GAME NOTES | WATCH LIVE | LIVE STATS

(LEBANON, Ill., Sept. 7)--After nine months, the wait is over for new McKendree University football coach Mike Babcock. The 17th head coach in the history of the Bearcats' program will make his debut Saturday afternoon when the Bearcats play host to Tiffin University at Leemon Field. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.

"I'm excited," said Babcock, who was hired Dec. 5 to replace Carl Poelker, who retired following the 2012 season after 17 years at the helm of the McKendree football program. "Our players and our coaches have put in a lot of work over the last several months. We're ready to see if that hard work has paid off."

McKendree has 13 starters back from last year's 3-7 squad, including seven on offense. Babcock will lean on sophomore Isaac Fisher (Washington, IL/Washington) as the starting quarterback entering the 2013 season. An experienced offensive line will be anchored by seniors Richie Rebmann (Bensenville, IL/Fenton), Ayoola Oyetunji (DeSoto, IL/Carbondale) and Anthony Sabattini (Springfield, IL/Glenwood). Spohomore Cameron James (Edwardsville, IL/Edwardsville), who was the Bearcats' top running back in 2012, moves to wide receiver this year. Junior Ryan Herring (Fairview Heights, IL/Belleville East) and sophomore Jeruel Taylor (University Park, IL/Marian Catholic), who were among the team's leading rushers last season, will both see time at tailback.

Defensively, the Bearcats switch to a 3-4 defense and will call upon juniors Sam Legg (Chicago, IL/St. Patrick) and Cameron Ford (Danville, IL/Danville) to solidify the defensive line at nose guard. McKendree's leading tackler from a year ago -- junior Bryce Colvin (East Peoria, IL/East Peoria) -- headlines a list of talented linebackers that also includes junior Drake Schmudlach (Carthage, IL/Illini West) and sophomore Alec Gerdes (Normal, IL/Normal). First-team All-Conference selection Jamison Wilson (Country Club Hills, IL/Hillcrest) leads the charge in the secondary for McKendree, which also brings back starters in seniors Ryan Keen (Country Club Hills, IL/Hillcrest) and Michael Romshek (Gibson City, IL/Gibson City-Melvin Sibley).

Tiffin went 3-8 in 2012 and 2-8 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Head coach Gary Goff has several key returnees on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the Dragons will look to wide receivers Marcus Beaurem and Jeremy Armstrong as well as lineman Dustan Craig for leadership. On defense, big names back for Tiffin include lineman Joseph Collard, linebacker Bryon McCorkle, and defensive backs Brandon Person and Stefan Willis.

Last season marked the first meeting on the gridiron between the two schools. Tiffin held on in the second half to post a 23-13 victory in the season opener for both teams.