![Illinois head coach Lovie Smith, center, sings the alma mater with the team after Illinois defeated Murray State 52-3 in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.](https://will.illinois.edu/images/uploads/41720/illini_football__medium.jpg)
Illinois Opens Smith Era With 52-3 Win Over Murray State
Wes Lunt threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns and Kendrick Foster ran for a pair of 56-yard touchdowns to give new Illinois coach Lovie Smith his first win, 52-3 over Murray State.
Wes Lunt threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns and Kendrick Foster ran for a pair of 56-yard touchdowns to give new Illinois coach Lovie Smith his first win, 52-3 over Murray State.
The Fighting Illini football team opens its season this Saturday at Memorial Stadium against Murray State. First-year head coach Lovie Smith is no stranger to season openers, but for the last 20 years those openers have taken place in NFL stadiums.