Illinois is battling not only a favored football opponent in North Carolina today but history as well.
In 16 nonconference, non-bowl excursions since 2002, the Illini won once at Syracuse in 2007 ... the road losing streak in these games reaching eight. Dating back another 10 years to 1992, the Illini show four successful trips and 22 failures.
Missouri played a big role in these negative outcomes, winning six in St. Louis and a seventh in Columbia in 1993. If the difficulties of traveling don’t play a part, explain the fact that Illinois defeated the Tigers the last seven times in Champaign, most recently 42-0 in 1994.