How to Watch Illinois vs. Western Illinois: Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – August 29, 2025

Updated Aug. 29, 2025 7:28 p.m. ET

Data Skrive

The Western Illinois Leathernecks will take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. This matchup will be available on Peacock.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports. Learn more about the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Western Illinois Leathernecks.

How to Watch Illinois vs. Western Illinois

Illinois averaged 364.8 yards per game on offense last season, which ranked it 92nd in the FBS. Defensively, it ranked 68th, surrendering 373.8 yards per contest.
Illinois ranked 86th in pass offense (211.2 passing yards per game) and 79th in pass defense (224.8 passing yards allowed per game) last year.
The Fighting Illini put up 28.3 points per game on offense last season, which ranked them 64th in the FBS. On defense, they ranked 31st, surrendering 21.7 points per contest.
On offense, the Fighting Illini ranked 79th in the FBS last season with 153.6 rushing yards per game. Meanwhile, they ranked 65th in rushing yards allowed per contest (149).
Illinois struggled defensively in terms of third-down efficiency last season, ranking 20th-worst in the FBS (44.7% third-down percentage). However, it ranked 19th-best on offense, averaging a 45.6% third-down percentage.

While Western Illinois ranked eighth-worst in the FCS in total defense with 499.6 yards allowed per game last season, it was a different story offensively, as it ranked 16th-best in the FCS (427.5 yards per game).
While Western Illinois ranked 14th-worst in the FCS in passing defense with 267.9 passing yards allowed per game last season, it was a different story offensively, as it ranked seventh-best in the FCS (304.2 passing yards per game).
The Leathernecks struggled defensively last season, ranking eighth-worst in the FCS (43.4 points allowed per game). However, they ranked 25th-best offensively, averaging 31 points per game.
Despite sporting a bottom-25 run defense that ranked 13th-worst in the FCS (231.7 rushing yards allowed per game) last season, the Leathernecks played better on offense, ranking 97th in the FCS by totaling 123.3 rushing yards per game.
Western Illinois averaged a 23.1% third-down conversion rate on offense last season (72nd in the FCS), and it allowed a 82.4% third-down conversion rate (99th) on the defensive side of the ball.

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.