CHAMPAIGN — Josh Ferguson didn’t know.
Of course, it doesn’t necessarily affect the running back’s career at Illinois.
Next year is next year. By the time the 2016 season rolls around, the current fifth-year senior won’t have the active role he does now for Illinois.
So it surprised him when he learned this week that Illinois won’t have the luxury of a fourth nonconference game starting next fall. The Big Ten is shifting to a nine-game league slate with the 2016 season, the first time that’s in play since Illinois, like the rest of the Big Ten, went to a 12-game regular season starting in 2006.