Champaign, IL (WAND) – Illini football is back in Champaign, and the energy of football season gives college students something new to look forward to.

For Evan Raffin, sports was one of the main reasons he chose this campus during his freshman year.

“The community that goes to those games — hanging out in Grange Grove, Lot 31, everyone, all the students, all the alumni, parents of students,” Raffin said. “It’s so much fun just going there. Everyone wants to watch the team succeed, so it’s a lot of fun hanging out with everybody and then watching the team kill it.”

Raffin is from the suburbs of Chicago and is now in his second year at the University of Illinois. He loved how last football season went, so he found a way to guarantee he could attend every game.

“They gave us this awesome plan as freshmen where we got four years for 250 bucks,” Raffin said. “So, I’m already locked in for all four years.”

Other students say they love attending the football games, but the excitement goes well beyond just the game itself. The entire gameday experience gives students even more to enjoy.

“Going to the stadium in the morning, a couple hours before the game, we all tailgate, take pictures, hang out,” said Rylinn Harvey. “And then we continue to hang out in the student section and cheer for our team. That’s the most fun part.”

The Fighting Illini ended last season with a 9-4 record, so winning has become the expectation for fans this year.

“We usually all go celebrate afterward,” Harvey said. “It’s very sad when we lose, which isn’t a lot. I have a lot of faith in us — I don’t know much about football, but I think we’re looking really good. I’m keeping up on Instagram, and I’m really excited to see how we do.”

“We have a new quarterback, so it’s exciting — obviously a little nervous — but we kept a lot of our guys, and I have faith the team will be just as good this year,” Raffin said.

The Fighting Illini open their season Thursday, taking on UAB at Gies Memorial Stadium.