Going into the September 9, 2017 matchup between the Fighting Illini and the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, few Illini fans were expecting an easy victory. From 2013-2016, former Head Coach Jeff Brohm led the Hilltoppers to a combined record of 30-11 and had secured back-to-back Conference USA championships in 2015 and 2016. Needless to say, the Western Kentucky football program was accustomed to winning.
However, the departure of Coach Brohm to Purdue in 2017 meant that the Hilltoppers needed to adjust to new Head Coach Mike Sanford Jr. The uncertainty of a new coach gave Illinois fans hope that perhaps the Illini could take advantage of Western Kentucky’s lack of familiarity with their new coaching staff.