After an off weekend, the Fighting Illini return to action this Saturday with a trip to Minnesota to face the Golden Gophers at 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. 

Illinois won last year's meeting with the Gophers, 55-31, in Champaign behind 430 rushing yards, including 213 yards from Reggie Corbin on just 13 carries. 

Despite losses in their last two games, llinois has scored 30-plus points in each of the first four games this season. 

The Illini are averaging 35.5 points per game in year two under offensive coordinator Rod Smith. The Illini averaged 26.0 points per game in Smith's first season in 2018, up from 15.4 ppg in 2017.

Minnesota running backs coach Kenni Burns is a native of Springfield and went to Sacred Heart Griffin.