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A sight for sore eyes: B1G fans back inside Illinois’ Memorial Stadium is awesome to see
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College football is back, and so are the fans.
Illinois is hosting the first Big Ten game of the season on Saturday as Nebraska travels to Champaign. With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted this year, the Illini will have fans in attendance for the first time since 2019.
There will be an estimated 40,000 people at the Illini’s stadium today, including a full student section.
#illini student section is sold out, I'm told.
Probably about 40,000 overall attendance today. Heat and pandemic play a role, but sounds like season ticket sales are up.
— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) August 28, 2021
Here are a few photos of fans gathering both inside and outside the stadium before kick off:
Illinois’ student section at full capacity as kickoff is near. pic.twitter.com/ttovsQWe81
— Geno Green (@GenoGreenSports) August 28, 2021
Nebraska and Illinois fans entering the stadium at Grange Grove. pic.twitter.com/rXQ87gnkSx
— Geno Green (@GenoGreenSports) August 28, 2021
Pageantry, and so forth: pic.twitter.com/hz4x8xnxKZ
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) August 28, 2021
FOOTBALL IS BACK!!!!!! 🤘🏼😃 pic.twitter.com/71cCjq3CDS
— JeffreyTheGreek (@JeffreyTheGreek) August 28, 2021
Place about half full for today’s Nebraska vs. Illinois game. pic.twitter.com/ExIWg8OIOk
— Sean Callahan (@Sean_Callahan) August 28, 2021
Illinois basketball guard André Curbelo was also outside the stadium prior to kick off. He’s entering his sophomore year, so this will be his first chance to interact with fans at an Illinois football game.
“Last year we didn’t have this, I couldn’t come tailgate,” Curbelo said. “But being here is great. I love it, the love from the fans and the support is what keeps me going.”
Tons of fans out tailgating before the @IlliniFootball team hosts Nebraska in the first Division I game of the fall.@IlliniMBB star Andre Curbelo (@papicurbelo11) is getting to interact with the Illinois faithful and is loving every second! pic.twitter.com/PWpqlLyaYK
— Mark Pearson (@MarkPearsonTV) August 28, 2021
Illinois defeated Nebraska 41-23 last season. The Huskers are 13-4-1 all time against the Illini.
Spenser is the news manager at Saturday Road and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.