CHAMPAIGN -- Brit Miller has the picture of his cousin in the stands for football’s version of the Braggin’ Rights game about 10 years ago, when his family somehow ended up in a section surrounded by Mizzou fans. It was back in the day when the teams were good, fans were intense – and the folks from the other side of the river didn’t appreciate the message on that shirt worn by Miller’s cousin.

The wording had something to do with Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel’s approach to nasal care. Feelings were hurt. Fights ensued. For some reason, when the orange and blue meets up with the gold and black, the blood boils.

It just made for another reason why Illinois and Missouri should have been playing, and if you listen to Miller and Illini fans, should still be playing in the rivalry game that kicked off the season four straight years in the St. Louis dome.

“There’s nothing better than going out and playing people you don’t like,’’ Miller said.

When Illinois opened play for the second season under coach Lovie Smith Saturday with a 24-21 win over MAC opponent Ball State, it didn’t get much of a notice from folks except the most diehard Illini fans. Sure, it was interesting to see how that cluster of Illini freshmen slid into the playing rotation and begin to contribute to the rebuilding of a program that’s been silent for years. And, I guess, it’s important to watch the development of quarterback Chayce Crouch, whose running ability is his best asset in an offense trying to figure out how to gain yards and score points (something that was a struggle last season). And Illini fans wonder how the defense will play with a new wave of names on the front and a cluster of promising young linebackers.

But Miller, like most of the rest of us, long for those days when Illinois played a meaningful game to start the season.

The Illini lost all six games against Missouri played in St. Louis. Four of those losses came under Ron Zook during a four-year span. The first two losses came under Ron Turner.

“We didn’t have a lot of success in that game, but it was a great way to start the season,’’ Miller said. “It was a game that had a lot of energy. I loved it. The guys loved the competition. A lot of us were recruited by both Illinois and Missouri.

“Not to downplay some of the smaller teams, it was better than played an Eastern or a Western. If you’re Illinois, you’re just trolling for a win. The atmosphere alone, being down there in the dome, was a huge opportunity to play in front of so many fans early in the year.’’

Understandably, this doesn’t happen overnight. Illinois and presumably Missouri is contracted into the future for probably five, six or seven years, but contracts are made to be broken. Just ask any coach who just got fired or took another job. That’s why God invented buyouts.

Illini athletic director Josh Whitman knows there’s interest from both schools, but the problem is making it work. He’s spoken with Mizzou AD Jim Sterk.

“There’s mutual interest on both sides,’’ Whitman said. “The challenge, of course, is the details. Any more, football schedules are out so far that I think the earliest we might both be available is 2023 or 2024. And then there are questions, to be candid, about where we would play. The dome there in St. Louis is in great shape now. By that point eight or nine years from now without an anchor tenant, what does that venue look like?

“Obviously, we’ve got the backstop. We could play home and home and come here to Champaign and go to Columbia.’’

Whitman isn’t missing the point. The game, in a perfect world, needs to be played in St. Louis. Perhaps it would take a call to the Cardinals, check the dimensions at Busch Stadium and see if it will work there.

“We all remember the games in St. Louis and what a great energy they had,’’ Whitman said. “So there is certainly interest, but it’s going to take time for us to iron through the details.’’

Lovie Smith wouldn’t shy away from a game in St. Louis against the Tigers. It just makes sense.

“I think there’s something to be said about regional rivalries,’’ Smith said. “Think about Missouri and Illinois. That just makes sense.’’

So as college football took off this weekend in full force, the games that catch the eye aren’t the matchups with Power 5 conferences against little brothers from the MAC or elsewhere. It’s the games where power conferences go against each other.

While the Illini try to rebuild, it does make sense to be smart with the schedule, but the Illini have to play tough ones after taking on Ball State, which was a touchdown underdog against the Illini in a game pitting teams expected to finish toward the bottom of their respective conference standings.

The Illini now face Western Kentucky, a rising program that saw its coach take the Purdue job last winter. Then the Illini face South Florida in a game that could help (or hurt) the Illini’s recruiting chances in the Tampa area.

Nevertheless, let’s make football fun again. Let’s play the games people want to see. Let’s figure out how to get Illinois and Missouri back on the field, where bragging rights work in basketball, baseball, women’s soccer – and –most definitely football.

John Supinie is a columnist for Orangeandbluenews.com. During the day, he’s an Audi Brand Specialist at Green Audi in Springfield. Call or text him at 217-377-1977 if you’re looking for an Audi, Volkswagen, Toyota or preowned car. Ask for the Illini deal.