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FACTS & STATS: Site: Memorial Stadium (62,870) -- Champaign, Illinois. Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: Arkansas State 0-0, Illinois 0-0. Away Record: Arkansas State 0-0, Illinois 0-0. Neutral Record: Arkansas State 0-0, Illinois 0-0. Conference Record: Arkansas State 0-0, Illinois 0-0. Series Record: Illinois leads, 2-0.

GAME NOTES: Arkansas State will swing up north to begin its 2011 campaign, when it takes on Illinois this weekend in a Sun Belt/Big Ten matchup.

Arkansas State hasn't had a .500 record since 2008, and hasn't made a bowl appearance since its first-ever berth in 2005. The Red Wolves are counting on a change in leadership to bring the program to new heights, as it turns to Hugh Freeze at head coach. Freeze was the team's offensive coordinator in 2010, where the Red Hawks scored 30 points per game, their best output since 1986.

Illinois was a red-hot program following its 2007 appearance in the Rose Bowl, but Ron Zook struggled in 2008 and 2009, losing a combined 16 games before returning the Fighting Illini to a 7-6 record in 2010. Illinois defeated Baylor 38-14 in the Texas Bowl, which was the school's first bowl win since 1999.

Illinois leads the series 2-0, with wins over Arkansas State in 1999 and 2002 by a combined 90 points.

The Red Wolves' offense is coming off a productive year under Freeze, and junior quarterback Ryan Aplin's numbers should only continue to get better in 2011, after posting 2,939 yards and 21 touchdowns a year ago, not to mention 477 yards on the ground. That earned him First-Team All-Sun Belt honors.

His most reliable target is 5-9, 180-pound Dwayne Frampton, who caught 69 balls for 738 yards and six touchdowns a year ago. The feature back will be senior Derek Lawson once again. Lawson gained 500 yards (4.8 ypc) and scored four touchdowns for the Red Wolves in 2010.

The ASU defense returns eight starters, and one things is apparent: the rush defense (206 yards allowed per game) has to improve for the unit to be efficient. All-league performer Dorvus Woods is back at defensive end after 45 tackles and nine TFLs in 2010. Senior linebacker Demario Davis was a Sun Belt standout a year ago as well, with 63 tackles and 3.5 TFLs. Senior corner Darron Edwards and senior safety Kelcie McCray have both earned preseason accolades after solid junior campaigns in the Arkansas State secondary. They will surely face an early litmus test against Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelchase.

Just a sophomore, Scheelchase progressed late in his freshman season, throwing for 13 touchdowns and only one interception in the last seven games a year ago. Where Scheelchase proves dangerous is in his ability to escape the pocket and scramble, rushing for 868 yards and five TDs in 2010. he will bolster a run game that must replace leading rusher Mike Leshoure.

Four starting offensive lineman return, as does top receiver in AJ Jenkins (56 catches, 746 yards, seven TDs in 2010.)

The Illinois defense has seven starters back, including six of its top 10 tacklers from 2010. The defense was very productive at times under first year coordinator Vic Koenning, where the unit finished 32nd nationally in total defense (up 53 spots from 2009).

The defensive line will feature Freshman All-American Akeem Spence, who enters his sophomore year fresh off a 45-tackle performance in 2010. Senior Ian Thomas (67 tackles) will move to middle linebacker from his weak side post to shore up a more inexperienced unit in 2010, and Trulon Henry will move into the sam linebacker position after posting impressive numbers at safety a year ago (64 tackles, three TFLs, three INTs.)

Senior Tavon Wilson will likely draw the toughest coverage assignments, where he brings a wealth of experience to the secondary. Wilson has 133 tackles and 18 passes defended in three years and was an honorable mention all-Big Ten selection in 2010.

The promotion of Freeze to head coach should have the Arkansas State faithful energized for the 2011 season, especially considering the numbers the Red Wolves put up last season.

Illinois has something to prove in the opener as well. Scheelchase is a superior athlete who will create all kinds of matchup problems for the Arkansas State defense. There is simply too much depth in the trenches for Illinois for the Red Wolves to make this a competitive game.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Illinois 63, Arkansas State 24