CHAMPAIGN – Whether he’s one of those guys standing in the magazine aisle at Barnes & Noble getting a free look at the college previews or just hearing it through the grapevine, Lovie Smith apparently knows all about the preseason magazines.

And he likes the fact that the Illini are regarded as the worst team in the Big Ten Conference’s West Division.

“When you go into a football season and you’re expected to win it all, that’s a motivating feeling, I guess,’’ Lovie said during the Illini football media day activities Tuesday. “But when you’re where we are, no one has picked us to do anything. That’s a good position to be in. This is a good football team, and we’ve got to be ready for it. That’s who we want to be.

“As a leader on the football team, you just want to have a good group. We’ve been building for this team. This is the best group we’ve put together to have the best opportunity to win.’’

Usually, fans hear about coaches downplaying the preseason rankings. They generally tell us they don’t mean anything. You know the coach speak: it’s about what happens between the lines. That’s what Lovie is saying, too, but he’s also happy the Illini play the role of underdog rather than carrying any burden of expectations.

“I’m talking about when no one is talking about you,’’ Lovie said. “As much as anything, we think we’re going to be pretty good, and we think we know something that no one else does. I think it’s always good to be in that position. Eventually, that doesn’t mean a lot. It’s who we are.

“And who we are, in our opinion, is a lot better football team than what most people say. That’s a good thing, when people don’t expect you. They look at us. OK, we have Illinois. When we get into it, Illinois is a little bit different. It’s the memo was wrong. This is a good football team. We have to be ready. That’s who we want to be.’’

Illinois showed signs of life against Rutgers and Minnesota last season. Now the Illini want to do it on more than two dates this fall. It’s taken three seasons, but Lovie felt a bigger, faster, stronger Illini caught up with the rest of the pack in the Big Ten.

“I think we have,’’ he said. “This is our best group, ready to compete and contend. We want to be relevant in college football. If you’re relevant, you have a chance to win. We can live with that.’’

By mixing a talented freshman class with experienced holdovers and five graduate transfers, Lovie said, the Illini sped up the rebuilding process. This fall, the Illini no longer rely on inexperienced newcomers.

“In previous years, it was just about the freshman class,’’ Lovie said. “A lot of it (now) has to do with older guys coming in and players who aren’t new to the program. We’ve gone through an awful lot together. We have a senior class that wants to finish things the right way.’’

It’s always good to go with one quarterback rather than juggling multiple players at the most important position on the team. Lovie understands this. In an ideal world, a young quarterback would take the job and run with it for four years. Finding a long-term answer is a key piece to the building a process.

“It’s critical for all programs that happens,’’ he said. “We’re in a pretty good situation right now.’’

It’s just the Illini haven’t reached that point yet. With grad transfer Brandon Peters, the Illini have a player with experience who can lead the quarterback room. Redshirt freshmen Matt Robinson and Coran Taylor return, but Lovie really liked the ability of Peters show the “young, talented, our future player in Isaiah (Williams) how to do it,’’ Lovie said.

“When you’re answering who is the quarterback every year, that’s not a good situation,’’ Lovie said. “As we solidify our program, that won’t be the case. As you’re getting the position right, it’s good to have competition and good options.’

The timing was right for Lovie to take over the defense. With Rod Smith able to get the offense rolling again and Bob Ligashesky proving himself as a leader of special teams, Lovie said, the head coach can now spend more time on the defense and get his hands dirty.

Taking over one of the worst defenses in the nation last season, Lovie is back in familiar turf after making a name as an NFL defensive coordinator.

“If we’re not in that role, we wish we could do more and help the team more,’’ Lovie said. “If things aren’t going perfectly, you’d like to have more hands on the team. That’s what it is now. You have to feel good about what’s happening at other places.’’

After beginning his career on the defensive line, offensive guard Kendrick Green has a chance to be outstanding because of his strength and mobility.

Receiver Kyron Cumby is the fastest player on the team, according to the head coach, but there are lots of players who want a shot at the title.

Lovie likes the schedule. Who wouldn’t like having two MAC games sandwiching a date with UConn, one of the worst teams in the nation? This is his chance to take a jump.