LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Ranked matchups don't come to Memorial Stadium often. Saturday night marks just the sixth time in history Indiana hosts a top-20 matchup — and the first since 1987.
This one brings plenty of weight: No. 19 Indiana (3-0) faces No. 9 Illinois (3-0) in both teams' Big Ten opener. The Hoosiers are coming off a 73-0 rout of Indiana State and carry an 11-game home win streak, the longest in program history. The Illini, meanwhile, bring a seven-game winning streak — tied for the nation's longest — and a solid Big Ten roster across all phases.
Add in red-hot quarterback play, two top-15 scoring defenses, and a top national television window, and it's one of the most compelling Indiana home games in decades. Neither team has been seriously tested, so the element of the unknown also ratchets up the interest.
Some things to know about this year's matchup:
The Time
7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 20, Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium (52,626), Bloomington, Indiana
How to Watch / Listen
TV: NBC (Noah Eagle play-by-play; Todd Blackledge analyst; Kathryn Tappen sideline)
Streaming: Peacock (with authentication), NBC Sports app
Radio: Hoosier Sports Network (Don Fischer, Buck Suhr, John Herrick). Satellite radio: SiriusXM 82, SiriusXM 139. Streaming: TuneIn Radio, SiriusXM App
The Line
Spread: Indiana is a 6-point favorite (DraftKings). Over/under: 52.5.
Notes: The Hoosiers have covered five straight (4-1 straight up) against Illinois and have won their last two home games against the Illini outright. Each of their last two meetings has been decided by three points (the last of those in OT). Indiana is 10-2 ATS in its last 12 home games. Illinois is 12-3 ATS in its last 15 road games. The last two seasons, Illinois is 6-2 against the spread as a road underdog.
The Coaches
Indiana: Curt Cignetti (2nd season at IU, 14-2; 15th season overall, 133-37)
Illinois: Bret Bielema (5th season at Illinois, 31-22; 17th overall, 128-80)
Series History
This will be the 75th all-time meeting between the programs. Illinois leads the series, 46-26-2. Indiana has won two of the last three. Illinois won the most recent matchup in 2023 (48-45 in OT)
The Records
Indiana: 3-0, coming off a 73-0 win over Indiana State
Illinois: 3-0, coming off a 38-0 win over Western Michigan
Players to Watch
Indiana: Quarterback Fernando Mendoza: 708 yards, 9 TDs, 0 INTs, 95% completion rate last week. Wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. had 299 yards and 4 TDs in last week's win over Indiana State, and was named the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week. Wide receiver Elijah Sarratt has had 41 straight games with a catch, and has 3 TD catches in 2025. Linebacker Isaiah Jones had 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack vs. Indiana State. Safety Louis Moore has 2 interceptions and 17 tackles on the season.
Illinois: Quarterback Luke Altmyer has thrown for 709 yards, 8 TDs, 0 interceptions. Wide receiver Hank Beatty has 289 receiving yards and leads Power 4 with 466 all-purpose yards. Running back Kaden Feaginhas 222 rushing yards, 3 TDs. Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas has 6.5 sacks (6th nationally) and 2 forced fumbles. Inside linebacker Malachi Hood has 14 tackles and a fumble recovery. Safety Matthew Bailey has 13 tackles a forced fumble and a recovery.
Quick Sideline Storylines
- Historic Stage: First Top 20 game in Bloomington since 1987. First ranked-vs-ranked Indiana-Illinois game since 1950. This the highest September AP ranking for Illinois since Dick Butkus played linebacker for the Illini in 1964.
- Elite Defenses: Both teams rank in the top 7 nationally in scoring defense.
- QB Duel: Both quarterbacks are among the most efficient in the nation, with 0 interceptions combined through six total games.
- Big Play Threats: Illinois' Hank Beatty and Indiana's Omar Cooper Jr. are both among the top 20 in receiving yards nationally. Indiana's run defense could be a bit susceptible to giving up a big one, but Illinois run game hasn't been among the best at producing those kinds of runs.
- Turnover Battle: Illinois is +6 (2nd nationally); Indiana is +4 (18th). Neither team has thrown a pick all season.
- Coaching Connection: Illinois is the only Power-4 team returning its head coach, coordinators, and starting QB for a third straight year. Indiana is also in Year 2 under Cignetti and returns both coordinators.
- Injuries: Indiana lost starting running back Lee Beebe Jr. to a knee injury last game, but the room should be deep enough to remain effective for the Hoosiers. Illinois expects to get a couple of key pieces back this week. Running back Aidan Laughery is expected to return, as is defensive captain Dylan Rosiek.
The Quote
"It's a nationally televised game. NBC. It's going to be a great environment. I know our players will be excited."
- Curt Cignetti
The Pick
Indiana 31, Illinois 24
I've turned this one around a bunch of times. I like that Illinois has been in at least a decent road test in its win at Duke, but a closer look at that game showed it to be a bit less impressive than the score indicated. Duke shot itself in the foot with penalties and turned the ball over five times. Indiana appears to be the more explosive offensive team and Mendoza, with time to work, should be able to be productive. Six seems like too many points to give in this one. But Sagarin has the margin at 8.6, and I have a feeling with a sellout crowd, a big setting and Indiana's run at home under Cignetti, I think the Hoosiers get the win and the cover.
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