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The Jim Thorpe Award watch list candidate is not expected to be on the travel roster when No. 9 Illinois plays at No. 19 Indiana on Saturday night.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Unless a second opinion on his lower body injury reveals a drastic medical theory shift, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema does not sound optimistic about having his Phil Steele Preseason All-Big Ten Conference first team selection on the travel roster this weekend.

In his final media availability before the game on Thursday afternoon, Bielema confirmed fourth-year defensive back Xavier Scott have not been active for practice this week. Scott suffered an undisclosed lower-body injury that appeared to be an ankle or foot issue late in the fourth quarter of the 38-0 win over Western Michigan last weekend.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Several in-state and regional recruits lined the north end zone before No. 9 Illinois faced off against Western Michigan last Saturday. Among them was Corey Laga, a 2027 offensive lineman who spoke with IlliniGuys about his visit and the recruitment process that’s been heating up with his junior year of high school football ahead of him.

Laga could be one of head coach Bret Bielema’s early in-state finds. This year’s team has 50 players who played high school football in Illinois. Laga, who is from Lemont, about two hours north of Champaign in the Chicago suburbs, says that when he thinks of Illinois football, he thinks of one word.

“Really, I just think family,” he said. “They have the FamILLy slogan, they have a family in their locker room. And also culture, too. Coach Bret has brought them together.”

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois hosted one of the nation’s top young prospects last weekend when Keller Daugherty, a 6-foot-9 shooting guard from the class of 2027, made his visit to Champaign. For Daugherty, the experience matched what he was hoping to see.

“It’s everything I thought it would be,” Daugherty said. “Yeah, for sure, for sure.”

Assistant coach Tyler Underwood is the lead recruiter for Daugherty, saying they have built a strong connection.

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 17, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Jaxon Davis, a 6-foot-1, 165-pound point guard from Gurnee, made a trip to Champaign to watch an Illinois men’s basketball workout this past weekend, and he walked away impressed with what he saw. Ranked No. 53 in the country by ESPN, Davis described his visit as a business trip, focusing on how the Illini develop their guards both in and out of season.

“I loved the guard play here and the freedom they have,” Davis said. “I was paying attention to the little things they do, because they’re all different players. (Kylan) Boswell, (Keaton) Wagler, and (Mihailo) Petrovic are very fast, athletic, and shoot the ball good.”

There had been speculation about Davis

By IlliniGuys Staff

September 17, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy delivered the latest news on the men's basketball board on our premium forums earlier this week. Here's what we found out:

The 255-pound tailback for Illinois had a 100-yard evening against Western Michigan and might be hitting his most confident stride as the No. 9 Illini enter Big Ten Conference play.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 17, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The first and possibly only person who can properly know if Kaden Feagin finally felt back to normal in a game following extensive lower body physical therapy is the young man wearing a No. 3 Illinois jersey.

Following his 100-yard performance in the 38-0 win over Western Michigan on Saturday, Feagin told local reporters that in the midst of his 20-carry performance, the 21-year-old said there was a moment he felt different with the football.

“I felt like on my (3-yard) touchdown run was where I stuck my head in there, made one cut and then kept my feet going after contact,” Feagin said Saturday night. “I felt like that moment really set the tone for the night for me.”

According to Pro Football Focus data,

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 16, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – On Saturday, the nation’s ninth-ranked Illinois football team hosted Western Michigan. Head coach Bret Bielema and his staff brought in a large group of potential football recruits, but the men’s basketball program also made noise, welcoming one of the top players in the 2026 class to campus.

Cameron Holmes, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard from Millennium High School in Goodyear, Arizona, made his first trip to Champaign for an official visit. For Holmes, the experience was eye-opening.

"I am really glad to be here. I didn't know what to expect, but wow

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

September 16, 2025

I hope everyone enjoyed the last out of conference warm-up before the Big Ten season starts off with an exciting game at Indiana next Saturday night.  Despite another bad start for the Illini, it was a good night in Champaign as Illinois outclassed the Broncos and pulled away to make it a laugher at the end.

I'm going to start with the more problematic side of the ball, the offense.  Illinois was hapless on the offensive line again in the first half before outmuscling and outclassing Western Michigan in the second half.  This particular play was especially hapless.  Hank Beatty apparently didn't feel like the accolades he'd earned so far were sufficient, because he decided to go ahead and make a TFL as well.  On one hand, its easy to look at this and wonder what he's thinking.  However, on the other you can see why a mistake like this would happen.  Any time you're running a play that depends on precise timing from the motion man, you're taking a risk like this.  And to be fair, if Beatty wasn't the only person on the wrong page, as JC Davis starts to block down before realizing his mistake that he was leaving 2(!) edge defenders unblocked.  I'm pretty sure Beatty was supposed to motion down and block the safety on the end of the line while Davis and Josh Gesky double the defensive end before Gesky climbs to the linebacker.  However, the snap count, organization, and effort were all lacking on this one.

IlliniGuys.com’s Matt Stevens gives his weekly Top 25 ballot […]

Through the first three quarters of the 38-0 win over Western Michigan, the Illinois run defense allowed just 2.8 yards per rush. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 16, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In a honestly very forgettable game, Illinois showed in the most important play its physical dominance and intelligence in gap control in its run defense. 

With just three seconds remaining in the second half, Western Michigan had the football inside the Illini’s 1-yard-line in what obviously their best chance to score on Saturday night. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema talks about the “double dip” of scoring at the end of the first half and then getting the football first in the second half to score again. With Illinois ahead 10-0 in this moment, Western Michigan desperately needed this “double dip” opportunity and Lance Taylor’s squad ran a play that requires perfect nose tackle play and solid fundamental eye discipline in the second level of the defense. 

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular September 16, 2025 The […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

Five-star Bolingbrook Prep shooting guard Brady Pettigrew, ranked No. 15 nationally by ESPN, visited Illinois this weekend and didn’t hesitate to share his first impressions. “I’m having a blast down here right now,” Pettigrew said.

Only a sophomore, Pettigrew is already ranked No. 15 in the country and continues to gain national attention. Illinois understands that getting him on campus early and often might play a major role when it comes time for him to make his decision.

By llliniGuys Staff

September 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy USA Basketball)

IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst and the co-host of the syndicated radio show IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular Brad Sturdy was all over campus on Saturday...and posted this report on the IlliniGuys message boards about the latest on the Illinois men's basketball team and a number of prospects who have the Illini on their radar:

Despite Bret Bielema’s best efforts at avoiding this reality, Illinois proved Saturday they don’t need their ‘A’ or ‘B’ game to beat lower-level competition. And this hasn’t been the case for decades.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 14, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There is one obvious reason Saturday night was a night to celebrate if you’re a fan of the University of Illinois football program.

Yes, Illinois didn’t play very well and you might go as far as to say poorly for 30 minutes. Let’s not argue about the fact that Illinois was still up two scores (10-0) at halftime.

Yes, Illinois - the No. 9 team in the Associated Press Top 25 poll - has a lot of teachable moments for coaches and players and corrections to make this upcoming week before they travel to face a ranked Indiana team in Bloomington. Let’s not argue about the fact that this is probably exactly what Illini head coach Bret Bielema wanted going into a matchup that will immediately grab the attention of his entire roster.

Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 14, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The ninth-ranked Illinois football program welcomed several recruits to campus Saturday for its matchup against Western Michigan. Among them was Caleb Offner, a 2026 offensive lineman from Winside, Nebraska, who updated IlliniGuys on his gameday experience.