CHAMPAIGN — After starting last season 2-0 with wins over Group of Five teams Ball State and Western Kentucky, Illinois went to Tampa for its first real big test.

The Illini failed big-time, losing 47-23. And they failed every subsequent test. The USF loss was the first of 10 straight (followed by nine straight Big Ten losses) to end a 2-10 season.

Allowing 680 yards to the Bulls last season still stings Illinois head coach Lovie Smith. The Illini will get a chance at revenge when they host the Bulls (2-0) at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Solider Field in Chicago.

"South Florida really got after us last year," Smith said Monday during his weekly press conference. "We did not show up and play good football in all three phases. We are given another opportunity to play better football and compete a lot better than we did last year.

"We need a great week of practice to get ready for them. Have a similar approach offensively, so we have had a little bit more of practice to get ready for that offensive attack. We are excited to get ready and go up to Chicago to play at Soldier Field."

Illinois fell behind Kent State 17-3 at halftime and trailed Western Illinois 7-0 after the first quarter. They climbed out of both holes, but Smith knows his team likely can't dig a similar hole against the Bulls, who beat Illinois 47-23 last year and Tampa and last week beat Georgia Tech 49-38.

"We finish well," Smith said. "I have learned we have not played a full game yet. Hopefully this week we will peak at the right time, starting off right away. What we learned offensively is that we can move the ball. I think everything we want to be as a football team, we have seen signs of but need to be able to put that together."