Illinois released a 2011 football schedule that's very different from its 2010 slate. In 2011, the Illini will play eight home games for the first time in school history, beginning with five straight home games. They will have a well-timed open date on Oct. 29, and won't finish with a December nonconference game. In addition, their traditional conference season-ending meeting with Northwestern has been moved up to Oct. 15.
And while the 2011 nonconference opponents aren't as intriguing as some of Illinois' recent matchups with Missouri and Cincinnati, for example, there are many pluses to the 2011 slate. With all four nonconference games, the Illini will have a chance to prepare for their Big Ten games, a formula that has worked well for many other Big Ten schools. And the eight home games will be welcomed by some fans and boosters who wanted Illinois to follow another pattern that has been well-received around the league. All in all, some very smart moves.



2011 Illinois Football Schedule
Sept. 3 - Arkansas State
Sept. 10 - South Dakota State
Sept. 17 - Arizona State
Sept. 24 - Western Michigan
Oct. 1 - Penn State
Oct. 8 - at Iowa
Oct. 15 - Northwestern
Oct. 22 - at Indiana
Nov. 5 - Michigan State
Nov. 12 - at Michigan
Nov. 19 - at Purdue
Nov. 26 - Wisconsin


2010 Illinois Football Schedule
Sept. 4 - Missouri, at St. Louis
Sept. 11 - Southern Illinois    
Sept. 18 - Northern Illinois
Sept. 25 - Bye
Oct. 2 - Ohio State
Oct. 9 - at Penn State
Oct. 16 - at Michigan State
Oct. 23 - Indiana
Oct. 30 - Purdue
Nov. 6  - at Michigan
Nov. 13 - Minnesota
Nov. 20 - at Northwestern
Nov. 27 - Bye
Dec. 4 - at Fresno State


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