The Starting Five: Five Questions/Topics As Illini Football Preseason Camp Begins

IlliniGuys.com addresses five topics/questions as Illinois begins its first preseason practice Monday night inside Gies Memorial Stadium.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 3, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Following 19 wins over the past two seasons, the Illinois football program will begin its preseason camp with an evening practice under the lights with exactly 30 days to prepare for its season opener against the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Sept. 3 (8 p.m., Big Ten Network).

Illini head coach Bret Bielema will be preparing his sixth team in Champaign-Urbana with . . .

 

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