Game day preview | No. 19 Kansas at Illinois; 6 p.m., Saturday

Beat writer Scott Richey previews the Illini’s high-profile nonconference showdown with No. 19 Kansas ahead of Saturday night’s kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Champaign (Fox Sports 1, WDWS 1400-AM, WDWS 93.9-FM, WHMS 97.5-FM):

Three big storylines

Divvying up snaps at cornerback

Tyler Strain returned to practice Tuesday and is expected to be available for Saturday’s game. That adds another experienced cornerback to the mix in the Illinois secondary along with Torrie Cox Jr., Xavier Scott and Kaleb Patterson. The latter three started in Week 1 against Eastern Illinois, with Scott slotting back in at nickelback. How Strain fits in is to be determined. Which raises even more questions about Terrance Brooks. The Texas transfer arrived to significant hype and expectations but barely played against the Panthers.

“We go through fall camp, and as coaches we try to evaluate things and try to be as unbiased as possible to give ourselves the best chance to operate and win,” Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry said. “I think Terrance has been doing a really good job. Right now, there’s some guys, from a defensive standpoint, we feel, as a staff, are doing a little better. ... When you look at the framework of playing tough, smart, dependable football, it’s not a ‘me show’ it’s a ‘we show.’”

Making mark on special teams

Illinois has run its own version of “America’s Got Talent” during training camp under Bret Bielema. That’s where the Illini coach first got the notion Luke Zardzin might bring something special to the team. Bielema liked Zardzin’s film out of Prospect High School enough to bring the linebacker on as a walk-on, but the 2021 version of “Illinois’ Got Talent” furthered the Illini coach’s positive opinion on the now-redshirt junior who was the team’s special teams MVP in Week 1.

“I always say volume reflects confidence,” Bielema said. “He got up his freshman year and delivered a zinger at Jake Hansen, who is the biggest Type A mentality in that whole building. ... I remember walking out of that meeting, I said, ‘Hey, I don’t know, but I’m going to take a big bet on that kid being a player.’ He’s literally kind of almost an irreplaceable guy right now. That and his mom and dad own a Dairy Queen, which makes him live as live gets.

“He’s probably the poster child of the TSD edge — tough, smart and dependable. Luke’s probably not going to go out there and win a 40-yard dash or the vertical-jump competition, but he just shows up. Very blue collar, lunch-pail mentality.”

Physicality, poise from Priestly

Melvin Priestly led the Illinois offensive line with 11 knockdowns in last week’s season opener. That included one where he launched EIU linebacker Phoenix Porter halfway back to Charleston on Josh McCray’s touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t the only “wow” play for the Illini’s starting right tackle. Priestly, who joined Illinois in January after two seasons at Grambling State, drew praise from the coaching staff for both his physicality and his poise.

“He was locked in on the sideline,” Illinois offensive line coach Bart Miller said. “He made some corrections during the game. Didn’t get a penalty, which was good. I’m sure there were times he wanted to go take off a few heads, but I was pleased with his composure. A little bit sloppy in some of the technique, and we’ve got to clean that up. We start playing teams, obviously this week, and teams in our conference we’re not going to get away with some of that stuff. Got to clean some things up with him, but a good starting point and a lot to grow from.”

Two key matchups

Illinois defense vs. Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels

There are other high-level quarterbacks still to come on Illinois’ schedule this season. Two more this month, even, with Nebraska freshman star Dylan Raiola and Penn State’s Drew Allar, as the Illini play both teams to start Big Ten play with a Sept. 20 matchup with the Cornhuskers in Lincoln, Neb., and a Sept. 28 game at the Nittany Lions. Not to mention Purdue’s Hudson Card and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, who still has the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy. Daniels is different than them all. While he likely won’t put up huge rushing numbers — 425 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022 was an outlier — his mobility keeps plays alive. Keeping him contained is priority No. 1 for the Illini.

Illinois run game vs. Kansas run defense

The most effective offense Illinois ran last year against Kansas came on the ground. Namely when Luke Altmyer was scrambling, as he rushed for two touchdowns, including a 72-yarder. The Jayhawks ultimately finished the 2023 season ranked 88th in the nation in run defense — allowing 161.5 yards per game. It’s an area the Illini can target again this year. Maybe some Altmyer. Probably a lot of Kaden Feagin and Aidan Laughery, with the two former area standouts combining for 187 yards and one touchdown in last week’s season opener against EIU.

One stat that matters

The last time Illinois announced a sellout crowd of 60,670 at Memorial Stadium Lovie Smith was two games into his tenure as Illini coach and Mitch Trubisky had barely begun his rise to top two NFL draft pick. A cause helped by Trubisky’s 265 passing yards and two touchdowns in a 48-23 North Carolina win. Bielema is further along in his Illinois tenure, putting more emphasis on this game. Win and fans will continue to show up in Champaign. Lose and it might be another eight years (or more) before the Illini can boast a capacity crowd.

Illinois will win if ...

this version of the Illini defense fares better than its 2023 predecessor. Kansas reeled off a slew of big plays in last year’s game in Lawrence, Kan., with Daniels throwing for 277 yards and two touchdowns and the duo of Devin Neal and Daniel Hishaw Jr. combing for 218 yards and two touchdowns in the run game. Illinois would appear to have the offensive firepower — and balance between the run and pass — to hang with the Jayhawks. But only if its defense is able to get enough stops. A shootout likely favors Daniels and Co.

Kansas will win if ...

it that same high-powered offense that gave Illinois fits a year ago shows up at Memorial Stadium in Champaign. Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold had to hire a new offensive coordinator for the first time in a decade after Andy Kotelnicki, who was with him at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Buffalo and Kansas, left for Penn State in the offseason. The weapons are there for new coordinator Jeff Grimes if he can utilize them effectively. Given his background as an offensive line coach, don’t be surprised to see Neal and Hishaw carry a significant workload.