Illini Center Tomislav Ivisic to Miss Northwestern Game
By IlliniGuys Staff January 25, 2025 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - […]
Illini Center Tomislav Ivisic to Miss Northwestern Game
By IlliniGuys Staff January 25, 2025 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - […]
Smith: Greater Expectations Mean Closer Scrutiny For Illini
By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular & BigSportsRadio
January 25, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill - For many Illini fans, we got out of bed this morning with a little less pep in our step.
That 91-70 beatdown by Maryland Thursday night left us feeling like we just had a Salmonella Special at the local diner before the game and we felt worse as the night went on.
There's no way to sugarcoat it; it was ugly. But here's the good news:
It was only...one...game.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Q & A with Illinois Football Commit Kenyon Alston
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 24, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Orlando Sentinel)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois wide receivers coach Justin Stepp is standing out from the competition when it comes to securing talented recruits for the future of Illinois football.
The most recent addition to the Illini roster is Kenyon Alston, a 6-foot-2, 172-pound wide receiver from Orlando, Florida. Alston chose Illinois over offers from some of the top programs in college football, including Baylor, Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Iowa State, Missouri, Penn State, Mississippi State, and West Virginia. These were no mere courtesy offers—these programs made substantial efforts to land Alston.
IlliniGuys spoke with Alston shortly after his commitment for an exclusive Q&A session.
Sturdy's Rewind: Looking For Answers
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
January 24, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you're the bug. The Illini were the bug on Thursday night as the Maryland Terrapins totally dominated Illinois by a 91-70 score, one of the 12 worst defeats for Illinois at home in the entirety of their program, going back 120 years. Julian Reese had 27 and 17, but Derik Queen’s 25 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals was even more impressive. Kasparas Jakucionis had 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists, but also had 7 turnovers, many leading to Maryland runouts.
Here’s a look back at what we saw.
Why Rest For Illini Stars in Blowout Win at Northwestern Will Prove Valuable
Illinois picked up a 25-point victory inside Welsh-Ryan Arena in the in-state rivalry matchup against Northwestern but accomplished it while its trio of star players sat the bench.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer
January 24, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
EVANSTON, Ill. — With about three minutes remaining in what was a 29-point blowout, Kendall Bostic signaled to her head coach that she was ready to go back in the game.
Illinois head coach Shauna Green didn’t even look at her fifth-year center.
Terrapins Stun Ivisic-less Illini, 91-70
By IlliniGuys Staff January 23, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Dominant Illini Crush Northwestern 85-60 in Evanston
Illinois picked up its second straight 20-point victory inside […]
Sturdy's Game Preview: Terps In Town
By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
January 23, 2025
The Illini welcome Maryland on Thursday night and the Terps have been a thorn in the side of the Illini over the years. The Terrapins are 15-8 against the Illini and a shocking 6-2 in Champaign, winning over #10 Illinois in January of 2024. The Illini are hoping for a bounce back game after the heartbreaking defeat on Sunday and look to have a very good schedule to start a nice little run, but they will need to take care of the Terrapins first.
Here’s a look at the particulars.
Setting the Stage
#17 Illinois (13-5, 5-3) vs. Maryland (14-5, 4-4)
Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025 // 8 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: FS1 – Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play) & Bill Raftery (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Kenyon Alston Commits to Illinois
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 23, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy player's page on X)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini continue to build their class of 2026, which is shaping up to be a promising group. Kenyon Alston, a 6-foot-2, 172-pound wide receiver from Bishop More Catholic High School in Orlando, Florida, announced his commitment to Illinois on Thursday afternoon.
Game Preview: Illini Women Head North to Face In-State Rival Wildcats
(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Illinois at Northwestern Date […]
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illini Appear to Be in Good Shape with Florida Wide Receiver
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 23, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — All indications suggest that the Fighting Illini football program is trending upward in its pursuit of Kenyon Alston, a 6-foot-2, 172-pound wide receiver from Orlando, Florida.
Sturm: My Thoughts on The CFP
By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst
January 22, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Associated Press)
First, I have to come clean for those of you who may remember our discussion last year: I was against the 12 team CFP. I thought the BCS was a sufficient way to crown a national champion and that:
1. There was too much risk of injury to star players
2. It would devalue the rest of the bowls too much, and
3. The current system was a fair enough way to crown a champion given that we had a good final four last year and usually did so. I remember typing the words "There is rarely a fifth team that has a genuine case at inclusion in the BCS, and there is basically never a sixth, seventh or eighth team that has a case."
Bielema Believed Illini Set in 2025 & Rejected Transfer Portal Running Backs
The tailback room will likely be the position group with the most experienced depth on the Illinois offense when they open up preseason camp in August.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
January 22, 2025
(NOTE: This analysis is only a review of where the Illinois roster stands in mid-January and should not be served as a preview of what the Illini’s positional depth will look like by the time preseason practice opens in early August.)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When asked about his priorities a week before Christmas for the transfer portal as he was gathering players for the 2025 season while also preparing for the upcoming Citrus Bowl, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema detailed exactly what wasn’t on his list.
Heat Checks & Hail Marys - Illini Hoops Loss, Ryan Day Strikes Back, Illini Football Finishes #16 & NIL Evened the Battlefield
Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Sunday's Football List of 2026 Prospects to Date
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
January 21, 2025
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — College football officially concluded Monday night, with the Big Ten claiming back-to-back national titles—Michigan in 2024 and Ohio State in 2025.
Recruiting, however, never rests. The Illinois Fighting Illini appear to be taking full advantage of the recruiting period following their Citrus Bowl victory over South Carolina, 21-17.