The Toledo and Illinois football programs have both been around for over 100 years, but they play each other for the first time in history on Saturday.
Although Big Ten-MAC matchups are common in the non-conference part of the college football season, this is just the second time Toledo will play a Big Ten school since 2011. Last year, the future MAC Champion Rockets were beaten soundly 77-21 by the perennially stacked Ohio State Buckeyes— though Dequan Finn had an impressive individual showing.
To start the 2023 season, Toledo has a much more winnable contest against the Fighting Illini on the road in Champaign.