Photos from the Illinois-Western Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign.

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Illinois wide receiver Justin Bowick (0) celebrates after a touchdown reception against Western Illinois in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Western Illinois defensive back Buju Aumua-Tuisavura (14) loses his helmet while tackling Illinois wide receiver Hank Beatty (80) in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois running back Ca’Lil Valentine (5) escapes the defense of Western Illinois defensive back James Mankaka (29) in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) celebrates after a tackle against Western Illinois in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois defensive linemen Tomiwa Durojaiye (36) and Illinois Curt Neal (99) stop Western Illinois running back Markell Holman (6) in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) looks to throw in the second quarter against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois wide receiver Malik Elzy (8) gestures after making a first down reception against Western Illinois in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois wide receiver Hank Beatty (80) is tackled after a reception in the second quarter against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois defenders stretch to aim for the ball as Western Illinois quarterback Chris Irvin (5) throws in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois running back Aidan Laughery (21) rushes for a touchdown in the second quarter against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer scrambles in the second quarter against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois wide receiver Justin Bowick (0) celebrates after a touchdown reception in the first quarter against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois running back Kaden Feagin (3) is tackled near the end zone in the first quarter against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois running back Kaden Feagin (3) runs toward the end zone against Western Illinois defenders in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) strips the ball from Western Illinois quarterback Chris Irvin (5) in the first quarter at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois tight end Tanner Arkin (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema watches as trainers tend to Illinois offensive lineman Melvin Priestly (58) in the first quarter against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Dee Brown, a member of the 2004-05 Illinois men’s basketball team, cheers while being recognized with teammates during a timeout in the first quarter of an Illinois-Western Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Players and coaches from the 2004-05 Illinois men’s basketball team, with their children, are recognized during a timeout in the first quarter of an Illinois-Western Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) enters the field for a game against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois players enter the field for a game against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois student fans dance together before a game against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois student fans dance together before a game against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) warms up for a game against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois players warm up for a game against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois players warm up for a game against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois players warm up for a game against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois players warm up for a game against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Students tailgate before an Illinois-Western Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Students tailgate before an Illinois-Western Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
An Illinois marching band majorette performs during the team walk-in to Memorial Stadium before a game against Western Illinois on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois players head to thei locker room before a game against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois players arrive for the walk-in to Memorial Stadium before a game against Western Illinois on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois players arrive for the walk-in to Memorial Stadium before a game against Western Illinois on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema leads the team on the walk-in to Memorial Stadium before a game against Western Illinois on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois marching band members wait to perform at the team walk-in to Memorial Stadium before a game against Western Illinois on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois marching band sousaphonists pick up their instruments to perform at the team walk-in to Memorial Stadium before a game against Western Illinois on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
An Illinois marching band member waits to perform at the team walk-in to Memorial Stadium before a game against Western Illinois on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois marching band sousaphonists wait to perform at the team walk-in to Memorial Stadium before a game against Western Illinois on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Illinois cheerleaders stretch before the team walk-in to Memorial Stadium before a game against Western Illinois on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Fred Erickson hoists a Fighting Illini flag at his tailgating area before an Illinois-Western Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
A group of students pose for pictures while tailgating before an Illinois-Western Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Former Chicago Bears center Olin Kreutz sets up tailgating equipment with his family before an Illinois-Western Illinois game at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 29, 2025, in Champaign. His sons, Josh and James, play for Illinois. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

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