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New Illinois defensive line coach Jordan Thomas brings an expertise in the 3-3-5 scheme while also having college and pro coaching history on his resume.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

February 17, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The major transition of the Illinois defensive coaching staff is now complete with the hiring of defensive line coach Jordan Thomas.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said last week, during Bobby Hauck’s introductory media conference inside the Smith Center, that he had a coach inside the building on an interview who was familiar with the 3-3-5 scheme being brought to Champaign-Urbana by new defensive coordinator Hauck but had never previously worked with Hauck.

It turns out that person was Thomas as he was announced on Tuesday morning as the Illini’s new defensive line coach to replace Terrance Jamison. Thomas joins the Illini with 10 years of coaching experience ranging from college football to the National Football League, including stops at Boston College, the Cleveland Browns, and San Diego State.

“(Thomas) is a talented leader with experiences in our defense as both a player and coach, plus three years of developing defensive linemen in the NFL,” Bielema said in a university release. “We are excited to welcome Coach Thomas to our staff."

Illinois (17-8, 7-7) vs. Rutgers (9-16, 1-13) Tuesday, Feb. […]

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Co-Founder

How sweet was that?

Not just a win over Indiana. On national TV. But a complete butt-whippin'. That 71-51 shellacking of the hated rival Hoosiers was impressive in every way.

--It gave the Illini their first back-to-back 20-point wins in the series since 1956, before either program built an arena called Assembly Hall. Illinois thrashed Indiana 94-69 on their home court last year.
--It was the fewest points the Hoosiers scored against Illinois since falling 72-48 in March 2011 and their season-low point total.
--David Mirkovic scored a Big Ten career-high 25 points, giving notice to the nation of the Illini's other star freshman. It was reminiscent of fans tuning in to watch Terrence Shannon Jr. only to see Marcus Domask dominate with a series of moves.

It also marked the return of Kylan Boswell. The senior re-entering the starting lineup with a heavily-bandaged right hand, the remnants of that break suffered in practice nearly four weeks and seven games earlier. Determined to light a spark on the defensive end, he made his presence felt on offense as well with nine points - including a first half three-pointer - and seven rebounds in 33 minutes.

But there something else about this game that should have caught your eye. The Illini left their shooting prowess at home.

Days after hinting on WSCR in Chicago that he was “interviewing a Michigan guy”, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema hires former Michigan tailback and assistant coach Tyrone Wheatley.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

February 16, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Morgan State Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Just a few days ago, Bret Bielema hinted in a radio interview ‘a Michigan guy’ would likely be offered an assistant coaching opportunity and the Illinois head coach made good on that promise.

Tyrone Wheatley, a former 10-year NFL running back with 18 years of coaching experience most recently as a head coach of Wayne State University in Michigan, was officially named Illinois' running backs coach on Monday afternoon. Despite most Illini and Big Ten Conference football fans likely remembering Wheatley as the Michigan Wolverines physical running back of the early 1990s who totaled 4,187 career rushing yards, 510 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns in his playing career that included being named the 1992 Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player selection of the 1993 Rose Bowl, Wheatley coaching resume includes NFL running backs coach jobs with the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Denver Broncos, and at power programs of Syracuse and his alma mater of Michigan.

In a Friday morning radio spot on the ‘Mully and Haugh Show’ on WSCR in Chicago, Bielema told the show’s substitute anchor Ruthie Polinsky that “you’ll love this, we might be interviewing a Michigan guy” for one of the Illini’s open assistant coaching spots. Turns out that ‘Michigan guy’ was the man who currently still stands fifth on the Wolverines all-time rushing list behind only Mike Hart, Denard Robinson, Anthony Thomas and Jamie Morris.

The return of Illinois veteran guard Kylan Boswell results in Indiana producing its lowest scoring output of the season in a 71-51 blowout win for the No. 8 Illini.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 16, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Brad Underwood said he could see his basketball team losing what he called “the bite”, “its grip” and the effort needed on the defensive end.

Following back-to-back losses to Michigan State and Wisconsin, the Illinois head coach wasn’t the only one who saw it too.

“The (lack of) intensity on defense from my perspective was frustrating,” Illinois guard Kylan Boswell said about what he saw from the bench for the Illini’s previous seven games. “I feel like I can be that kind of outlet for the guys and a lot my teammates look up to me as that aggressive defender.”

Boswell, the Illini’s defensive x-factor, didn’t like we he had seen either over the last month while the veteran guard was nursing a fracture in his right hand.

By IlliniGuys Staff February 15, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

February 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

After losing two straight, the Illini prepare for a huge game at the State Farm Center when a desperate Indiana team, looking for a resume win, comes to town. The Illini have had both Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic back for at least parts of practices now and were hoping they will be able to go. Stojakovic is listed as out today, but Boswell did not appear on the injured list, meaning the senior guard may see his first action since January 17th. The Illini have gone 5-2 in his absence.

The Hoosiers have won 5 of 6 after losing 4 in a row to vault back into NCAA tournament contention. Here’s a look at the particulars.

Setting the Stage
#8 Illinois (20-5, 11-3 B1G) vs. Indiana (17-8, 8-6 B1G)
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026 // 12 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: CBS – Andrew Catalon (Play-by-Play) & Clark Kellogg (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas National Radio: Compass Media Networks – Tom Ackerman (Play-By-Play) & Danny Green

Notable
*No. 8 Illinois hosts Indiana on Sunday afternoon at sold-out State Farm Center, opening a run of four straight Quad 1 games to close out February. Sunday is Illinois’ annual Stripe State Farm Center game. Fans with tickets in odd numbered sections are asked to wear orange, while fans sitting in even numbered sections should wear blue. All UI students are to wear orange.

*Illinois is looking to bounce back after a stretch of five games in 13 days that ended with back-to-back overtime losses at No. 10 Michigan State and home vs. Wisconsin. Illinois had previously won 12 consecutive games, the team's longest win streak in the last 13 seasons.

*Illinois ranks fifth in the latest NET rankings and is tied for second in the nation with five Quad 1A wins. Illinois is 20-5 overall, the program's best start since opening 21-5 in 2008-09. • Illinois' 11-3 Big Ten record is its best since the 2021-22 team also started 11-3 on its way to the regular-season title.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

February 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Skyline Sports)

I had some insider info that the switch to 3-3-5 was coming, so I've been looking at this for a while. There are 23 teams in FCS that run it currently, but of course they all do things a bit differently, so I watched several games of Montana football against their best competition. Here are a few factors:

1. There aren't going to be three men on the line. I didn't see a single example of Montana lining up with three men on the line.

By IlliniGuys Staff

February 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

(Editor's note: IlliniGuys staffer Kedric Prince posted the following insider info on our premium message boards Thursday morning.)

A few tidbits here.

It’s OK to be upset about last night’s loss to Wisconsin. There’s nothing wrong with taking a few hours to reflect, especially for me. I’m fortunate to have built strong relationships with families and players over the years to provide small tidbits.

Let’s not forget Illinois was down two starters, not one, but two it does make a difference. Add the fact that the team has now lost back-to-back overtime games, without a full team, shows character. Andrej alone might have been enough to change the outcome. Sure, no one in the league cares about those circumstances, but the selection committee will take note of it.

I spoke with three parents last night. Here’s what they had to say...

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

February 13, 2026

Illinois enjoyed a real luxury last year by returning 5 starters on the line. Of course, the nature of college sports is that you can't keep the group together for long. So, this year Illinois is looking at one returning starter in Brandon Henderson, and because our backups barely played last year, we don't even know who among the reserves is ready to go. However, the way things have worked out, we're actually in pretty good shape. See below:

Newcomers
The staff made transfer center Jake Renfro a priority and I loved that move. When you're looking at a whole new group that has little to no Big Ten experience, it makes the most sense to spend your money on an experienced center. And the Mokena, Illinois-bred Renfro isn't just some guy either. He's started 36 games in college, including 6 as a true freshman at Cincinnati and earning all-conference honors as a redshirt freshman on the Cincinnati team that made the CFP. However, that's where the trouble started. Renfro missed all of the 2022 and 2023 years except for the 2023 Reliaquest Bowl for Wisconsin. Renfro started the 2024 season and played well, earning himself a spot on the Rimington watch list prior to the 2025 season. However, last year injuries hindered Renfro again and he started only 4 games. So, if Renfro can stay on the field and fight off his recurring ankle and knee injuries, he's not only an experienced leader for the unit, he's an upgrade to Josh Kreutz on the field. If not, well, TJ McMillen has been patiently waiting his turn. As a player, Renfro didn't move especially well even before his injuries, but we can also say goodbye to the days that Illinois had to assign a guard to anyone lined up on the nose because Josh Kreutz couldn't handle a defender by himself. Basically, if he can stay on the field, Illinois upgraded at the center position.

In describing the philosophical changes of Bobby Hauck’s 3-3-5 defensive scheme, Illini head coach Bret Bielema said he envisioned positional changes involving typically undersized players.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

February 13, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Bret Bielema might actually be the first one to admit publicly that he’s still in the process of fully learning the new defensive scheme coming to the Illinois football program.

The Illini’s head coach, who just finished his fifth season in charge of the Champaign-Urbana operation, has said multiple times, including on Thursday in an introductory media conference of his new defensive coordinator hire, that it’s a scheme he doesn’t have full expertise in but has been intrigued with for several years.

After hearing new Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck’s 15-minute media conference inside the Smith Center, Bielema said his primary vision for the most substantial change to the Illini’s defensive philosophy for the 2026 season could come in the form of how players are listed on the roster. Bielema hinted Thursday that Illinois, coming off 19 wins in the past two seasons, could substitute strength and power in its defensive line and linebackers with more speed and athleticism near the line-of-scrimmage.

“I think you’ll have some defensive ends that become [nose tackles], some outside backers become d-ends, some safeties become outside linebackers,” Bielema said on Thursday once Hauck’s news conference had concluded.

The first key to what Bielema said there is those three philosophical positional changes are about taking players and inserting them into a position not normally considered ideal height, weight and strength at this level of football.

Illinois will be moving Jordan Anderson, who started at […]

Without Kylan Boswell and Andrej Stojakovic physically able to perform, No. 8 Illinois drops its second straight overtime game.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 12, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Before the opening tip of what would turn out to be the program’s first back-to-back losses of the season, Brad Underwood knew his rotation was nothing more than six players.

Following the 92-90 overtime loss to Wisconsin Tuesday night, Underwood remained steadfast that his team was one or two possessions, one or two more made free throws or one or two less turnovers away from pulling off a Big Ten Conference with just one reserve player worth turning to on his bench.

We’re the only team in the country that has played 11 games in 33 days … in the power four (conferences),” Underwood said. “Coming off Michigan State, this sounds like an excuse – maybe it is – but we’re logging a lot of minutes. We had one ball-handler tonight. Coming off a very physical Michigan State game – an emotional game … I’m really proud of our guys. I don’t have one complaint. We just need health.”

Roger Cooper, a four-year assistant coach to new Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck, is being considered as an option Bret Bielema’s coaching staff.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

February 11, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Montana Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The pipeline of former Montana State assistant coaches interested in following Bobby Hauck to Illinois is fully active.

Multiple sources have confirmed to IlliniGuys.com that Roger Cooper, a four-year assistant coach to new Illinois defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck, is being considered to join Bret Bielema’s coaching staff in Champaign-Urbana.

Skyline Sports in Montana was the first to report Cooper was interviewing with Hauck and Bielema for an open staff position on Wednesday morning.

Cooper, 44, just finished his fourth season working for Hauck’s staff at Montana, most recently serving as the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the past two years. Prior to serving as co-defensive coordinator/linebackers coach, Cooper worked exclusively with Montana’s linebackers in 2023, and safeties in 2022.

Cooper has been a significant part of Hauck’s transformation of Montana’s defense and helped produce some of the best Football Championship Subdivision defenses while also being responsible for mentoring some of the program’s all-time great defenders.

A career-high scoring night from Aailyah Guyton and a […]