Win tickets to the Northwestern game here.

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Nobody went to see TCF Bank Stadium on Friday.

For Minnesota, it's a new tradition. For Illinois, it was a practical solution to a traffic problem.

The only time Minnesota sees its new stadium each week is during Thursday's practices. The Gophers have meetings and a walkthrough at their practice facility before taking buses to the team hotel on the outskirts of the Twin Cities. The far outskirts. The Gophers have been staying at the unknown location since TIM BREWSTER took over as coach in 2007.

"I've seen it done a bunch of ways, and I like my way better," Brewster said Friday.

The Gophers had a "great week of practices."

"You win on Saturday by practicing well on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays," Brewster said.

On an unseasonably warm November day in Minneapolis, Brewster went for a 5-mile run along the Mississippi River before joining his team. Brewster isn't wishing for snow and cold today.

"I kind of like the nicer weather myself," Brewster said.

Brewster's starting quarterback, ADAM WEBER, is coming off a five-touchdown game against Michigan State. And he knows JUICE WILLIAMS, a Minnesota nemesis, played well, too.

"Illinois has got a collection of very talented football players," Brewster said. "Without question, Juice is one of those talented players. They've got our attention."

The Gophers are missing star receiver ERIC DECKER, who is out for the season with a foot injury. Brewster said there are no other major injuries.

"We're really pretty healthy considering this time of year," Brewster said.

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The Illinois travel party left Willard Airport at 4 p.m. for the short flight to Minneapolis. Because the team was arriving at 5 p.m., the heart of rush hour in the Twin Cities, it didn't go to visit TCF Bank Stadium.

Instead, the Illini went directly to their team headquarters, the swanky Crowne Plaza in downtown Minneapolis.

Receiver JARRED FAYSON and safety DONSAY HARDEMAN, who missed the last two games because of injuries, made the trip.

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The Illini prepared for the worst with a November game in Minneapolis, ordering heated bleachers for the sideline at a cost of about $3,000. But with the temperature expected to be in the 50s, the warm suits won't be needed much.

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Last time the Illini played at Minnesota, the game was at the Metrodome, which is less than a mile from their hotel. There will be a bit longer ride this morning and a much better end product.

TCF Bank Stadium has all the amenities of the rebuilt Big Ten buildings. Because the school was starting from scratch, it could do a better job with the facilities underneath the stands. Especially the locker rooms, which are big for the home team and the visitors. The lockers are set up so they can be split if the school hosts high school state championship games. Given the stadium's location and the look, the high schools ought to be on the way soon.

There is one giant scoreboard above one end zone and a smaller version at the other end.

The school pays homage to many of its great players. And it pays special attention to frozen treats. At one level of the suites is the DQ Club, named in honor of the Blizzard maker. The area serves as a central meeting location for all premium seat owners and includes 14 flat-screen televisions.

The Minnesota band also is treated right at the stadium, with a huge room of its own.

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Illinois won't be back to TCF Bank Stadium until 2013. At the earliest. Minnesota visits Memorial Stadium in 2010 before the teams take a two-year break (Ohio State also goes off the UI schedule).

In a schedule twist, Illinois plays at Michigan in 2010 and '11. At some later point, the Wolverines will come back to Champaign in consecutive seasons.

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Illinois' captains for today's game will be receiver Chris Duvalt, safety Garrett Edwards, defensive end Doug Pilcher and quarterback Juice Williams. Illinois picks game captains throughout the season. Permanent captains will be announced at the team's annual banquet in December.

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Good news for those who favor an open process in the polls that decide the BCS Championship rankings. The final regular season ballot of every voter in the USA Today college football coaches' poll will remain public.

The coaches had considered making those votes confidential. But Grant Teaff, executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, said Friday it will stay an open ballot.

The coaches' poll helps decide which teams play in the BCS national championship game.

Ballots in The Associated Press' college football poll are available to the public from the preseason to the final post-bowl vote.