. Bret Bielema is 18-19 in three seasons in Champaign, with a promising 8-5 finish bookended by two 5-7 seasons. Eastern Illinois was 8-3 a year ago and ranked No. 24 in the final FCS poll. The Panthers have an opportunity to pull off a major upset against a foe just 56 miles from their campus. Listen on WJBD starting at 7pm with the pregame.
