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The University of Illinois leadership have become notorious every May for slightly tweaking the contract of men’s basketball head coach Brad Underwood.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 16, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN — Whether it’s adding a nationwide no-compete with a pay bump then adding years and contract incentives with a pay bump and now a one-year extension with a pay bump, this is the third straight year that the University of Illinois Board of Trustees May meeting addressing Brad Underwood’s long-term contract.

For the third straight offseason, Underwood, his agent Bret Just and Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman have agreed to amendments to the Illini men’s basketball head coach’s multi-year contract. On Thursday afternoon, Illinois athletics announced in a media release all parties had come together on a deal “which runs through the 2031-32 season but could now extend through the 2035-36 season, based on team performance over the next four seasons”.

In May 2025, Underwood had agreed to a three-year contract extension that got his deal to a guaranteed six seasons but also had the likely possibility of four automatically triggered one-year extensions upon meeting certain performance benchmarks. In this newly amended agreement announced Thursday, Illinois administration simply agreed to replace the guaranteed year along with the automatic one-year extension that Underwood earned following the Illini’s most recent 2025-26 season that ended with a trip to the Final Four for the third time in the modern era.

It’s important to know

May 16, 2026

IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst Brad Sturdy delivered the latest goods on the premium message boards yesterday:

Basketball Discussion | Illiniguys.com

Illini coaches will

Sean Rice, a 6-foot-2 and 210-pound linebacker prospect from St. Laurence High School, is the third commitment in a six-day period for Bret Bielema’s Illini program.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

May 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN — Sean Rice has become the fourth in-state verbal pledge to the Illinois 2027 recruiting class.

Rice is the third commitment in a six-day period in what has been a much more news-worthy recruiting month for Bret Bielema’s Illini program. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound linebacker prospect from Evergreen Park, Ill., joins Lincoln-Way East offensive lineman Mason Halliman and Morton offensive lineman Soren Fifer in a 2027 recruiting class that for multiple months had no more than two verbal pledges and was down to one - Evanston cornerback Justin Johnson - after the decommitment of four-star quarterback Kamden Lopati.

After getting an offer from Illinois linebackers coach Archie McDaniel in late November, Rice took an unofficial visit in early April to a spring practice session at Memorial Stadium in Champaign while having scheduled several official visits to Illini league rivals at Indiana, Minnesota, Purdue and Wisconsin.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois continued addressing its need along the defensive front with a commitment from junior college defensive lineman Joshua Davis, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound prospect from Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi.

Just days ago, IlliniGuys spoke with Davis about his growing relationship with the Illinois coaching staff. At the time, the Mississippi native hinted strongly at his interest in the Illini program. Now, Illinois has secured another important piece for its future defensive line.
Davis said the passion surrounding Illinois football played a major role in his decision.

“When we talked the other day, I was so excited then, but

Illinois trying to find momentum from a comeback effort in a second-place finish last week at the 2026 Big Ten Championships. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 15, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

URBANA — A few months ago Illinois men’s golf head coach Mike Small has what he calls a running joke assessment with assistant coaches Ruben Sondjaja and Eric Gilpin about the 2025-26 team. 

“I was casually mentioning to them in passing at (the Demirjian Golf Practice Facility) in fun that this team seems like everything is great until something hits the fan,” Small said. “And then they don’t handle that thing very well.” 

Small’s casual psychological diagnosis of his team could be seen as a reflection of the 2026 Big Ten Championships where Illinois bolted out to a first-round lead, saw it spectacularly fall apart on the second day but provided for a confidence-building comeback effort on the final day. 

“I was pretty frustrated, to be honest,” Illinois third-year star player Max Herendeen said about the trip back to Champaign-Urbana from Oregon. “I think we all know that the second round wasn’t acceptable. That final day was huge because we gave ourselves a chance. That final nine holes was a situation where they really mattered and that was fun. I just know I enjoyed playing that final day.” 

Small’s comment nearly perfectly represents what Herendeen has called a “frustrating” spring season but despite not meeting his personal standards in every tournament he’s participated in this spring, the third-year player is still seen as one of the world’s best amateur players. Herendeen was selected for the second time in his career to compete in the 2026 Arnold Palmer Cup as part of Team USA by being the one captain’s pick on the team. Herendeen competed last summer in the prestigious Ryder Cup-style event on home soil but will once again represent Team USA as they take on Team International at Tralee Golf Links in West Barrow, Ireland from July 3-5. Herendeen is the eighth different Illini men's golfer to compete at the Palmer Cup. Illinois has now sent a representative to the event five times in the last six years and 11 times since 2010. Herendeen joins Adrien Dumont de Chassart and Thomas Detry as the third Fighting Illini to play in the event twice, and the first to do so with Team USA. Other Illini to compete in the Arnold Palmer Cup are: Tommy Kuhl (2023), Adrien Dumont de Chassart (2021 and 2022), Nick Hardy (2017), Charlie Danielson (2016), Thomas Detry (2014 and 2015), Thomas Pieters (2012), and Scott Langley (2010).

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) May 14, 2026 (Cover […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The recruiting momentum continues to build for the Illinois football program as the Illini added another commitment to their growing future class today.

Just one day after landing junior college tight end Benjamin Thurman from the College of San Mateo in California, Illinois dipped back into the high school ranks and secured a commitment from in-state offensive lineman Soren Fifer of Morton High School.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

May 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Those around the Illinois football program understand the defensive line remains an area of focus for Bret Bielema and his staff.

The Illini are continuing to explore the junior college ranks in search of talent up front, and one prospect who has emerged on Illinois’ radar is 6-foot-3, 270-pound defensive lineman Joshua Davis of Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mendenhall, Mississippi, in the class of 2026

Illinois managed to finish the final two days at […]

The University of Illinois athletics department announced on Wednesday the signing of junior college tight end Benjamin “BJ” Thurman from College of San Mateo in California. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

May 13, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — The remake of the tight end room inside the University of Illinois football program has continued with an addition from one of Bret Bielema’s favorite go-to places: The junior college player market. 

Illinois announced the signing of junior college tight end Benjamin “BJ” Thurman from College of San Mateo in California. Thurman is likely to be one of nine tight ends on the Illini’s 2026 roster and will likely be one of eight former junior college players that will suit up for Illinois this fall. 

Illinois will play at Cameron Indoor Stadium this coming […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

May 13, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood will take his competitive spirit from the hardwood to the golf course this summer, as IlliniGuys learned early Tuesday morning that Underwood is scheduled to play in the 2026 John Deere Classic Pro-Am.

For Illinois fans, the event could turn into another memorable reunion moment at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

Last year’s winner of the John Deere Classic was Illinois graduate Brian Campbell, who captured the title and took home $1.512 million in prize money. During Campbell’s run to the championship, the signature “ILL-INI” chant echoed throughout the course and was heard on national television as he approached the 18th green. Campbell also interacted with fans during the celebration, creating a memorable moment for Illini supporters.

Underwood is known as an avid golfer, and Illinois associate head coach Orlando Antigua said the Illini basketball staff takes pride in its game on the course.

Illini women’s golf completed a 18-stroke turnaround on Tuesday […]

Illinois is scheduled to have 14 uncommitted prospects on an official visit during the first three weekends in the month of June.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

May 12, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema believes his program’s patience in how they’ve approached the recruiting calendar and salary market for the 2027 recruiting class will benefit them next month.

The verbal pledge of three-star interior offensive lineman Mason Halliman to Illinois last weekend marked just the second commitment to the Illini’s 2027 recruiting class but that lack of numbers is not a shock or necessarily a problem to the program’s sixth-year head coach. Bielema told local reporters weeks ago that his staff’s plan was to wait until after the end of the May evaluation period before figuring out “the market for high school players” for this summer recruiting cycle.

“I know you guys keep a look at this but the market for high school players, the amount of money they’re getting, is unprecedented,” Bielema said in a Zoom session with local media on May 1. “You really have to know what your roster is and what the value of those guys are. I’m not quite ready to have those numbers until after we get done with this May evaluation period.”

Illini women’s golf finds themselves 14 shots behind fifth-place […]