6 Illinois Football Game Times Set

On the heels of a 2-10 season in 2017, Lovie Smith and the Illinois Football team are looking to rebound in 2018.

Now we know some of the times that they’ll have a chance to bounce back.

Six game times were announced by the Big Ten Conference on Thursday, including two primetime kickoffs and two 11 a.m. starts.

Here is what we know:

• Sept. 1 vs. Kent State (11 a.m. CT, BTN)
• Sept. 8 vs. Western Illinois (6:30 p.m. CT, BTN)
• Sept. 15 vs. South Florida at Soldier Field (2:30 p.m. CT, BTN)
• Friday, Sept. 21 vs. Penn State (8 p.m. CT, FS1)
• Oct. 13 vs. Purdue (Homecoming) (2:30 or 3 p.m. CT)
• Oct. 20 at Wisconsin (11 a.m. CT)

The game versus Western Illinois is on a Saturday night, and it is the third straight year that the Illini host a non-conference night game (North Carolina in 2016, Western Kentucky in 2017).

We’re still waiting on start times for games against Rutgers, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and Northwestern.

Do you like these start times?