Fun Facts: Illinois-Iowa

Illinois and Iowa. From outer space, there's not much difference between the two.

But do you know who's ever been to outer space? On with the Fun Facts!

1. This is Illinois' first game at Iowa since 2007, which seems a bit odd given it's a border rival from the same conference. Iowa has played 55 games and hosted 26 different teams since the last time the Fighting Illini came to Kinnick Stadium.

2. Illinois is 1-0 in the Big Ten for only the third time since 1993. Iowa has won its league-opener 13 times since '93.

3. The last time the Illini and Hawkeyes were both undefeated in the Big Ten when they met was 1983.

4. Iowa has started 12 other seasons with five straight wins. It won its sixth game in six of those years.

5. Illinois' last two games were decided in the last 10 seconds. Middle Tennessee State missed a field goal with :04 left two weeks ago in its 27-25 loss at Champaign. Illinois scored with :10 left to beat Nebraska.

6. Illinois and Iowa are tied for the Big Ten lead in interceptions with seven, though the Illini haven't had one in their last two games.

7. Iowa has scored 41 points off turnovers. It had 35 all last season.

8. Through five games last year, Illinois had allowed 468.6 yards per game. This year, it's 303.4. The Illini have forced 31 three-and-outs, tied for the fifth-most in FBS.

9. Both teams had 1-yard touchdown passes last week.

10. Illinois is 4-2 in its last six Big Ten games. It was 1-24 in its 25 conference games immediately before that.

11. Iowa's 10-6 win at Wisconsin last week was the first time it held a Big Ten team without a touchdown since its 24-3 win over Penn State in 2010.

12. The Hawkeyes outgained the Illini 587 yards to 235 last year in Iowa's 30-14 win in Champaign. Iowa rushed for 304 yards.

13. Illinois has seven fourth-quarter comeback wins in the last two years, including the last two weeks.

14. Iowa has 14 Illinois natives on its roster. The only Iowan on Illinois' team is junior tight end Andrew Davis of Marion.

15. Illinois interim coach Bill Cubit has been a coach in the Boardwalk, Freedom, International, Texas, Little Caesars Pizza and Heart of Dallas bowls.

14. Cubit was the head coach for five years at Division III Widener University in Chester, Pa. His record was 34-18-1.

16. Illinois' average attendance for its four home games is 39,733.

17. 'Champaign' is a word of French origin. It means a stretch of level and open country. That's pretty much the entire ride on I-74 from Moline to Danville.

18. The Stanley Cup visited Illinois' football team last Friday at the Illini's Memorial Stadium. One distinctive thing Illinois has that you can see from outer space is the Stanley Cup.

Appreciate the October 2, 2015

Appreciate the @NHLBlackhawks for bringing the Stanley Cup to our walk thru tonight! #Illini pic.twitter.com/cQwS3L1n80

— Alex Golesh (@CoachGolesh)