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Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Illini Insider & Co-Host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 11, 2025

The Illini welcome the USC Trojans to the State Farm Center in the 10th all-time meeting between the two programs and the first as members of the Big Ten.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 10, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's page on X)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Are you surprised that Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema landed one of the state’s top prospects from the Class of 2026? After an early-week meeting with Bielema, 6-foot-4, 200-pound junior wide receiver Davon Grant of DeKalb made his decision: he would stay home and play for his state university.

By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys […]

After losing two starters this week for the rest of the season and having a six-player rotation, the Illinois women’s basketball program managed to still beat a Top 25 program. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 10, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — What’s left of this Illinois women’s basketball roster would very much prefer for the doubting outside of its locker room to continue. 

By IlliniGuys Staff January 9, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 9, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy South Dakota State Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has added more to next year's roster with the addition of tight end Davin Stoffel, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound sophomore from Mosinee, Wisconsin. Stoffel, who will have three years of eligibility remaining, comes to the Illini from South Dakota State.

Stoffel is set to join Tanner Arkin and Cole Rusk in Illinois’ tight end group next fall. His arrival adds much-needed depth to a position that saw the departure of Henry Boyer, who transferred to Kentucky earlier this year.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   Illinois vs. #23/23 […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 9, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football program has been actively working to fine tune its offensive line with not just added depth but also high-caliber talent. Their efforts paid off with the addition of Idaho Vandals standout Ayden Knapik, a 6-foot-6, 295-pound senior from Kennewick, Washington.

Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Illini Insider & Co-Host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 9, 2025

Penn State has been a thorn in the side of Illinois for a while now, going back to the Rich McBride game winner that was waved off in 2006 and then 4 losses in a row, 3 in 2023 and a colossal meltdown a year ago. When Illinois found out about an hour before tipoff that star guard Kasparas Jakucionis was out with a left forearm injury, it seemed like the curse would continue. 

Illinois gets a trio of 20-point scoring efforts to […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting January […]

Former Purdue and Mississippi State punter Keelan Crimmins has reportedly agreed to join Illinois for his third season of college football.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 8, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Alex Martin/Journal and Courier)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Bret Bielema’s extensive search of the punter market in the transfer portal has concluded with the acquisition of a player who had one of the best kicking seasons among power four conference players.

Former Purdue punter Keelan Crimmins has reportedly agreed to transfer to Illinois and will be available for the 2025 season. CBS Sports.com and 247Sports.com were the first to report this news on Wednesday evening.

Bielema, who just finished his fourth season as the Illinois head coach, said on Dec. 28 in a media session following a Citrus Bowl practice in Orlando, the position of punter would be a priority search in the transfer portal this offseason.

The loss of Makira Cook and Gretchen Dolan puts extreme stress on this Illini coaching staff attempting to find what works offensively without two high-level scorers.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 8, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The latest injury news surrounding the Illini’s women’s basketball program has all but eliminated the easy button of Shauna Green’s offense.

When Makira Cook and Gretchen Dolan were healthy and in the Illinois playing rotation, the plan to stop any scoring lull throughout a game or any, late-clock or late-game situations was more simple than you might assume from a power four conference program. Green was just fine with getting Cook, an All-Big Ten selection at lead guard, a ball screen to get the 5-foot-6 scorer downhill toward the front of the rim. During an injury-plagued 2023-24 season, the main reason for Illinois’ run to the first annual WBIT championship was a fully healthy Cook being able to make what might like like little to no cohesion into two or three points with the basketball in her hands.

Illinois guards Makira Cook and Gretchen Dolan will not […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

January 8, 2025

The Illini are back home for a Wednesday night battle with the Penn State Nittany Lions. PSU sits at 12-3 and have presented problems for Illinois over the years, with Illinois losing 4 in a row in this matchup, including a colossal meltdown a year ago. Now the new look Illinois are as hot as ever, winning 4 in a row including an historic beat down of Oregon, and look to come home for a pair of Big Ten wins.

Let’s look at the matchup.

Setting the Stage

#13ap/15 Illinois (11-3, 3-1) vs. Penn State (12-3, 2-2)
Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 // 8 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: BTN – Jeff Levering (Play-by-Play), Shon Morris (Analyst), & Andy Katz (Sideline)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Meet the Lions

*Penn State is 12-3 on the season, 2-2 in Big Ten play, and heads to #13 Illinois Wednesday night for the first of three-straight matchups vs. top-20 teams.