In a rebuilding season for Illinois, even the homecoming opponent is coming to town with a winning record and payback on its mind.

For the second time in three season Illinois (2-5, 1-3 Big Ten) has lined up Minnesota as its homecoming opposition. Last time the Illini upset a Golden Gophers team that competing for a Big Ten West title, winning 28-24 on a late fumble returned for a touchdown.

Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner was there, and he says it was one of the first things coach Tracy Claeys stressed to the Golden Gophers (5-2, 2-2) this week. Not that Claeys needed to, Leidner said.

“Guys are hungry and excited to go down there and redeem ourselves,” the redshirt senior said.

The Gophers are coming off a comeback win of their own, 34-32 over Rutgers, a team Illinois beat by 17.

But after last week’s 41-8 loss at Michigan, the Illini aren’t talking about their win two seasons ago or the win over Rutgers two weeks ago.

“We lost big,” first-year coach Lovie Smith said. “This isn’t a week to talk about any of us, improvement we’ve made.”