Big Ten Football Media Days landing page

Check this interactive landing page for all of our content from 2016 Big Ten Football Media Days. The annual event will be held Monday and Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago.

For everyone connected to Fighting Illini football, there will be a new buzz in the air this week at Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago. Lovie Smith gives Illinois instant credibility and clout among its peers in a conference loaded with high profile coaches, including Ohio State’s Urban Meyer and the always-newsworthy Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.

It’s a coming home of sorts for Smith, who was the head coach of the Chicago Bears from 2004 to 2012. The Illini coach takes the podium at 8 a.m. CT on Tuesday, and the large crowd of beat writers, columnists, and television and radio reporters will be eager to hear what Smith has to say.

Fans can catch the event live. BTN and BTN2Go will provide more than 13 hours of live coverage at Big Ten Football Media Days. Coverage will include the press conferences of all 14 Big Ten head coaches, as well as remarks by Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany.

Every Big Ten head coach and multiple players from each team will be available for interviews over this two-day period. Illinois players making the trip are quarterback Wes Lunt, defensive end Dawuane Smoot, and running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn.

OrangeandBlueNews.com will have comprehensive coverage. Planned content include video interviews with all three Illini players, remarks from the head coaches and players of Illini opponents, and much more.

The list of students scheduled to attend features 15 returning All-Big Ten selections, including several 2016 Illini opponents; Iowa’s Desmond King and C.J. Beathard, Michigan’s Jake Butt and Jourdan Lewis, Northwestern’s Anthony Walker Jr. and Justin Jackson, Michigan State’s Riley Bullough and Josiah Price, and Nebraska’s Jordan Westerkamp.

School Media Sessions on Monday, July 25: Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers

School Media Sessions on Tuesday, July 26: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin

Monday’s schedule will run from approximately 12-5 p.m. CT, beginning with the opening media session for the seven head coaches from 12-1:45 p.m. Tuesday’s schedule will run from approximately 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., starting with the opening media session for the seven head coaches from 8-9:45 a.m., and continuing with Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany and other speakers until approximately 11 a.m.

The 45th annual Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, July 26. Beginning at 10 a.m., fans in attendance will take part in an autograph session with the head coaches, while select players will participate in brief, live interviews. Coaches and players will be available for a photo session around 11 a.m.

Follow our updates from Big Ten Football Media Days on the Grange Grove premium message board.

Preview: Will Illinois go bowling in 2016-17? OrangeandBlueNews.com and Tom Dienhart of BTN give their predictions for the upcoming season. Final record, top players, newcomers, and more.

Video: Press conferences. Big Ten head coaches and league commissioner Jim Delany took to the podium at Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago. Videos of all press conferences from BTN.

Don't forget Lovie. OrangeandBlueNews.com columnist John Supinie recaps day 1 from Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, where Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald welcomed the conference's new coaches...except Lovie Smith.