Tom Arth
Illinois's Mike Epstein (26) runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Akron, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Holly Hart)
Illinois crushes Akron 42-3 in home opener

By Terry Towery Aug. 31, 2019 03:48 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Illinois running back Mike Epstein gets away from Rutgers defensive back Kiy Hester on the way to a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Piscataway, N.J. Epstein is back this year and ready to go, head coach Lovie Smith said. (AP Photo/David Boe, File)
Illinois confident going into home opener vs Zips

By Terry Towery Aug. 30, 2019 03:00 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2018, file photo, Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald directs his team from the sidelines during the second half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Ohio State in Indianapolis. It seems no one is talking about Northwestern even though it won the Big Ten West last year. The chatter surely will start if the Wildcats beat the Cardinal on the road Saturday. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
Northwestern's visit to No. 25 Stanford tops Big Ten openers

By Eric Olson Aug. 29, 2019 02:22 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2016, file photo, Ohio head coach Frank Solich runs out onto the field with his team before the Mid-American Conference championship NCAA college football game against Western Michigan, in Detroit. Solich is expected to become the Mid-American Conference’s all-time winning coach this season. The former Nebraska coach has won 106 games with the Bobcats over 15 years since Nebraska fired him following a nine-win season. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
Ohio's Frank Solich on pace to become MAC's winningest coach

By Larry Lage Aug. 15, 2019 06:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 28, 2017 file photo then-Florida head coach Jim McElwain, center, prepares to take the field with players before the first half of an NCAA college football game in Jacksonville, Fla. Central Michigan’s Jim McElwain is one of four coaches entering their first seasons in the Mid-American Conference. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Ex-Florida coach McElwain gets another shot at Cent Michigan

By Larry Lage Jul. 23, 2019 11:56 AM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 7, 2018, file photo, newly hired Georgia Tech football coach Geoff Collins speaks during a news conference in Atlanta. The 2019 Most Likely to Succeed list ranks the new hires in FBS. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
Analysis: Which new college football coaches might succeed?

By Ralph D. Russo May. 07, 2019 02:34 AM EDT