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By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 15, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

It was another tough loss for the Illini on Saturday as the Boilermakers from Purdue won both the Cannon trophy and essentially the Big Ten West.  Not only that, but unlike the Michigan State loss, the Illini can't look back and blame misfortune as the Boilermakers outgained the Illini by 82 yards and won the time of possession battle with 32:15.  So, as you might expect, this is going to be the ugliest Trench Report of the year so far because the Illini had plenty of problems on the line.  I'm going start with the best example of line play of the day:

#19 Illini make history by opening the season with […]

Illinois gets 30 points off 24 Monmouth turnovers in a 103-65 blowout win over an overmatched, low-major opponent just days before heading to Las Vegas to face No. 8 UCLA. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 14, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois used an easily overmatched Monmouth program to send a nationwide message. 

The warning to future opponents is clear: Don’t run with us because we promise that we’re better at that style than you. 

In a 103-65 blowout win that was essentially over when No. 19 Illinois (3-0) ran out to an early 8-0 lead just 44 seconds into the game that forced Monmouth head coach King Rice into a very early timeout. It didn’t get better for the Hawks (0-3) as the Illini rattled and frustrated Monmouth into 24 turnovers, only 21 field goals and had 18 points in transition. 

IlliniGuys Staff November 14, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy Steve […]

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 14, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Eileen Meslar/The World Herald)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois will be without a starter and a veteran reserve at cornerback for the remainder of this 2022 season.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirmed Monday that third-year sophomore Tahveon "Taz" Nicholson and senior Terrell Jennings will be out for the final two regular season games and the bowl game.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema fails to update the playing status of Chase Brown after he suffered a right leg injury Saturday in the loss to Purdue. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 14, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The language used on Monday by the head football coach at the University of Illinois doesn’t clear up the health and playing status of the nation’s leading rusher for this weekend. 

Illini coach Bret Bielema talks with reporters in his […]

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

November 14, 2022

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

Another weekend and another tough loss.

Illini coach Brad Underwood's looking for a 3-0 start […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

November 13, 2022

The Fighting Illini football program knew how important their last home football game would be for the future of their program.

By Zain Bando - IlliniGuys Student Correspondent

November 13, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Just two weeks ago, things were looking up for the Illini. At 7-1, Illinois joined the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time in program history at No. 16, as the team looked ahead to two home matchups against Michigan State and Purdue. Win both, and a ticket to Indy is clinched.

The silver platter has yet to arrive, and now there's a strong possibility it will be lost in transit and find a home elsewhere. Last Saturday, a 23-7 deficit was too much to overcome, as penalties and turnovers plagued Illinois before running out of time on the game’s final drive, losing 23-15 in front of over 56,000 fans, most of them wearing Orange and Blue.

By IlliniGuys Staff November 12, 2022 (Cover photo courtesy […]

November 12, 2022 The Illini's winning streak stopped by […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

November 12, 2022
On a night when last year's Illini hung a Big Ten championship banner for the second year in a row, this year's team showed glimpses of being capable of getting a banner of their own. (Photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

Dain Dainja scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in his second double-double in as many games this season as #23 Illinois overcame a cold shooting start to cruise to an 86-48 victory over Missouri-Kansas City. Terrence Shannon pitched in 14, Jayden Epps 13 and Skyy Clark 10 for the Illini as they moved to 2-0 to start the season. 

Here’s a look back.

IlliniGuys Staff

November 11, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Dain Dainja scored a team-high 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in his second double-double in as many games this season as #23 Illinois overcame a frigid start to cruise to an 86-48 victory over Missouri-Kansas City.

It was a perfect finish to a night that saw the Illini raise their first Big Ten regular season championship banner since 2005 and departed star players Kofi Cockburn, Trent Frazier, Alfonso Plummer, and Da'Monte Williams return to get their championship rings.