>>Illinois Off This Week
The Illinois Fighting Illini will take the week off before they play on a Friday night next week when they host Nebraska.
The Illini are off a 47-23 loss at then 22nd ranked South Florida in Tampa.
The Corn Huskers were upset at home last Saturday by Northern Illinois. They'll host Rutgers this week in Lincoln.
>>ISU Redbirds At Missouri State Saturday
A convincing 2-0 start to the season for Illinois State has led the Redbirds to the beginning of the Missouri Valley Football Conference slate, as ISU travels to Springfield, Missouri, to face the Missouri State Bears in the MVFC opener for both squads.
After allowing zero yards rushing and just 41 yards of total offense in a shutout the season opener against Butler, the Redbird defense followed it up with another strong performance in a dominant 44-13 win over Eastern Illinois in game two. ISU allowed the Panthers to rush for just 14 net yards on the ground and only gave up 117 yards of total offense in the game.
For the second week in a row, the Redbirds used a balanced rushing attack to control the game and run away with a victory. Sophomore starter James Robinson scored the game's first two touchdowns for ISU and ended the day just 11 yards shy of his third-career 100-yard rushing performance. Fellow sophomore Markel Smith also went over the 80-yard mark, thanks a 57-yard touchdown rumble in the second quarter. Redshirt freshman quarterback Malachi Broadnax rounded out the effort with 57 yards on the ground, including a 43-yard dash, and scored from 16 yards late in the fourth quarter for the fourth rushing touchdown of the game for the Redbirds.
Game time Saturday from Springfield, Missouri is 2 pm central time.
>>Eastern Illinois Hosts Southeast Missouri
After a crushing 44-13 loss to in-state rival Illinois State in Charleston last Saturday, the Eastern Illinois Panthers will try to rebound when Southeast Missour comes to town.
The Panthers are 1-2 on the season trying to get back on track while at home before they alternate home and away games the rest of the season.
Game time is 6 pm from Charleston Saturday night and all the action can be heard on The Big 1520 AM/92.3 FM WHOW and at dewittdailynews.com starting at 5 pm.
