First NFL Game Played in Rock Island, Illinois

• history
• Football

With the Bears headed for another losing season, Illinois football fans may be looking for some uplifting sports information in these trying times.

What most football fans may not know is that the first NFL game in history was played in Rock Island, Illinois. The game, played at Douglas Park, was held on Sept. 26, 1920 between the Rock Island Independents and the St. Paul Ideals. The Rock Island Independents hosted and won in a blowout 48 points to 0.

Haven’t heard of these teams? Most folks haven’t. Only two of the original NFL teams still exist. The Chicago Cardinals, now the Arizona Cardinals, and the Decatur Staleys, who are now the Chicago Bears. The matchup in Rock Island followed decades of Illinois high school and college play in the late 1800s. There were other professional leagues that existed prior to the NFL, with many teams participating from Illinois. The rest is history as football went on to become an American tradition watched enthusiastically by millions today.

Holiday Light Shows in Illinois

Every winter and holiday season, Illinois hosts numerous festive light shows in your favorite local spots! Whether you enjoy a relaxing stroll through a forested park with towering illuminated pine trees or a downtown experience driving through magical displays, Illinois has a light show for you to keep holiday traditions going.

Here are several notable displays to see:

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Illinois named third best state for college students

Illinois was named the third best state for college students in 2025, according to a recent study from a non-profit charity rating organization SmileHub.

In order to determine the rankings, SmileHub compared each of the 50 states based on 28 key metrics and three specific dimensions: education quality and support, social life, and economic environment.

Illinois ranked fourth for education quality and support, and fifth for social life – with an overall ranking of third with a score of 60.15.

Higher education is extremely important to Illinois with nearly 700,000 students enrolled in higher education programs across the state.

The ranking also looked at highest state funding for higher education and Illinois tied for first.

View the full SmileHub ranking here.

Illinois’ holiday transit rides

This December, add a bit of holiday cheer to your regular commute or explore new places by catching a ride on holiday transit offered across the state.

Whether by bus, train or trolley, these rides add joy and magic to cold winter days that the whole family can enjoy.

See our list below to plan your next ride:

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