The buzz around Illinois is real, justified, and it kicks off with what should be a tune-up clash before a far more testing trip to Duke.
On paper, Bret Bielema’s squad has the firepower to make a genuine run at the College Football Playoff, but the road ahead in the Big Ten is anything but forgiving, with looming battles at Indiana, USC, Ohio State, and Washington. That makes this matchup the perfect stage to iron out rotations and build momentum.
Western Illinois is coming off a rough 4-8 campaign, but their offense has some life. The pressure, however, is entirely on the Illini to set the tone. The Leathernecks can approach this one with nothing to lose, though their defensive struggles from last season still loom large.
For Illinois, the backfield has a few new faces, and while the secondary is stacked with playmakers, the defensive line needs its transfer additions to click right away. The raw talent is there, but how quickly it gels could determine how dominant this defense can be. Western Illinois will likely try to slow the game down, control the clock, and lean on the run early, but that’s easier said than done against Illinois’ loaded front.
Here, GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch Illinois vs Western Illinois NCAAF game, plus plenty more.
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Illinois vs Western Illinois: Date and kick-off time
Illinois Fighting Illini will take on the Western Illinois Leathernecks in a highly anticipated NCAAF game on Friday, August 29, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET or 4:30 pm PT, at Camp Randall Stadium in Champaign, IL.
| Date | Friday, August 29, 2025 |
| kick-off Time | 7:30 pm ET or 4:30 pm PT |
| Venue | Memorial Stadium |
| Location | Champaign, IL |
How to watch Wisconsin vs Miami (OH) on TV & stream live online
- TV channel: N/A
- Streaming service: Peacock
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Illinois vs Western Illinois team news & key players
Illinois Fighting Illini team news
For the first time in more than a decade, Illinois enters the fall with a number beside its name. Slotted at No. 12 in the AP Poll, the Fighting Illini boast their loftiest preseason ranking since 1990, when they opened the year at No. 11.
The buzz follows a landmark 2024 campaign, one that saw Illinois tie the school record with 10 victories and cap the year by knocking off South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl — their first postseason triumph since 2011.
Much of that success stems from continuity. Illinois returns 16 starters, the most of any team in the Big Ten.
Among them is senior quarterback Luke Altmyer, who started all 13 contests a year ago and delivered a career-best 22 touchdown passes. The Starkville, Mississippi native enters 2025 carrying not just confidence, but also the weight of hefty expectations.
Western Illinois Leathernecks team news
On the other side, Western Illinois is still carving its way back into relevance. Now in year two under head coach Joe Davis, the Leathernecks are coming off a 4-8 campaign — their best showing since 2018, when they finished 5-6.
Davis has already pulled the program out of the darkest stretch in its history: before his arrival, Western Illinois slogged through an 0-22 run and managed only four wins across five years.