By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
May 31, 2023
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The FOX Big Noon Kickoff show and national television audience is coming to Champaign for the first time.
Illinois athletics, along with the Big Ten Conference’s media partners, confirmed Wednesday morning that the Illini’s home game on Saturday, Sept. 16 will be an 11 a.m. kickoff on the national network with FOX pregame show being on site on the Champaign-Urbana campus for the first time since the program’s debut in 2019.
The show previews the day's top games in college football, plus detailed analysis on the Big Noon Saturday matchup between Illinois and Penn State with Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Urban Meyer, Brady Quinn, and Rob Stone on site.
Penn State, which won the Rose Bowl last season and finished with a No. 7 ranking in the final Associated Press, USA Today Coaches polls and 11th in the final College Football Playoff rankings, will be a favorite in the Big Ten Conference once again and will likely be 2-0 (with their first two games being home games against West Virginia) heading to Memorial Stadium in the third week of the 2023 season.
Illinois will have a home night game in the season opener against Toledo on Sept. 2 (6:30 p.m. CST on Big Ten Network) and a road game at Kansas the following weekend before heading into the national television spotlight in Week 3.
Illinois, which returns 12 starters on offense and defense, including Preseason All-America defensive linemen Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph Jr., 2022 Freshman All-America OLB Gabe Jacas, and three offensive linemen from the program's first ever Joe Moore Award semifinalist group (Isaiah Adams, Zy Crisler, Julian Pearl, is 2-2 all-time on ABC and FOX since Bret Bielema took over the program before the 2021 season.
Illinois will be returning to FOX for the first time since Bielema’s debut as head coach on Aug. 28, 2021 when the Illini defeated Nebraska 30-22.
Illinois also confirmed that the debut of new Nebraska new head coach Matt Rhule in Champaign will be on a Friday night as the Illini will host the Cornhuskers on Friday, Oct. 6 for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on FS1.
The Illini have a three-game winning streak over Nebraska including Bielema being 2-0 against Scott Frost’s Cornhuskers program.
The Homecoming game against Wisconsin on Oct. 21 will be at either the 11 a.m. or 2:30/3 p.m. CT time slot depending on the television carrier.
Whitman's Illini State of the Nation & the NBA Draft - 6.27.25 - S4Ep46
ListenZach Hamer Illini Asst BB Coach Talks KJ, Will & the NBA Draft - #486
ListenIllini FB Recruiting Update, If Illini FB was a Movie & NIL & NBA Draft "What If" #485
ListenIllini BB International Players & Cearah Parchment the newest IlliniGal - 6.20.25 - S4Ep45
ListenIllini FB Recruiting Blitz & House Settlement Implications - 6.13.25 - S4Ep44
ListenIllini Update Featuring 3-Star Illini WR Commit Kenyon Alston - #484
ListenIllini Hoops & Football Schedules, Illini HOF Voting & More - 6.6.25 - S4Ep43
ListenFB Portal Thoughts, Expectations, BB Update & for the 1st Time in My Life...#483
ListenMay 30 - Hr2 - S4Ep42 - Illini Recruiting, NBA Draft, Caitlin Clark & More
ListenMay 30 - Hr1 - S4Ep42 - FB & BB Contracts, FB & Golf Update & Brian Barnhart
ListenMay 23 - Hr2 - S4Ep41 - French Open, Indiana Pro Hoops & Softball
ListenMay 23 - Hr1 - S4Ep41 - Illini FB Recruiting, Golf and Track
ListenHigh School Recruiting Takes the Spotlight - #482
ListenMay 16 - Hr2 - S4Ep40 - Chicago Sky, ACC Issues & Northwestern Stadium
ListenMay 16 - Hr1 - S4Ep40 - Coaching Contracts, NBA Draft, Football & Golf Updates
Listen