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

Illinois wide receivers coach Justin Stepp can’t wait for Collin Dixon to emerge as a go-to target in this 2026 offensive scheme.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

April 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Entering the spring before his fourth season at Illinois, the one thing Illinois wide receivers coach Justin Stepp can guarantee is Collin Dixon is going to consistently be on the football field but it’s the where part that is still being figured out.

“Collin Dixon is an expert in everything of this offense,” Stepp said Monday in a media session inside the Smith Center. “I promise he knows it better than I do. Collin Dixon can play all three spots.”

The positional versatility of being able to play all three of the wide receiver positions inside Barry Lunney Jr.’s 11 personnel offensive scheme has been the key to Dixon, a 6-foot-1 and 215-pound target, getting 23 starts over the last two seasons and he’ll be expected to take one of those starting roles entering the 2026 season.
Dixon, who redshirted his first season at Illinois to learn the offense and get his body physically able to withstand the physicality that Bielema requires out of his wide receivers, has spent the last two seasons being a jack of all trades type receiver in Champaign.

Dixon finished the 2025 campaign with 35 receptions for 548 receiving yards and five touchdowns on the season, which was tied for the team lead. However, instead of trying to get him expertise in one role, Stepp believes Dixon’s versatility is his best weapon to staying on the field as Illinois has brought in several less productive but high upside options from the transfer portal this offseason.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular April 14, 2026 Illini […]

Zeno Jo, IlliniGuys Staff Writer April 13, 2026 CHAMPAIGN, […]

By IlliniGuys Staff

April 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Illinois forward Cearah Parchment is coming off a tremendous first collegiate season in which she established herself not only as a leader on the Illini team, but as one of the top players in the nation and a centerpiece as coach Shauna Green looks to build off back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances.

She talked with our Larry Smith on the weekly IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular syndicated radio show.

Larry Smith: CeCe, you've had some time now to decompress and take in what was just an amazing ride. Talk about this freshman season and this campaign for the Fighting Illini.

Cearah Parchment: Yeah, I mean, it's been such a great experience. I think that's what's made it great, is the people, like. as you said, like, we're a young team, so that means we had a lot of new people come in, so it wasn't just freshmen who were alone, we had other transfers come in, so it was kind of nice to go through that experience

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Senior Recruiting Analyst

(Cover photo courtesy Providence Friars Basketball)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — This year’s version of “Portal Kombat” looks much different than in recent seasons, and there is a clear reason why: Illinois is fresh off a Final Four run.

On the strength of that, an Elite Eight appearance in 2024, and being the winningest program in the Big Ten conference over the past seven years, the Illini have positioned themselves as one of the top 10 programs in college basketball, a destination where elite players now want to play.

That momentum continued as the Illinois men’s basketball program secured a commitment from one of the top players in the 2026 transfer portal, former Providence standout Stefan Vaaks.

Vaaks arrives in Champaign with an impressive shooting resume that had the coaching staff convinced early in the process.

By IlliniGuys Staff

April 12, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Providence Friars Basketball)

Well, it happened. Keaton Wagler has entered the NBA Draft and his decision is final. It's a fitting result and conclusion to the greatest freshman season in Illini history.

So...now what?

You should know by now that if you have questions, IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy has answers. Brad posts real-time updates several times a day on our premium message boards and delivered the goods last night:

Keaton Wagler had an incredible freshman year as my colleague Larry Smith outlined and, as we expected this morning, he announced his decision today to head to the NBA. Illinois has contingency plans in place, however.

Illinois is in a really good place with John Blackwell, and even better now. Illinois will meet with him on Monday.

By IlliniGuys Staff April 11, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois point guard Mihailo Petrovic reportedly plans to enter […]

April 10, 2026

Well, it's that time of year - the transfer portal is entering day 4 and the conversations are fast and furious.

It's a little different setup than in the past. Remember the stories of Illinois coach Brad Underwood bypassing practice ahead of the team's Elite Eight clash with UConn because he had to work the phones with the portal already open? They changed the rules and moved the beginning of portal season to Tuesday or the day after the national championship game.

That doesn't mean negotiations weren't already happening behind the scenes - let's not kid ourselves here, but at the very least it allowed the Final Four coaches to try to focus on the task at hand with their teams in Indianapolis.

We've already seen NCAA champion Michigan announce a deal to keep Final Four Most Outstanding Player Elliott Cadeau in place for his senior season and added Tennessee big man JP Estrella.

Illinois' situation differs from the past in that the Illini's theme this spring is all about retention. Those talks continue and they may be getting close to a major addition as well. IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy delivered these goods on Thursday.

For real-time updates, subscribe to IlliniGuys.com and pay attention to our message boards.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

April 8, 2026

The move had been rumored for a while, but the timing of Northern Illinois' safety James Finley to Illinois was a surprise to most Illini fans. Finley did not initially enter the transfer portal, but after NIU head coach Thomas Hammock left the school to take a job with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks, Finley took advantage of his late opportunity and moved downstate to Champaign. Illinois was Finley's only visit and it turned into a quick commitment. The slender 6'1, 185 pounder played both corner and safety for the Huskies last year but will be a safety in Champaign.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?
Finley is an elite playmaker with great hands and body control. That much stands out on film. But,

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

April 9, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

Divine Bourrage poses with Illini head coach Shauna Green on a campus visit during her illustrious high school career. (Courtesy player's Instagram page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Persistence on the recruiting trail has paid off for Illinois head coach Shauna Green and her staff, as the Illini have landed one of the most coveted talents in recent memory in former Davenport (IA) North HIgh School standout Divine Bourrage.

Once ranked as the nation’s No. 4 overall prospect during her senior season, Bourrage initially chose LSU despite Illinois remaining in the hunt until the very end of her recruitment. Now, the 5-foot-11 five-star guard is headed to Champaign, giving the Illini a major addition with proven pedigree and high expectations.

With four starters to replace and a veteran transfer […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

April 8, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Jeremy Dunk)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball program continues to keep fans guessing when it comes to recruiting.

Just last Friday, seemingly out of nowhere, top-30 guard Quentin Coleman committed to Illinois moments before a workout at the Final Four. The surprise addition led many to believe the Illini were finished recruiting high school talent for the 2026 class.

This class already includes top 60 prospect Lucas Morillo, a 6-foot-6 combo guard from Boston, Massachusetts; Ethan Brown, a 6-foot-4 guard from Rolla, Missouri; and Landon Davis, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Waukee, Iowa.

April 8, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Diehard Illini fans know...once the season comes to an end, that's when things heat up. Here's the latest buzz around Ubben:

--It's not too early to look ahead at the 2026-27 schedule. Illinois will meet UConn for a fourth time in four years when the Huskies travel to Chicago for a United Center clash. The home of the NBA's Chicago Bulls has not been kind to the Illini lately, losing there twice last season to Alabama and to Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament. Their last victory there was a 2019 win over Northwestern in the Big Ten tournament. So, a chance for coach Brad Underwood and the Illini to exorcise some demons.

--Illinois will also travel to play at Texas Tech in a return game after beating the Red Raiders in Champaign last November. They will face Missouri in the Braggin' Rights game in St. Louis in December. There may be another Power 5 opponent added to their slate.

--What about a fourth meeting in the series with Tennessee, this time in Chicago? That will take place in the 2027-28 season.

--Illinois finished No. 5 in the final Associated Press and coaches' polls. National champion Michigan is followed by UConn, Arizona, Duke and the Illini. Coming off their first trip to the national semifinals since 2005, Illinois is already polling high in several of the early preseason polls for next year, including a number one ranking by the New York Times.

Now...a few late-night notes from our insiders: