Box Score

Illinois topped Butler, 45-0, Saturday night in Normal, Ill., in the 2017 opener for both teams.

Illinois State is ranked in the Top 20 nationally in the FCS polls.

After a scoreless opening quarter, James Robinson put the home team on the board seven seconds into the second quarter, getting around the left edge for a nine-yard touchdown run. Jake Kolbe found Christian Gibbs on a 20-yard score with 4:02 remaining in the half.

The Redbirds limited Butler to 39 first-half yards in taking a 17-0 advantage at the break.

Illinois State ended the contest with 507 total yards.

Isaak Newhouse had 14 tackles for the Bulldogs, including 12 of the solo variety.

Chad Burdo recovered a fumble as each team committed just one turnover.

Evan Giebel has 11 punts for the Bulldogs, averaging 41.8 yards per punt.

Cam Cooper, seeing his first action in a Butler uniform, returned five kick-offs for 91 yards.

The Bulldogs travel to Franklin next weekend before hosting Taylor Sept. 16 in the 2017 home opener.