>>After Long Offseason, Illini Ready For Season Opener

Illinois is about to open its football season and, after months of turmoil, the team says it couldn't be more ready to go play.

That turmoil led to the firing of coach Tim Beckman last week over his alleged interference in player medical decisions. He's denied wrongdoing.

Offensive coordinator Bill Cubit becomes interim coach as Illinois gets ready to face Kent State on Friday.

Cubit doesn't expect much to change. Illinois' offense will still be his and it will still revolve around quarterback Wes Lunt.

Offensive lineman Teddy Karras believes the adversity could give the team a boost.

Kent State coach Paul Haynes agrees. He says teams facing trouble tend to unite.

>>ISU Looks To Get Season Off Right at Iowa

Coming off its most successful season in program history in 2014, the Illinois State football team kicks off the 2015 season in one of the toughest environments in college football at Kinnick Stadium against the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Illinois State: Brock Spack (Purdue, 1983) is in his seventh season as the head coach at Illinois State (46-26). Spack led the Redbirds to their first Missouri Valley Football Conference title in 15 years in 2014, and set the school record for wins with 13 while being named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award.

The Hawkeyes have earned bowl eligibility in 13 of the last 14 seasons.

Junior quarterback C.J. Beathard, the nephew of Illinois State offensive coordinator Kurt Beathard, is making his second career start in the 2015 season opener. Beathard made his first career start at Purdue on Sept. 27, 2014, and led the Hawkeyes to a 24-10 win.

The Redbirds are ranked second in the country heading into the season and returning to key players from last year's championship game run in runningback Marshaun Coprich and quarterback Tre Roberson.

Game time from Iowa City Saturday is 11 am and can be seen on th Big Ten Network.