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By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 28, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy East Carolina Athletics)

I know you're all expecting recruiting spotlights on each of our newcomers, but with the constant comings and goings I decided it was better to break down the post-portal roster position by position. And, since everyone was most anxious to learn who our quarterback would be, I'm starting there.

The newcomer: Katin Houser, transfer from ECU. I really thought the Illini nailed this one. Typically a P4 program without unlimited dollars is looking for a transfer QB who was highly rated but failed at his first school or a guy who did well against lesser competition but is looking to move up a level in his last year of eligibility. In Houser, the Illini got the best of both worlds. He's a guy who had the ability to earn a 4-star rating coming out of high school, yet he also shone at ECU when he transferred after Michigan State's new coach Jonathan Smith brought a new QB with him to East Lansing. Houser redshirted in his first year and then took over as the primary starter in 2023. However, Michigan State endured a brutal season that saw the Spartans start off decently but then fall apart down the stretch. Houser took over the starting job in week 4 and generally played like a talented player who wasn't ready yet.

Illinois vs. No. 2 UCLA Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026 […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 27, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Once labeled a lightly regarded recruit and questioned for his frame, Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler has rapidly transformed from an overlooked high school prospect into one of the most talked-about young players in college basketball and a potential NBA lottery pick.

While much of the country has been stunned by Wagler’s rapid rise, there is at least one person who is not surprised: David Birch, the head boys basketball coach at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Kansas.

Birch, Wagler’s high school coach, recently spoke with IlliniGuys in an exclusive interview about Wagler’s development, recruitment, and what always set him apart.

At the high school level, Wagler’s recruiting rankings hardly suggested a future NBA discussion.

The Illinois football team's 2026 Big Ten schedule was […]

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular January 27, 2025 The […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 26, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Let’s start this week’s edition with the big win at Mackey Arena over the Purdue Boilermakers, 88-82.

Some people in the Purdue camp are a little baffled as to why the Illinois players and coaches celebrated so much after the win. There are several reasons. Brad Underwood and Matt Painter both understand the significance of wins and losses between the two programs, recruiting some of the same players as of late for starters.

Don’t let anyone underplay the competition between the two programs. Since the early 2020s, Illinois has 89 wins, and Purdue has 88. The Boilermakers have made one Final Four; the Illini have advanced to the Elite Eight.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 26, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Hoosier Huddle)

Welcome to Part 3 of the Cignetti Recipe. Now that I've done a deep dive on Curt Cignetti and in his staff, I thought I'd look into the players that have benefitted from Cignetti's new dynasty at Indiana.

Most people would tell you that the Indiana turnaround was all about Cignetti bringing his best players from James Madison with him. However, only 13 of the 31 incoming transfers to Indiana in 2024 followed Cignetti and his staff. And I'm sure everyone noticed that James Madison has continued to excel with the players that Cignetti left behind so clearly some good players stayed and the cupboard wasn't bare in Harrisonburg. New JMU coach Bob Chesney took much of his staff with him from Holy Cross and there's only one staff member left over from the Cignetti era, so it stands to reason that the Cignetti-coached Dukes remaining at JMU are still very talented. Not only that, but only two Hoosiers were drafted in 2025.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 25, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – During last week’s men’s basketball game against Minnesota, the seats behind the home baseline at State Farm Center were filled with a group of 2027 recruits, with each of them sitting next to the coaches actively recruiting them. Among them was Evanston Township High School athlete Justin Johnson.

Currently rated as a three-star recruit, Johnson has attracted interest from nine Division I schools. IlliniGuys’ Zeno Jo was at State Farm Center on Saturday and spoke with Johnson, who said he was there for his first Illini basketball game. Sitting next to him for most of the game was Illini defensive backs coach Corey Parker.

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

January 25, 2026

Big Ten Player of the Year Braden Smith was amazing on Saturday for Purdue, posting 27 points and 12 assists, Illini Freshman Keaton Wagler was better. Wagler scored 46 points to lead Illinois to an 88-82 upset in Mackey Arena over #4 Purdue, setting a flurry of records and getting Illinois to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in Big Ten play.

The most amazing thing was that Wagler scored his 46 points on just 17 shots. His efficiency was off the charts, and it wasn’t just the 9-11 from 3, it was the assists, the hockey assists, making 2’s, and getting to the foul line. Even one of his turnovers was a clear no call on a drive

These 3 Things

The Right Reads

On a night he scored the most points ever for a Purdue opponent inside Mackey Arena, IlliniGuys.com looks at four straight possessions where Keaton Wagler made the perfect pass.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 24, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — With four minutes remaining, Keaton Wagler had already produced 42 points.

At that point, the Illinois freshman guard owned the record for the most points by a single player opponent in the 58-year history of Mackey Arena. The problem for Illinois was they were still behind on the team scoreboard 73-70. It was at point that Wagler, one of the biggest surprises in this supremely talented freshman class of players, had clearly showed his ability to pump in points and fill up his own scoring column. It was the final four minutes where Wagler showed the mental, emotional and physical maturity critical to winning.

In four straight possessions that all ended with a made three-point shot, Wagler had the basketball in his hands and did exactly what both benches wanted him to do - give it up to a teammate. A three-pointer to Tomislav Ivisic on a two-man game where the Purdue center Oscar Cluff blitzed Wagler in a double-team leaving the veteran Illini big all alone at the top of the key tied the score at 73 with three minutes and 31 seconds left.

By lllliniGuys Staff January 24, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff January 24, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys […]

Illinois head to Lincoln to Face #24 Nebraska Preview […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 24, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A year and a half ago, Illinois became one of the first Division I schools and the first power conference school to offer Chicago native and Brother Rice standout defensive lineman Brayden Parks. Fast forward to present day, Parks has become not just one of the highest-rated players in the state, but one of the highest-rated defensive linemen in the entire nation.

When Parks spoke to IlliniGuys back in September, he’d racked up over 40 offers, with some of college football’s bluebloods chasing his signature. While Illinois did hop on the Parks train early, the likes of Alabama, Notre Dame, LSU, Michigan, and Ohio State have added to his ever-growing list of offers since then.