Illinois’ spring game will be starting a little earlier than previously expected.

The school announced on Saturday that the game — set for Thursday, April 21 — will now start at 7:30 p.m. ET. It’s beginning an hour earlier than previously planned. It will still air on Big Ten Network.

The change likely comes because Rutgers altered the date of its spring game. The Scarlet Knights moved their date from Thursday, April 21 to Friday, April 22.

Illinois is coming off a 5-7 campaign in 2021, the first year for head coach Bret Bielema. The Illini posted road victories over ranked Penn State and Minnesota teams and concluded the year with a victory over in-state rival Northwestern.

This is the second season for Bielema, who previously had stops at Wisconsin and Arkansas.