For the next four years, Illini fans can expect a new rivalry to brew down south.

Starting Labor Day Weekend, the Illinois football will begin an annual match-up with the Missouri Tigers. The State Farm Arch Rivalry will take place on Sept. 1 and will kickoff in the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to play a great opponent in Missouri,” head coach Ron Zook said in a press release. “It will give us a good idea of where we are as a team. I know the Illini Nation will be excited about helping us start the 2007 season in St. Louis.

Tickets for the event went on sale Monday, and the University Athletic Ticket Office will be selling a limited number of the tickets for the game. Tickets can be purchased through FightingIllini.com, or by calling the Assembly Hall Athletic Ticket Office at 866-ILLINI-1.

Illinois announced its agreement with Missouri and the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission and the St. Louis Sports Commission in August of 2005 and, along with the city of St. Louis, have been preparing for the showdown since.

“We’re very excited to renew this series in football with the University of Missouri,” Illinois athletic director Ron Guenther said in a press release after the agreement in 2005. “We are especially excited about the games being played in St. Louis with a great facility and expect this to be a spectacular event comparable with our annual men’s basketball game against the Tigers each December.”

Mizzou, a member of the Big 12, was 8-5 last season, including an appearance in the Brut Sun Bowl.