CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) - Illinois football listed the attendance for Friday night's season opener as 56,040.

There were several special guest in attendance as Bret Bielema's team kicked off a highly anticipated 2025 campaign. That group included, but was not limited to, former Illini running back Chase Brown.

Brown stopped back on campus before his third year in the NFL begins. In his final year of college football, 2022, he ran for more than 1,600 yards for the Illini.

On Friday, he relished in the packed crowd despite an FCS opponent.

"In week one like this almost sold out. That's just a real tribute to how far this program's come," Brown told WCIA. "So, I always love coming back home and then seeing it like this is extra special."

The fan support is impressive to Brown, who ran for

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