After a long offseason, the Illini fans were awarded a nail-biter in the 2017 season opener against Ball State.
Coming into the game, the Fighting Illini were favored by five points over the Cardinals. However, each side seemed evenly matched throughout the entirety of the game. Both teams ended the year with a 2-10 record and winless in their conference play.
The teams traded blows until the Illini took a three-point lead after a Mike Epstein touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
With just 2:06 left on the clock, Ball State drove 39 yards down the field.