The Illinois Fighting Illini will take on the Central Michigan Chippewas on Saturday, September 17th, 2022, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. The game will be televised live on Peacock at 11:00 AM CST.
The Illinois Fighting Illini will kick off their 2022 season on Saturday, September 17th, when they host the Central Michigan Chippewas at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. The game will be televised live on Peacock at 11:00 AM CST.
The Illini are coming off a 5-7 record in 2021, but they return a number of key players from that team, including quarterback Tommy DeVito, running back Chase Brown, and wide receiver Isaiah Williams. DeVito threw for 2,311 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, while Brown rushed for 1,005 yards and nine touchdowns. Williams caught 51 passes for 756 yards and six touchdowns.
Illini Kick Off Season vs. Central Michigan on Peacock
The Chippewas are coming off a 9-4 record in 2021, and they return a number of key players from that team, including quarterback Daniel Richardson, running back Lew Nichols III, and wide receiver Kalil Pimpleton. Richardson threw for 2,687 yards and 24 touchdowns last season, while Nichols rushed for 1,343 yards and 16 touchdowns. Pimpleton caught 64 passes for 844 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Illini are favored by 14 points in this game, but the Chippewas are a dangerous team that could pull off an upset. The Illini will need to play well in all three phases of the game in order to come away with a victory.
* **The Illini's offense:** The Illini have a lot of weapons on offense, and they will need to use them all in order to move the ball against the Chippewas' defense. DeVito will need to make good decisions and get the ball to his playmakers in space. Brown and Williams will need to be productive both on the ground and through the air.
* **The Chippewas' defense:** The Chippewas have a strong defense that could cause problems for the Illini's offense. The Illini will need to be patient and take what the Chippewas give them. They will also need to avoid making mistakes that could lead to turnovers.
* **The special teams:** The special teams could play a big role in this game. The Illini have a good punter in Blake Hayes and a reliable placekicker in James McCourt. The Chippewas have a good returner in Pimpleton, so the Illini will need to be careful not to give up any big returns.
The Illini are hoping to start the season with a win and build some momentum heading into Big Ten play. The Chippewas are a tough opponent, but the Illini are confident that they can come away with a victory.
