Southern Illinois @ Illinois preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2010 ) Southern Illinois 3, Illinois 35

Illinois is hoping Year 2 of the Tim Beckman era proves to be in sharp contrast to the initial one which saw just two Illini wins - neither against Big Ten competition - in 12 games. If history serves, opening 2013 against Southern Illinois at renovated Memorial Stadium on Saturday should serve as a good starting point. The Illini are 3-0 all-time against the Salukis, 12-0 against FCS competition, 13-0 against other in-state public universities and riding a 15-year win streak in home openers.

Senior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase brings familiarity - if not stability - to the Illinois equation, having started 36 games in his college career – a statistic that places him third among active FBS signal-callers behind Georgia’s Aaron Murray (41) and Nebraska’s Taylor Martinez (39). He leads a contingent of eight returning offensive starters for the Illini, which should aid new coordinator Bill Cubit in his quest to spark an attack that averaged only 16.7 points per game - second-last among the 120 FBS teams - in 2012.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Illinois -17.5

ABOUT ILLINOIS (2012: 2-10, 0-8 Big Ten): Fellow Big Ten member Penn State carries the moniker Linebacker U, but Illinois could lay claim to that as well. Beginning with Hall of Famer Dick Butkus, the Illini have run out a litany of outstanding linebackers, including the likes of Kevin Hardy, Simeon Rice and current starters John Brown, a 2012 Butkus Award semifinalist, and Mason Monheim, a sophomore who became the first freshman to lead Illinois in tackles last season when he registered 86. But they will need help as the Illini surrendered 32.1 points per game in 2012.

ABOUT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (2012: 6-5, 5-3 Missouri Valley Conference): The Salukis are facing FBS competition in the first month of the season for the 10th straight year, posting a 2-7 record while beating Indiana in 2006 and Northern Illinois in 2007. Senior quarterback Kory Faulkner may not have Scheelhaase's experience, but is making his 19th straight start and has a preseason second-team FCS All-American in TE MyCole Pruitt as a receiving option. Senior linebacker Bryan Presume (78 tackles in 2012) leads an opportunistic Southern Illinois defense.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Southern Illinois is celebrating a century of football. Its grid program commenced in 1913, but did not compete in 1918, 1920 and 1943 because of World Wars.

2. After three seasons and 15 starts at safety, Steve Hull returns to his original position of wide receiver for the Illini.

3. Former Illinois first-team All-American LB J Lehman will provide color commentary as part of the Big Ten Network broadcast.

PREDICTION: Illinois 28, Southern Illinois 10