Week 4 Primer No. 19 Indiana Hoosiers vs. No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini

Fans of both teams have been pointing to this game since the end of the 2024 season. Both sides knew they would likely have strong teams and both sides knew there was a really good chance this would be a game with College Football Playoff implications.

A mascot in a bison costume riding a small motorcycle on a football field, surrounded by cheerleaders and a marching band in red uniforms. — Hoosier the Bison before the Indiana versus Indiana State football game at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.

What: #19 Indiana Hoosiers (3-0) vs. #9 Illinois Fighting Illini

When: Saturday, September 20 at 7:30 on NBC

Where: Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, IN

How to Watch: The game will be broadcast on NBC and can be heard on the IU Radio Network.

Spread and Total: Indiana -6.5/Total of 52.5 (as of 9/18/2025)

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Series History: Illinois and Indiana have met on the gridiron 73 previous times with Illinois leading the series 46 to 25 with two ties. Those meetings have been far less frequent since the expansion of the conference and the two have met only twice since 2017. This will be the second meeting in series history where both teams enter the game ranked with the first time occurring in 1950. It is not hyperbole to say this is the biggest game between IU and Illinois in series history.

What’s at Stake: Fans of both teams have been pointing to this game since the end of the 2024 season. Both sides knew they would likely have strong teams and both sides knew there was a really good chance this would be a game with College Football Playoff implications. The hype has come to fruition and Illinois comes to Bloomington as a top ten team with IU ranked in the top 20. Opportunities like this don’t come around often for IU football and the atmosphere in Memorial Stadium should be electric with a national audience viewing it on NBC.

The view from the Illinois side: Armchair Illini Preview

A Few Things to Look For

Pressuring Luke Altmyer

The Illinois Fighting Illini have a fantastic quarterback with a lot of experience. Luke Altmyer is in his third season in Champaign after beginning his career at Ole Miss. The veteran is completing 71.8 percent of his passes for 709 yards with eight touchdowns and no interceptions. IU’s secondary has shown some vulnerability, particularly on passes in the middle third of the field. If Altmyer is able to get comfortable in the pocket, he has the ability to put up big numbers on Saturday night.

That means the Hoosiers need to dial up the pressure and make Altmyer uncomfortable in the pocket. The Illini have a veteran offensive line but that has been the weakest part of Illinois’ offense thus far. They have surrendered three sacks per game, tied for 105^th in the nation. It’s a small sample size but worth noting and something IU will hope to take advantage of.

2. Turnover Battle

Turnovers always matter but in a huge game that could be decided by the smallest of margins, they often become decisive. Illinois has yet to turn the ball over this season and they are second in the nation with a +6 turnover margin (trailing only East Carolina). In fact, over the past two seasons, when Illinois has one or fewer turnovers in a game the Illini are 10-0. Taking care of the ball will be critical for both sides and if either team is able to grab a couple of takeaways, it could swing the outcome.

3. Running Game Showdown

The Indiana Hoosiers have ramped up the passing game in the past two weeks but the running game has been excellent all season. IU is averaging an impressive 6.94 yards per carry and they have run for more than 300 yards in all three contests. Obviously, the quality of the run defense is going to take a big step up this Saturday night as they square off with a really good Illinois defensive line. The Illini are allowing only 2.64 yards per rush and they not given up a rushing touchdown yet this season. That may bring back memories to the setup to the Nebraska game last season before Indiana ran all over the Cornhuskers but Illinois is very likely ready to put up more resistance than Nebraska was able to that day.

The team that can impose its will at the line of scrimmage is going to win this game and Indiana will be looking to show they are ready to compete on the offensive line against the league’s upper echelon teams. IU’s running game did suffer a setback as Lee Beebe was lost for the season with an injury suffered against Indiana State. Will IU lean exclusively on Roman Hemby and Kaelon Black or will the Hoosiers integrate Khobie Martin in and keep the three-back rotation going?