Tim Beckman comes to Illinois after three years in the Mid-American Conference with Toledo.

But when the Illini take the field in Saturday’s season opener at Memorial Stadium, the head coach will be right back in the conference he left behind.

The MAC’s Western Michigan is first up for Illinois. The Broncos gave both Beckman’s Toledo squad and the Illini nearly all they could handle last season. Western Michigan fell to Illinois and Toledo by three points, but that’s just about all the two games had in common.

The Rockets defeated the Broncos in a 66-63 shootout, and the Illini overcame a halftime deficit to squeeze out a 23-20 win.

While allowing over 60 points or scoring just 23 isn’t Beckman’s ideal outcome for the Illini this weekend, he will just be content to start his Illinois career with a victory.

“As long as there’s a ‘W’ up there,” Beckman said. “That’s what we’re seeking.”

Like Illinois, the Broncos finished 7-6 after a bowl appearance last season. Western Michigan will bring a potent passing game to Champaign led by senior quarterback Alex Carder, who is arguably the MAC’s best passer.

“I think they’re an even better team than they were last year,” quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said. “It’s going to be another great game.”

Scheelhaase said Beckman has shared much of his experience coaching against Broncos with his team.

“It’s nice to have that because he’s used to playing against those guys and knows those coaches pretty well,” Scheelhaase said. “He’s been in that conference and been around them so he has helped us out with just what they’re all about.”

Beckman is 2-1 against Western Michigan, and Illinois leads the all-time series at 3-1 with all three victories coming at home.

Last season, Carder passed for 3,873 yards and 31 touchdowns and will be looking for a big game against an Illinois secondary that may be without top safeties Steve Hull and Suppo Sanni, who both could miss Saturday’s game with lingering injuries.

“They’ll be out there practicing, but we’re not going to put a football player on the field unless they’re 100 percent ready to roll,” Beckman said Monday.

Both Hull and Sanni were left off the week’s depth chart that was released Monday. Defensive end Justin Staples will also miss the game while serving a one-game suspension. Staples was charged with a DUI last February in Champaign.

Western Michigan head coach Bill Cubit said during Monday’s MAC coaches teleconference that his players play with a chip on their shoulders against Big Ten opponents.

“Let’s face it, when we play these teams, they’re a lot more highly ranked than what we’ve got,” Cubit said. “But I don’t think that necessarily puts us at a disadvantage. I think we’ve got some good players in the MAC, too.”

After nearly upsetting the then-ranked No. 24 Illini last season, the current Illinois players certainly won’t be underestimating the Broncos.

“I’m pretty sure their coach will be telling them, ‘We can beat these guys,” junior defensive tackle Akeem Spence said. “We’ve got to be hungry. We’ve got to take it from them. With the new era starting off, I feel like it’s going to be a real big day for us.”

_Chad can be reached at [email protected] and @cthornburg10._