CHAMPAIGN - Six Illinois State football coaches have either coached or played in the Big Ten Conference.

In the case of ISU head coach Brock Spack, both apply.

Yet when it comes to Redbirds in uniform, only cornerbacks E.J. Jones and Otis Merrill list Big Ten playing time on their resume.

While action in a Big Ten stadium awaits the entire ISU squad today in a 6 p.m. game at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium, Jones hopes to guide his teammates through both the excitement and tension.

"The biggest thing about playing in a game like this is it's all about preparation," said Jones, who was a running back at Minnesota before transferring to ISU in 2008. "There is going to be a lot of people, a lot of hype and a big-time atmosphere. At the same time, if you're prepared, that instills confidence in your team."

"Our practice atmosphere will get us ready for the game," said Merrill, who spent his first two college seasons at Wisconsin. "Our coaches have been there. They know the situations we're going to be in, and they are preparing us well for that."

Jones, Merrill and the ISU secondary will encounter a deep and talented group of Illini receivers that may or may not include Arrelious Benn, who left last week's season opener with a first-quarter ankle injury and is questionable for today.

"This is a big-time opportunity. As a player, you want to be able to compete at the highest level," Jones said. "Playing against Arrelious Benn and the guys they have at Illinois, you can't ask for more. It's a challenge and an opportunity to show what you can do."

Both teams want to show what they can do after disappointing openers, a 37-9 loss to Missouri for Illinois and a 31-6 thrashing by Eastern Illinois for the Redbirds.

"We're trying to get back on track against a team that's going to give us everything they have. It's very important we're ready to play," Illini coach Ron Zook said. "I don't feel like we have to change a lot of things, but we have to tweak a few things. We could be an awfully good football team. But the bottom line is we've got to do it."

While Illinois senior quarterback Juice Williams will make his 36th consecutive start, ISU signal-caller Matt Brown is slated for his first. A redshirt freshman, Brown replaces Drew Kiel, who may miss the rest of the season after surgery this week to repair a torn ligament in his thumb.

"I'm very confident with Matt Brown. He has a lot of innate ability to be a great player," said Spack. "We'll call him in, put a smile on his face and tell him to go out and have fun playing football.

"This team has a ways to go. We have a lot of things we need to improve on. He (Brown) is the least of our worries right now, to be honest with you."

Brown threw eight passes and completed five last week in his collegiate debut.

"I'm excited," he said. "They will be a little faster than the guys we played last week. But I'm looking to make plays and do what I can do."

The teams last met in 2003. Redbird receiver Dwayne Smith set Memorial Stadium records with 14 receptions and 243 receiving yards in a 49-22 Illini victory.

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Illinois State at Illinois

Time: 6 p.m. Memorial Stadium, Champaign

Broadcasts: Big Ten Network; WJBC-AM (1230); WTRX-FM (93.7)

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Gameday breakdown

Illinois State (0-1) at Illinois (0-1), 6 p.m.

Line: No line.

Series record: Illinois leads 2-0-0.

Illinois State season

Sept. 3 Eastern Illinois L, 31-6

Today at Illinois 6 p.m.

Sept. 19 vs. Austin Peay 6:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 vs. S. Dakota State 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 at N. Dakota State 1 p.m.

Oct. 10 vs. Southern Illinois 2 p.m.

Oct. 17 Indiana State 2 p.m.

Oct. 31 at Missouri State 1 p.m.

Nov. 7 vs. Western Illinois 1 p.m.

Nov. 14 at Youngstown State Noon

Nov. 22 Northern Iowa Noon

Illinois season

Sept. 5 Missouri L, 37-9

Today vs. Illinois State 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 at Ohio State TBA

Oct. 3 vs. Penn State TBA

Oct. 10 vs. Michigan State 11 a.m.

Oct. 17 at Indiana 6 p.m.

Oct. 24 at Purdue TBA

Oct. 31 vs. Michigan 2:30 p.m.

Nov. 7 at Minnesota TBA

Nov. 14 Northwestern TBA

Nov. 27 at Cincinnati TBA

Dec. 5 Fresno State 11 a.m.

Previous meetings

2003

Illinois 49-22 - Despite a Memorial Stadium record 14 receptions and 243 receiving yards by Dwayne Smith, Illinois built a 31-3 halftime lead and rolled to victory. Illini quarterback Jon Beutjer completed 16-of-23 passes for 207 yards and four touchdowns and Travis Williams returned a blocked field goal 66 yards for a touchdown right before halftime.

1944

Illinois 79-0 - It was a breakout game freshman running back Buddy Young, who scored two touchdowns, one off an 82-yard punt return and the other on a 22-yard lateral fumble recovery. The Illini racked up 723 yards of total offense in that game, while holding the Redbirds to 52. Illinois led 40-0 at the half and was rumored to have played every player that suited up in an Illini uniform.

What's at stake

Win number one. No one expects new Illinois State head coach Brock Spack and the rebuilding Redbirds to win this one. But if Illinois doesn't win this week, 0-5 is a real possibility. Next up are Ohio State in Columbus and home games against Penn State and Michigan State.

Key matchup

Illinois quarterback Juice Williams vs. Illinois State defensive end Doni Phelps. Williams is the heart of Illinois' offense, leading the team in rushing last season (719 yards) and the Big Ten in passing (3,173, 264.4 per game). But last week, with top receiver Arrelious Benn down with a bum ankle, Missouri held Williams to just 179 yards passing and 27 on the ground. Benn is expected to be back this week. Phelps, a 6-feet-1, 255-pound senior, led the Redbirds with nine tackles and a sack last week.

Players to watch

Illinois State: QB Matt Brown. He'll get his first start after Drew Kiel was knocked out by injury. Brown, a 6-4, 210-pound redshirt freshman, was 5-8 for 26 yards after stepping in during the second half last week.

Illinois: WR Arrelious Benn. The junior was Illinois' leading receiver last season with 1,055 yards (87.9 a game, second in the Big Ten). He left the Missouri game early with an ankle injury and, whether that's the reason or not, the Illini offense never got going.

Getting to know you

Illinois' roster features three players from Central Catholic High School in tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, defensive lineman Josh Brent and walk-on quarterback Adam Rebholz. Hoomanawanui's father, Isy, was a linebacker at ISU in 1983-84.

Rebholz's older brother Nathan, is a reserve long snapper for ISU. Champaign area players on the Redbird roster include defensive back Antonio Adams of Urbana and place-kicker Steven Fetzer of Mahomet.

FYI

Illinois is 10-0 all-time versus the state's other public universities ... The Illini have won their last 11 home openers ... ISU's 20 net yards rushing in last week's loss to Eastern Illinois was its lowest mark since 2001.

- compiled by Randy Reinhardt and Associated Press