By Greg Halbleib

The Illinois football team rolled up a 125 yards in penalties last week in a three-point loss against Purdue. Coach Lovie Smith says that the team needs to be better disciplined, but he bristled at the question that he’s been too lax with the team and hasn’t been tough enough on them. Illinois visits Rutgers on Saturday.

Also on Saturday, Illinois Wesleyan football visits Carroll University in the first meeting between the schools since Carroll’s last time in the CCIW in 1991, and Illinois State hosts Southern Illinois at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Make sure you grab a program when you see Illinois State women’s basketball this season. Seven newcomers including six freshmen are on the roster. The Redbirds introduced themselves to the media on Wednesday. The season opens Nov. 11 at Arizona State after a home exhibition on Nov. 1 against Division II Harris-Stowe.

In women’s soccer, Illinois State nipped Loyola 2-1 and Illinois Wesleyan clobbered Concordia 6-0.

Cornerstone Christian Academy boys soccer advances to the title match of its own Class 1A Regional with a 5-2 win over Fisher-GCMS. The title match is tomorrow at Cornerstone.
The Cubs will learn their next opponent tonight as the Nationals and Dodgers hook up in the fifth and deciding game of their National League Division Series in Washington. Max Scherzer takes the ball for the Nationals, and while the Dodgers have not named their starter, look for Rich Hill or Julio Urias to go.

The Cubs say Jon Lester will be the Game 1 starter in the National League Championship Series opener on Saturday night at Wrigley Field.

The National Hockey League season has begun. The Blues beat the Blackhawks 5-2 in the opener at the United Center.

Last year’s top draft pick, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, became the first player in NHL history to score four goals in his debut. By the way, in case you’re still skeptical of the USHL, Matthews played at U.S. Cellular Coliseum against the Bloomington Thunder several times in the season before last.