now the news channel 20 Sports desk sponsored by Route 66 solar feels like it's been months but it's finally back the Illinois football season kicks off in just a few hours they're going to be taking on the Eastern Illinois Panthers of the Ohio Valley Conference and gra Grove is starting to get packed with Tailgators all I'm going to say is drink whatever beverage you want beverage of choice but make sure to drink some water it is hot here at Memorial Stadium it says it's only 86° I'm wearing jeans I feel like it's 110° so just make sure that you're stay hydrated throughout the game but it definitely does smell good down here you're spelling the hot dogs you see the young kids you see the old alumni hanging out here trying to come back for a fun Illinois football season obviously last year did not go according to plan for the Illinois fighting Eli uh they finished five and seven after coming into the season with some serious division title ups but the defense took a big step back the offense didn't click as much but Illinois made improvements you know they added um wide receiver Jakari Franklin from Old Miss he has over 300 catches throughout his college career added one of the best offens linemen in the transfer portal with JC Davis and Luke gme is back for another year in Urbana champagne he was actually benched last year but he's used that as motivation to learn the offense better to get uh better at play calling and strength so they are excited about this offense but they can't Overlook the Panthers Eastern Illinois last year went eight and three it was their best season since Jimmy garoo was over uh over in Charleston winning games down there and they bring back 18 starters um but currently with this game Vegas does believe that Illinois should probably win this one pretty big they are listed as 28 and a half Point favorites to give you some context of how big of a spread that is Illinois could win 34 to7 and you would lose the bet so to all my Out ofate friends that are streaming this I I I just wouldn't bet on this game you know it should be it should be a good game you know I have many vices but gambling's not one of them so uh that is the one thing I would encourage but hey we're excited eight o'clock kickoff at the Big 10 on the Big 10 Network and we're gonna be back on our sister station Fox we're gonna be back later on ABC News Channel 20 for the start of an exciting Illinois football season I'm Carson Gordy that's a wrap now the news channel 20 Sports desk sponsored by Route 66 solar University of Illinois and Eastern Illinois kicking off the 2024 college football season tonight in Champagne our Carson Gordy is over there with the latest as the Ali had a big halftime lead everybody's leaving all the fans are leaving but it's not for a bad reason it's because Illinois is up by 38 points it seems like all the kids they're going to be heading off to Red Line they're going to be heading off to cams this has honestly just been a very very very strong performance by the Illinois fighting line I they came in as only 28 point favorites but hey they're up 38 nothing to this point Luke almers look a lot more confident since regaining that starting quarterback roll back so far he's 18 to 22 with 210 yards and four touchdowns this offense they hyped it up they said it was going to be explosive and so far it's looked pretty good so far with the one two punch of Malik Elie and Pat Bryant just overall of the game I thought the students did a great job showing up to to Memorial Stadium they're and it was a hot one you know my mom went up to me she's like are you going to wear a suit before the game Mom I'm sorry it's it's 90° so I was going to wear the nice Polo but so far good atmosphere for Illinois in Eastern Illinois they came in 8 and3 last year they still have a lot to look forward to to continue this season I'm Carson Gordy we're going to send it over to Sammy S thanks Carson now Williamsville volleyball also in action tonight and they reached a program milestone in their first win of the season the bullet volleyball program's 900th win a sense of accomplishment felt for the current team and for all the past coaches like Stacy Carlson and the player it's it's a great feeling because I think it's just a testament to all the coaches and players that came before our current group I was able to learn from her and Pam Allen was here a long time before her who also had a huge chunk of those wins I'm just very lucky to consider them both mentors and Friends feels really special I was like we definitely had our up and downs with the volleyball programs but to finally just claim that 900 and keep going it's definitely a big deal and this team coming off an undefeated conference run in 2023 the bullets remain hungry in 2024 as they returned to unanimous All Conference selections our goal is definitely to win as many games as we can to start off but also win conference again and hopefully make it as far as we can so we've said from the beginning we're all in and we're hungry this year we wanton a Regional Title we want a conference we want all the things and so we're in the gym three hours a day right now and we're just really putting in all hard work to get there now Williamsville picking up a win in their match against St Teresa today in straight sets The 91st win now we will keep you updated on that game in champagne and have more on the Williamsville volleyball team up on our website but for now that does for sports I'm simy C now the news channel 20 Sports desk sponsored by Route 66 solar Nick Illinois eiu they played last night kicking off Illinois College football season yeah ufi they Cruis to a victory it really was a dominant first half and and then they just kind of swpt him under the rug in the in the second half yeah got a couple uh more touchdowns there in the second half dominant defense Mark Luke Alm you're getting a look at him there he was great last night 213 yards four touchdowns 45 to nothing was the final score after being up 31 nothing in halftime interesting stat here the win also made it Brett beum was 4-0 now in season openers with the Ali yeah and it last year was close mark it was real close to that not being the case so I'm glad this year looks a lot different uh getting that win over eiu uh they were a little overmatched no doubt about it but uh hopefully the Illinois could take this momentum all right let's take a look at some of the stats here because Illinois really dominated the Run game mainly Kaden Fagan uh Fagan 108 yards a touchdown he's fantastic he's going to be a weapon for the Ali all season long 244 yards on the ground obviously outdoing their uh passing numbers as well yards per Play Look At That 6.8 to 3.6 eiu listen for them it's a chance to play an instate rival it's a chance to you know be seen on the Big 10 Network on the national stage and then you know you you certainly your season's not over you know you got crushed goodness no hey it's a jump up in competition for them absolutely and you see how balanced that attack is for Illinois as well I like that uh good stuff it's tough to run on an opponent that's so much more dominant at the line of scrimmage absolutely makes sense also shout out to the uvi defense last night four turnovers two interceptions two fumbles uh great start to the season uh as Illinois and hot start but you know a lot of big 10 a lot of big 10 opponents coming up and of course more college football action this weekend tomorrow we got Notre Dame taking on Texas A&M it's at 6:30 that game will be right here on news channel 20 thanks for watching Stick Around by subscribing today and don't miss a single video