Pregame Discussion: Illinois vs #24 Minnesota

Illinois (3-4, 0-3) vs #25 Minnesota (6-1, 3-0)

When: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 | 11:00 am CT

Where: Memorial Stadium | Champaign, IL

Television: ESPNU | WatchESPN.com

Announcers: Clay Matvick and Anthony Becht

Radio: Illini Sports Network | Listen | Sirius 113 / XM 195

Opposing SB Nation Blog: The Daily Gopher

Illinois Uniforms:

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Illinois/Minnesota Series Notes (via FightingIllini.com):

Saturday's game between Illinois and Minnesota will be the 67th meeting between the two teams. Minnesota leads the all-time series 35-28-3, but the Illini hold a 16-15-1 margin in Champaign.

The Gophers have won the last three and 10 of the last 13 meetings, with Illinois pulling out victories in 2009 (35-32 in Minneapolis), 2007 (44-17 in Minneapolis) and 2001 (25-14 in Champaign).

Minnesota has controlled the series in Champaign lately, winning the last four meetings in the Land of Lincoln. Illinois' 25-14 win in Champaign in 2001 is its only home win over the Gophers since 1995.

Illinois coach Tim Beckman is 0-1 against Minnesota after losing to the Gophers 17-3 in 2012. Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill is 2-1 against Illinois, 2-0 with the Gophers and 0-1 while at Northern Illinois. Beckman and Kill also squared off twice in the Mid-American Conference when Beckman coached Toledo and Kill led NIU. Kill's Huskies won 65-30 in 2010, but Beckman's Rockets took a 20-19 win in 2009.

Illinois special teams coordinator and running backs coach Tim Salem began his collegiate playing career at Minnesota before transferring to Arizona State and earning a degree as a Sun Devil. Salem quarterbacked the Gophers in 1980-81 and broke the Big Ten record for consecutive completions in 1980. Salem's father, Joe, was the head coach at Minnesota from 1979-84.

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