CHAMPAIGN -- One of the benefits for Illinois football of being a highly ranked team (it remained No. 9 in this week's Associated Press Top 25) includes playing more often in prime time.
That translates to extra eyes on the game, both locally and across the country. Never know when a future star running back will decide to tune in "just to see what all the fuss is about."
The Illini's game game at No. 19 Indiana on Saturday kicks off at 6:30 p.m., with NBC handling the broadcast.
It is the third night game for Illinois among the first four. The pattern changes next week, when Illinois hosts Southern California for homecoming at 11 a.m., with the game being carried by Fox.
Before the season, Illinois knew two of the first three games would kick off night: at home against Western Illinois to open the season at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 29 and this past Saturday night's 6 p.m. kickoff at home against Western Michigan. The middle game at Duke on Sept. 6 started at 11 a.m.
Long aware of the schedule for the first quarter of the season, Illinois coach Bret Bielema set his training camp workouts to mirror the timing of the early games.
See, there's a reason the fifth-year coach is zooming up the school's career wins list (he passed John Mackovic on Saturday night with his 31st victory at Illinois and is now tied for sixth with Pete Elliott).
The decision looks even better after Illinois-Indiana was also set last week for a night kick.
Bielema is happy his players have been able to experience football after dark.
"The biggest challenge for guys in playing a night game is catching under the lights," Bielema said during his Monday afternoon press conference inside Gies Memorial Stadium. "Just like 11 (a.m.) would be challenge where the sun is. When you're looking up and catching kicks, that's always been my biggest issue when you're dealing with night games."
Many of the players on the roster that came to Illinois via the transfer portal got used to night football at previous stops.
"Hudson Clement, who played his best game on Saturday, played a lot of night games before coming here," Bielema said of the West Virginia transfer wide receiver while also citing Wisconsin defensive linemen transfers Leon Lowery Jr., Curt Neal and James Thompson Jr. "They played a lot of night games at Wisconsin. So, even though we are getting guys for the first time being with us, they're coming from programs that have played a lot of (night) football."
Long day
When you kick off at 11 a.m. -- as Illinois will against Southern Cal after Monday's announcement of that game time -- there is no time to waste. You get up early, eat breakfast, zip over to the stadium, get dressed and play.
Ask most coaches what time they prefer to play and if they are being honest, the answer will be "morning."
One issue with night games: figuring out what to do with all the free time?
"There's a big buildup there," Illinois fourth-year offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. said. "Yeah, sure, everybody likes to get up and go play. But obviously, going on the road at night creates an element of challenge there. Crowds are always a little bit rowdier at night."
During the 2022 season, Illinois played a Friday night game at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington. The Hoosiers won 23-20, scoring the lead touchdown in the final minute.
"It was very boisterous, very loud," Lunney said. "That's only going to be magnified. We're going to have to be really focused in."
The Illini will have a plan for pregame hours.
"You've got to be at the hotel longer," Lunney said. "More time to to kick around and think about the game."
The preseason workouts at night ease some of the concerns for Illinois. So does the two games Illinois has already played under the lights, both wins by a combined score of 90-3.
"This will be third night game, so I think our guys are pretty used to that routine," Lunney said. "Certainly, Coach is very strategic in the fall camp about getting us ready for early kickoffs and late kickoffs."
Happy to be there
Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry is a fan of night games.
"It gives Illinois a chance to be in the spotlight," Henry said. "It allows us to showcase some things about Illinois football and the brand as a whole."
The Illinois-Indiana game is one of only three on Saturday matching teams ranked in the Top 25. The Hoosiers, who qualified for the College Football Playoff in 2024, are ranked No. 19.
The other two Top 25 battles are No. 17 Texas Tech (3-0) at No. 16 Utah (3-0) and No. 22 Auburn (3-0) at No. 11 Oklahoma (3-0).
Both of those games are earlier in the day -- Texas Tech-Utah kicks at 11 a.m. and Auburn-Oklahoma starts at 2:30 p.m. -- so they won't conflict with Illinois-Indiana time-wise.
The television pickings are slim in the Saturday prime-time window, especially for the schools in the Midwest.
West Virginia (2-1) at Kansas (2-1) is at 5 p.m. on Fox Sports 1 and South Carolina (2-1) at No. 23 Missouri (3-0) kicks off at 6 p.m. on ESPN. Those might peal off a few viewers. But not in big numbers.
So, Illinois-Indiana: the TV window -- and bright lights -- are all yours.