Sept. 27, 2007

Chicago, Ill. - The Big Ten Network kicks off its coverage of the Illinois-Penn State game with FRIDAY NIGHT TAILGATE, the network's television show devoted to capturing the excitement of game week on each Big Ten campus.

This week FRIDAY NIGHT TAILGATE visits Champaign, Ill., and Evanston, Ill., to determine whether Illinois or Northwestern has the better football atmosphere.

The show airs at 7 PM CT on the Big Ten Network.

Host Mike Hall and campus correspondent Jordan Klepper will take an inside look at Illinois' Greek life, examine the history of the Altgeld Bell Tower, explore one of the largest academic libraries in the country, get an education from Illinois' renowned computer engineering program, sample the Canopy Club for live music and more.

On Saturday, the Big Ten Network will televise the Illinois-Penn State game at 11 AM CT. Thom Brennaman, Charles Davis and Charissa Thompson will call the action from Memorial Stadium.