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By IlliniGuys Staff

The 2026 two-week college football transfer portal has opened - let the frenzy begin!

You can be sure that conversations have been going on behind the scenes for several weeks as several players made their intentions known long before today.

Three days after a thrilling and historic win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, Illinois and head coach Bret Bielema and staff now look to capitalize on their unprecedented momentum and improve a roster that loses some key players and a good bit of its depth in this offseason.

Here is a list of players leaving and coming into the program via transfer. This will be updated on a regular basis through January 16th:

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular January 6, 2025 It's […]

Former Florida Atlantic wide receiver and kick returner Jayshon Platt is hopeful to be the deep threat in Barry Lunney Jr’s Illinois offensive scheme in the 2026 season. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 5, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Florida Atlantic Press/Keira Arimenta

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In his final collegiate season, Jayshon Platt is about to find out if his track speed can translate against Big Ten Conference defenses. 

The former Florida Atlantic wide receiver and kick return specialist has elected to join a competitive wide receiver room at Illinois after producing 46 receptions for 720 yards and five touchdowns last season for the Owls program, along with three rushes for 36 yards and a touchdown. CBS Sports college football reporter Matt Zenitz and 247Sports.com/CBS Sports reporter Chris Hummer were the first to report this news Monday evening. 

Platt, who will turn 22 years old on Jan. 12, is hopeful he can find the opportunity of deep throws from the Illini’s new transfer portal quarterback Katin Houser starting with spring practices in a few months.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver had a breakout campaign in 2025 as FAU was in the midst of a first-year head coaching operation led by former Texas Tech offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zach Kittley’s ‘Air Raid’ offensive style. The FAU was normally in a wide-open passing attack 10 personnel (four receivers, one tailback and no tight end) allowing more opportunities for outside receivers such as Platt. 

Former Colorado State offensive tackle Christian Martin will be expected to compete for a starting spot at either open tackle spot for the Illini starting this spring. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 5, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's social media page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Christian Martin was prioritized as the top target out of the transfer portal for Illinois offensive line coach Bart Miller and the former Colorado State offensive tackle felt wanted enough that he canceled his previously scheduled official visits with power conference programs.

Martin, who started all 12 games this past season for a Colorado State squad that finished with a disappointing 2-10 overall record, will be given the opportunity to fill the open slots at both tackle spots in the Illinois offensive line as J.C. Davis and Melvin Priestly’s eligibility ended at the end of the 2025 campaign. 

Martin, a 6-foot-6, 300-pound athlete who has two seasons of college eligibility remaining, will likely be challenged by both of the Knapik brothers who transferred into the Illini program before the start of the 2025 season. Nathan Knapik, who is the younger of the Knapik pair, recently got his first collegiate start in an encouraging performance in Illinois’ 30-28 win over Tennessee in the 2025 Music City Bowl. Aidan Knapik, who was always planned to be reshirted in 2025 in order to be eligible to start in 2026, is expected to be fully healthy and medically cleared for the start of spring practices in a few months. Also, Illinois is expected to give a serious look at four-star 2026 offensive tackle signee Micah ‘Champ’ Smith, who chose the Illini in December after flipping his UCLA verbal commitment and declining serious recruiting interest from Ohio State, Miami (Fla.), Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and Penn State. 

Illinois safety Matthew Bailey has elected to pass on the 2026 National Football League Draft in order for one final season of college football in Champaign-Urbana.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

January 5, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Matthew Bailey has decided the National Football League can wait one more season. 

The Illinois safety announced on social media Monday evening that he’ll be on the Illini’s 2026 roster and has passed on putting his name in the upcoming NFL Draft. Bailey has 27 career starts at safety and produced games 185 career tackles six career tackles for loss and four career interceptions. 

Bailey’s experience is a welcome sight for an Illini defensive backfield that will see massive changes as Illinois coaches have already acquired East Texas A&M defensive back Lavon Williams out of the transfer portal this past weekend. Illinois also signed highly acclaimed junior college prospect Jakwon Morris. The Illini also got returning news in the form of outside cornerback Jaheim Clarke. 

Former Cincinnati and Wisconsin center Jake Renfro, who already has 36 starts at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, will likely take over the middle of the Illinois offensive line in 2026.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

(Cover photo courtesy University of Wisconsin Athletics)

January 5, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has hit the transfer portal for its likely starting center in the upcoming 2026 season. 

Former Wisconsin and Cincinnati center Jake Renfro has elected to his medical hardship waiver finish his collegiate career for his seventh season in his home state by verbally pledging to play at Illinois. Renfro, an All-American Conference first team selection in 2021 in his first and only season as a starter for Cincinnati (a Group of Four program that qualified for the four-team College Football Playoff bracket) is a 6-foot-4, 313-pound offensive lineman with 36 starts at the Football Bowl Subdivision level before his expected arrival in Champaign-Urbana in January. 

When Luke Fickell left Cincinnati to take the head coaching opening at Wisconsin before the start of the 2022 season, Renfro eventually followed his coach to Madison the next season to be the Badgers starting center. However, a severe injury at Cincinnati before the start of the 2022 season derailed Renfro’s progress and he sat out nearly every game of the 2022 and 2023 season. 

Renfro, a sixth-year senior in the 2025 season, was honored in Madison in November before the ‘Senior Night’ victory over Illinois but he had already suffered a season-ending injury, played in just four games after having surgery to correct a lower-body injury. 

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

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Life on the road is never easy in the Big Ten, so when you get a comfortable win in a white out game and a special arena in league play, you take it. The Illini led by double digits most of the game and did enough to win 73-65 in a slogfest at the Palestra against an overmatched Penn State squad to move to 11-3 and 2-1 in league play with two road wins.

Keaton Wagler played just 20 minutes in the foul fest, but still had 16 points, while Kylan Boswell had 18 to lead the Illini. A big second half from David Mirkovic allowed him to get another double-double, with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

These 3 Things

Defense Traveled -

For the sixth consecutive year at Illinois under Bret Bielema, Illinois will likely have a starting quarterback that they’ve acquired from the transfer portal when they open the 2026 season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 4, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy East Carolina University Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For the sixth time since Bret Bielema took over the football program at the University of Illinois, a transfer quarterback from a Football Bowl Subdivision program has verbally committed to making the move to Champaign-Urbana.

Former East Carolina two-year starting quarterback Katin Houser officially signed a contract to play the 2026 season at Illinois on Sunday evening.

In the 2025 season, Houser started in all 12 regular games at East Carolina before opting out of his team’s bowl game days after announcing he’d be entering the transfer portal for the second time in his collegiate career. Houser had a completion percentage of 65.9 percent for 3,300 yards and 19 touchdowns with only six interceptions. On the ground, he had 181 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in the best statistical season of his career.

Since Bielema took over the Illinois football operation in Dec. 2020, Illinois has

By Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 4, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy East Carolina University Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer will no longer suit up for the orange and blue, leaving Illini fans wondering who would be next to continue the program’s recent winning ways. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and his staff answered that question with the addition of quarterback Katin Houser, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound transfer from East Carolina.

Houser, originally from Anaheim, Calif., and a graduate of St. John Bosco High School, became one of the more sought-after names in the transfer portal

For the first time since Nov. 14 and only […]

By Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 4, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Penn Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In today’s college football landscape, roster movement is constant. Programs lose players and gain others, often in rapid succession. Illinois added another piece to its roster through the transfer portal with the commitment of defensive lineman Carter Janki, a 6-foot-5, 290-pound transfer from Penn.

Janki arrives in Champaign as a proven interior presence with a productive Ivy League career.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Sr Recruiting Writer

January 4, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The transfer portal, or as it’s known at IlliniGuys, Portal Kombat, is in full effect.

The Illinois football program landed its first commitment of the 2026 transfer portal season Tuesday,

By IlliniGuys Staff Writer January 3, 2026 (Cover photo […]

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

January 3, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Brent Zinkmann/IlliniGuys)

The Illini are back in action Saturday evening when they travel to Philadelphia for the annual ‘Palestra Game’ for Penn State. It’s not a secret that Brad Underwood has always wanted to play a game at the Palestra and the Illini relish the opportunity to play in big events and storied venues. Now, they get their chance.

Here's a look at the particulars:

Setting the Stage
#19 Illinois (10-3, 1-1 B1G) vs. Penn State (9-4, 0-2 B1G) Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026 // 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET) // Philadelphia, Pa. // The Palestra TV: BTN – Cory Provus (Play-by-Play) & LaPhonso Ellis (Analyst) Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas (Analyst)

Notable
*No. 20 Illinois opens the 2026 calendar year with its return to Big Ten play, beginning with a Saturday night matchup in an historic venue vs. Penn State at The Palestra in Philadelphia (6 p.m. CT / BTN). Illinois is making its first appearance at The Palestra since Nov. 29, 2003, a 75-60 win over Temple.

*Saturday's contest opens a 12-day stretch in which the will Illini face three of four Big Ten opponents on the road.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 3, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

I could get used to finishing a season this way. Illinois finished its second straight 9-win season with its second straight win over an SEC team that it had never beaten before. Not only that, but they did it in what felt a whole lot like a road venue, and they did it while outgaining Tennessee 417 yards to 278 and winning the turnover battle. Without a very fortunate kickoff return and a couple of bad breaks, this is a convincing win over a big-name team.

I'm going to start with defensive highlights this week, as I thought this was our best defensive performance of the year from a scheme standpoint. And this first play was the first eye-opener for me. Most of you are already aware that after Gabe Jacas, Illinois presented very little pass rush this year. So with Jacas sitting out the bowl game, I was assuming Illinois was going to have trouble rushing the passer this year. However, the staff used the time off well and dialed up several blitzes that had Tennessee scratching its collective heads. Tennessee's offense was sacked 22 times this season and threw 437 passes, yet suffered 4 sacks and threw the ball 18 times in the bowl game. And none of them were flukes. I'd have slapped you if you told me that was going to happen.

On this first play, Illinois has its best three pass rushers on the line in the game with Durojaiye, Thompson and Lowery.