Minnesota Football: Gophers set for 2:30 p.m. kickoff against Illinois

The Minnesota Golden Gophers have a date with Maryland on Friday night, but their Week 3 road trip to Champaign to face the Illinois Fighting Illini will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7.

The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

The Fighting Illini lost their season opener to Wisconsin, 45-7. Head coach Lovie Smith’s squad will look to rebound this weekend on Halloween at home against Purdue. The Boilermakers are coming off a 24-20 comeback victory over Iowa, and were without head coach Jeff Brohm, star wide receiver Rondale Moore, and starting running back King Doerue.

Minnesota defeated Illinois, 40-17, when the two teams met last season.