CHAMPAIGN — Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer said he was the most excited he has ever been for a game Saturday against Ohio State.

The No. 17 Illini hosted the country’s No. 1 team at Gies Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2006. Fans dressed in orange for the Illini’s sold-out Orange Out game gathered before dawn for Fox Big Noon Kickoff. The production was in town for the second time in three weeks after the Illini made good with a down-to-the-wire win over USC in its first visit.

It was the type of day Altmyer had dreamed about as a kid, he said.

“You only get it once,” Altmyer said. “I ain’t going to have another opportunity like that, probably, to be able to play at home, in front of a sold-out crowd, beautiful day, against the No. 1 team. That doesn’t come often.”

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