{"id":224374,"date":"2025-09-13T19:58:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T19:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/224374\/"},"modified":"2025-09-13T19:58:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T19:58:09","slug":"where-to-watch-western-michigan-vs-illinois-today-college-football-free-stream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/224374\/","title":{"rendered":"Where to watch Western Michigan vs. Illinois today: College football free stream"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Western Michigan Broncos look for their first win of the season when they face down the No. 9-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini<\/a> at 7 p.m. ET in Champaign. The Illini have reached their highest ranking since 2001, after jumping out to a 2-0 lead on the season.<\/p>\n

Western Michigan vs. Illinois will air on FOX Sports 1, which you can stream on <\/b>DirecTV (free trial)<\/b><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know:<\/b><\/p>\n

What:<\/b> NCAAF regular season<\/p>\n

Who:<\/b> Western Michigan Broncos vs. No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini<\/p>\n

When: <\/b>Saturday, Sep. 13, 2025<\/p>\n

Time:<\/b> 7 p.m. ET<\/p>\n

Where:<\/b> Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois<\/p>\n

TV: <\/b>FOX Sports 1<\/p>\n

Live stream:<\/b> fuboTV (free trial)<\/a>, DirecTV (free trial)<\/a>, Sling<\/a>, Hulu + Live TV<\/a><\/p>\nStreaming service<\/b>Free trial?<\/b>Promo<\/b>Price<\/b><\/tr>\n\nDirecTV<\/b><\/a><\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n$35 off first month<\/td>\n$84.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nfuboTV<\/b><\/a><\/td>\nYes<\/td>\n$30 off first month<\/td>\n$84.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nHulu + Live TV<\/b><\/a><\/td>\nYes<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n$82.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSling<\/b><\/a><\/td>\nNo<\/td>\nNo<\/td>\n$45.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

BET: <\/b>New Bet365 Bonus Code SYRACUSE<\/b><\/a>: $300 \u201cBet and Get\u201d bonus for football and MLB!<\/b><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a recent college football story, via The Associated Press:<\/b><\/p>\n

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) \u2014 Illinois coach Bret Bielema is wary of a trap game against winless Western Michigan on Saturday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to get their best shot,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Illinois (2-0) enters the game ranked No. 9<\/a> \u2014 its highest AP poll ranking since 2001 \u2014 and riding a six-game winning streak dating to last season.<\/p>\n

The Fighting Illini have outscored their first two opponents 95-22. They\u2019ve got critical Big Ten games at No. 22 Indiana on Sept. 20 and home against USC on Sept. 27 coming up, but Bielema is not overlooking the Broncos (0-2) despite being a 27.5-point favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook.<\/p>\n

Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor is confident the Broncos can give the Illini a battle, just like they did in a 33-30 overtime loss<\/a> last week to North Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe laid it on the line and showed a lot of grit, but we made too many mistakes and had too many penalties in critical situations,\u201d he said. \u201cI thought up until the last play that we were going to win that game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Receiver and punt return specialist Hank Beatty has been a breakout star for the Illini.<\/p>\n

He broke Red Grange\u2019s 102-year-old single game punt return record with 133 yards on four returns vs. Western Illinois in Illinois\u2019 opener, caught eight passes for 128 yards and scored on a 25-yard run as a quarterback last week vs. Duke, and he leads the nation with 394 all-purpose yards.<\/p>\n

Western Michigan\u2019s offense relies on its running game, led by Jalen Buckley, the 2024 Mid-American Conference freshman of the year, who ran for 112 yards on 30 carries vs. North Texas.<\/p>\n

Now it\u2019s Gies Memorial Stadium<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s game will be the first played in the newly renamed<\/a> Gies Memorial Stadium.<\/p>\n

The name addition was announced Tuesday by Illinois officials in conjunction with the announcement that Illinois alumnus and philanthropist Larry Gies made a $100 million donation to the school\u2019s athletic department, the largest gift in department history.<\/p>\n

Gies\u2019 gift will mainly benefit the Illinois football program and 101-year-old stadium.<\/p>\n

Sellouts aren\u2019t so rare anymore<\/p>\n

The Western Michigan-Illinois game is sold out (60,670). The USC and Ohio State home games for the Illini also are sold out. It\u2019s the first time since 2008 that Illinois has sold out as many as three games in a season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThree straight sellout football games is something we couldn\u2019t imagine not that long ago, and now we\u2019re living in that reality,\u201d said Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman.<\/p>\n

Turnover time<\/p>\n

The Illinois offense hasn\u2019t committed a turnover, and the defense is doing its job in that department too. It leads the nation with five fumble recoveries and is second in turnover margin with plus-3 per game, behind only Arizona (plus 3.5).<\/p>\n

Broncos battle to be QB1<\/p>\n

Broc Lowry and Brady Jones are competing for the No. 1 quarterback job for Western Michigan. Lowry took a step toward securing the spot when he scored three TDs, two on the ground, vs. North Texas.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d really like to name a full-time starter at some point this season,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n

Defensive tackle\u2019s surname on uniform is written in Arabic<\/p>\n

Western Michigan redshirt senior defensive tackle Mustafi Al-Garawi has his surname in Arabic on the back of his jersey. It\u2019s believed he\u2019s the first NCAA athlete to do that.<\/p>\n

Al-Garawi transferred to Western Michigan from East Tennessee State after last season. He asked Western Michigan officials this summer about wearing his surname in Arabic in his final collegiate season, and his request was approved.<\/p>\n

Decisions on the display of surnames on uniforms are made by schools and conferences.<\/p>\n

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