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The addition of cornerbacks coach Corey Parker and a new set of leadership personnel in the Illini secondary led to a much more organized and disciplined positional group in 2024.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

March 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Whatever buttons were pushed to make the Illinois secondary much less penalized in the 2024 season certainly was successful.

According to Pro Football Focus data, the three starting cornerbacks at Illinois (Tahveon Nicholson, Xavier Scott and Tyler Strain) were the No. 1, No. 3 and No. 10 most penalized players at their position in the Big Ten Conference in a 2023 season where they finished with a disappointing 5-7 record thanks to underperforming defensive execution. Enter defensive backs coach Corey Parker and his loud but detailed style of coaching and PFF data suggested Illinois didn’t have a single defensive back in the Top 10 in its positional group in penalties last season. The Illini finished the 2024 campaign just eighth in the 18-team Big Ten Conference in penalty yardage, just ahead of Big Ten Championship Game participants Oregon and Penn State, just a single season after being 13th in a 14-team league in penalty yards.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

March 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Good morning and welcome to the first spring football practice for the Illinois program for the 2025 season in the fifth campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema begins in the early hours at Memorial Stadium.

It was a 45-minute viewing period that involved players in just helmets (no shoulder pads and just shorts on the lower body) with no full-team activities with only a short time being team stretching but here’s the quick notes:

At least 16 Illinois players will begin the spring practice session on the inactive list.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

March 11, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois will not be conducting a spring football game in 2025.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirmed on Tuesday during a local media conference that his program is going to have a intrasquad scrimmage game inside Memorial Stadium. The Illini are joining programs such as Nebraska and Texas to publicly cancel their annual spring game traditions for various and different reasons.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– The 2025 All-Big […]

March 11, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The largest Big Ten tournament ever tips off tomorrow and the league's first postseason men's basketball event that's not all-inclusive.

The field expands to 15 teams to make room for newcomers Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington joining the Big Ten. However, the new format means the lowest three teams in the regular season standings will not be invited. Washington, Penn State, and Nebraska, which finished the season on a five-game losing streak, will all stay at home.

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) EVANSTON, Ill. – Lucas Byrd became […]

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst March 10, […]

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 10, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – As the men’s and women’s college basketball seasons wind down, coaches must immediately begin building their rosters for the next season.

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

March 9, 2025

The Illini finally won a close game by making plays down the stretch. They used a 13-1 run in the final 3 minutes to close out Purdue 88-80 as they continue to show growth since the loss to Duke at Madison Square Garden. 

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular March 9, 2025 It […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

March 8, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois football program continues to build its 2026 recruiting class with another top in-state prospect. Casey Thomann, a 6-foot-7, 300-pound offensive tackle from Olney, Illinois, committed to Illinois early in the week, a decision that was expected, though the timing came as a surprise.

Thomann has visited the Fighting Illini a lot throughout his recruitment, consistently returning to campus. His first scholarship offer came from his home state program, which was a significant factor in his decision.

Following a spectacular performance in win over Purdue, Illinois head coach Brad Underwood may argue with anybody that his most improved player is Tre White.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

CHAMPAIGN — Purdue head coach Matt Painter got introduced to the full Tre White experience from Illinois.

Following a 88-80 loss to the Illini, the Boilermakers 20-year head coach said he’d leave State Farm Center Friday night with one baffling thought.

“We just defensively couldn’t pick up the dive cut guy in our rotations,” Painter said shaking his head. “We just couldn’t take the dive guy. It drives me nuts.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUXe9eYel3A    

By IlliniGuys Staff March 7, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

After surviving multiple significant injuries to key players, Illinois head coach Shauna Green is going to focus on body recovery before her team’s NCAA Tournament game.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

March 7, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS — In the week prior to being selected to the WBIT field, Shauna Green put her squad through some of the most grueling practices and intrasquad scrimmages of the season to get prepared for a postseason run.

Needless to say, the Illinois third-year head coach will not be doing that from now to when the NCAA Tournament bracket being revealed on the night of March 16 (7 p.m. CST on ESPN).