College football preview: Arkansas State at Illinois

Arkansas State at Illinois

When: 2:37 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium

TV: BTN

Radio: WIND 560-AM

Series: Illinois leads 2-0

Coaches: Hugh Freeze (first year at ASU); Ron Zook (28-45, seventh year at Illinois; 51-59 overall).

Arkansas State players to watch: Team ranked No. 31 nationally in passing yardage last year and retains most of the protagonists from that attack. Junior QB Ryan Aplin has been the Red Wolves' starter for the last 16 games and owns these career numbers: 327 of 526 passes for 3,823 yards, 24 TDs and 17 INTs. He also boasts 730 yards and 15 TDs on the ground. Five-foot-9 senior Dwayne Frampton (69 catches, 738 yards, 6 TDs) was ASU's top receiver last year. Four Red Wolves joined Frampton on the official preseason all-Sun Belt squad: C Tom Castilaw, DT Dorvus Woods, WLB Demario Davis and SS Kelcie McCray.

Illini players to watch: Team heads into its 122nd season with sophomore QB Nathan Scheelhaase leading a versatile offense. Scheelhaase ranks third nationally among returning QBs in rushing (868 yards, 5 TDs) and he tossed 13 TD passes versus 1 INT in Illinois' final 7 games last year. Senior RB Jason Ford, who averaged 61.2 rushing yards and 1 TD in Illinois' final 5 games as Mikel Leshoure's backup, becomes the bellcow this year. The Illini defense will spent most of today's game in the nickel package, which will test Ron Zook's assertion that he has one of the best cornerback combos around. Tavon Wilson will handle the nickel while Justin Green and Terry Hawthorne take the corners.

The skinny: After starting each of the last four seasons (and six of the last nine) with losses to Missouri in St. Louis, Illinois has a chance to deliver the program's first 4-0 start since 1951. The Illini open with five straight home games, but they need to get this one before thinking about South Dakota State, Arizona State, Western Michigan and Northwestern. Zook has been telling anyone who'll listen that the Red Wolves are explosive and dangerous. His evidence? Arkansas State lost 36-34 last Oct. 16 at Indiana...and lost 24-21 on Oct. 3, 2009 at Iowa. That Hawkeyes team finished 11-2 and won the Orange Bowl. Look for touchdowns early and often — a theme that figures to carry on throughout the season.

Fast fact: Illinois has won its last 13 home openers. The second game in that streak was a 41-3 win over Arkansas State.