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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
After storming the field, Illini fans watch as the Illinois players gather for the school’s alma mater following a 23-17 victory against No. 19 Kansas at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Sept. 7. A sellout crowd of 60,670 fans was on hand for the night game.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. Illinois football fans are already used to night kickoffs this season. Before October arrives, the Illini will have played four of their first five games under the lights. Illinois announced on Monday its Sept. 28 game at Penn State will kick off at either 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.
➜ 2. Many thanks to the Paralympic athletes and coaches with Illinois and Champaign ties — Adam Bleakney, Kaitlyn Eaton, Nichole Millage and Susannah Scaroni — who were our guests on ‘Monday Night SportsTalk,’ at the Esquire. If you’re having a bad day, listen to the podcast at news-gazette.com.
➜ 3. The Parkland volleyball team stayed at No. 3 in the NJCAA D-II national rankings that were released on Monday.
Ty Rodgers and the Illini start practice on Sept. 30.
Numbers game: 48
days until the Illinois men’s basketball team’s season tips off against Eastern Illinois at State Farm Center in Champaign. Yet, here we are less than two months away from the season starting and the full schedule isn’t out yet because the Big Ten hasn’t released its 20-game league slate each team will play. Puzzling. Baffling. Frustrating. Make it make sense.
After beating Illinois 20-7 last season in Champaign, Nebraska’s defense will look to stand tall again this year when the two teams meet Friday night in Lincoln, Neb.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Illinois at Nebraska football. Nebraska is 24th in the country in total defense and has allowed just two touchdowns. Luke Altmyer and the Illini have their work cut out on Friday night.
➜ 2. Heartland at Danville Area Community College volleyball. The host Jaguars, who are off to a 7-7 start in their first season back on the court since 2013, welcome in the sixth-ranked team in NJCAA Division II at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
➜ 3. St. Thomas More at St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball. Last time STM played in SJ-O’s gym, the Sabers won a 2023 Class 2A sectional plaque. This Illini Prairie Conference rivalry match takes center stage on Thursday night.
Prairie Central baseball coach Gaige Rinkenberger.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Prairie Central baseball coach Gaige Rinkenberger:
➜ 1. My favorite sports team is … the Chicago Cubs.
➜ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Bruce Bochy, Tony Vitello and Dane Miller.
➜ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … lack of effort.