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By IlliniGuys Staff November 14, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Co-Founder & Co-Host/Executive Producer, […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 14, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – In modern-day football, head coaches are beginning to run out of things they can refine. Across the board, players are getting faster and taller. Arms are growing stronger. In the past few decades, special teams coaches have gone to the land down under to find punters who can send spin-filled punts that could make a reliever jealous. On the kicking front? Big legs.

Just earlier this month, Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little set the record for the longest field goal in NFL history with a 68-yard try. In its search for a big leg, Bret Bielema and his staff brought one to campus a couple of weeks ago for a visit. Kofi Adubufuor, playing for Lakota West High School in Ohio, has been plying his trade as a kicker, and he says he’s got a big leg himself. He’s former high school teammates with current Illini freshman linebacker Grant Beerman and 2026 Illinois commit Cam Thomas, and was on campus for Illinois’ 35-13 win over Rutgers earlier this month and spoke with IlliniGuys.

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

November 14, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

After a huge win over Texas Tech and before their huge game in Chicago against Alabama, the Illini have their ‘trap game’ against Colgate on Friday night at 8PM from the State Farm Center.

Here’s a preview of what to expect.

Setting the Stage
#14 Illinois (3-0) vs. Colgate (1-2)
Friday, Nov. 14, 2025 // 8 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
Stream: B1G+ – Tony Fanara (Play-by-Play), Andrew Burkey (Analyst), & Ella Peterson
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Notable
*Illinois carries a five-game home winning streak into the contest. Under head coach Brad Underwood, the Illini have won 32 consecutive nonconference home games against unranked opponents.

*Illinois leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth in the nation in rebound margin (+22.3 rpg).

*Friday’s game vs. Colgate leads into a 17-day stretch in which the Illini will face three premier matchups vs. top 25-ranked nonconference opponent on neutral floors: Nov. 19 vs. #8 Alabama (United Center, Chicago), Nov. 28 vs. #2 UConn (Madison Square Garden, New York), and Dec. 6 vs. #20 Tennessee (Bridgestone Arena, Nashville). During that span, the Illini will also play two home games in three days at State Farm Center, Nov. 22 vs. Long Island and Nov. 24 vs. UT Rio Grande Valley.

*Illinois assistant coach and defensive coordinator Camryn Crocker will matchup against his former program, having joined Brand Underwood’s Illini staff from Colgate after working the three previous seasons under Raiders’ coach Matt Langel.

*Mihailo Petrovic is expected to see action for the first time in an Illini uniform, while Tomislav Ivisic remains out.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema believes having four of his former quarterbacks still on current National Football League active rosters can only enhance a possible transfer portal pitch at that spot.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 13, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Bret Bielema has made the pitch to potential quarterbacks entering the transfer portal less than a month from now - the Illinois head coach can get you to the National Football League.

As he realizes he’ll only have Luke Altmyer behind center for Illinois for three more regular season games, Bielema began to use the bye week preparation to see that his recruiting strategy will include a host of quarterbacks playing the highest level of professional football.

From Russell Wilson in his final seasons at Wisconsin still being on the New York Giants active roster, Brandon Allen in his first season at Arkansas still being a backup quarterback with the Tennessee Titans or Tommy DeVito being the third-string option with the New England Patriots, Bielema feels adding Altmyer to his list of professional quarterbacks only adds to a potential transfer portal selling point.

For the sixth straight season and the 15th time […]

By Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

November 13, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Landon Davis made it official Wednesday, signing his Big Ten scholarship agreement with Illinois. The 6-foot-9, 215-pound power forward from Waukee Northwest High School in Iowa sealed his commitment with a mix of relief and excitement as he looks ahead to his future in Champaign.

Davis, who averaged 10.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, and 2.9 assists as a junior, also stood out on the AAU circuit with Iowa United. In the Adidas 3SSB, he added 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game while shooting 61 percent from the field and 40 percent from three.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 12, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Zeno Jo/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Of the recruits visiting Champaign last week for the team’s 35-13 win over Rutgers, there was one player who Bret Bielema and his staff might be looking to flip over to Champaign in the coming months. While Lance Dawson is already committed to suit up for Cincinnati next fall, he’s keeping his options open, something made possible in this new era of recruiting.

“It’s been nice this weekend for an OV, it’s been very nice. The staff’s very into me, the players are very into me, they’re not like, mean and they know how it is,” Dawson said, of course alluding to the fact that

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

November 12, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini took a big second half shot in the mouth fromTexas Tech, but bounced back and survived for an 81-77 win over the 11th ranked Red Raiders at the State Farm Center. The 14th ranked Illini led by 13 at the break, 45-32, but saw Tech make their first 11 shots of the second half and take the lead.

But Illinois would get a huge 23-point performance from Cal transfer Andrej Stojakovic, as he repeatedly sliced and diced the Texas Tech defense to off set a massive 35-point performance from All American Center JT Toppin to get the win and a 3-0 start.

Here’s a look back.

These 3 or 4 Things

Stojakovic Shines 

With so many roles and player options on this Illinois roster, Andrej Stojakovic may have identified himself as the Illini’s closer in 2025-26 season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Despite always promoting positionless players in the Brad Underwood era, Illinois has always valued one position of importance on a basketball roster - closer.

In a program that has already identified late-game, go-to options such as Ayo Dosunmu, Terrance Shannon Jr. and even last year with veteran Kylan Boswell and the one-and-done freshmen of Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley, Andrej Stojakovic has now made an early-season argument for that to be his role in the 2025-26 season.

By IlliniGuys Staff November 11, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

November 11, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The #11 Texas Tech squad comes to Champaign on Tuesday night in a showdown of top 15 teams. Both teams are 2-0 and come in with high hopes for the season. Illinois will be without big man Tomislav Ivisic, but should get guard Mihailo Petrovic back for this one as Brad Underwood said he is dressing. That should help as the Illini look to get a home win against a ranked non-conference opponent.

Here are the particulars.

Setting the Stage
#14 Illinois (2-0) vs. #11 Texas Tech (2-0)
Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025 // 7:30 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: FS1 – Jeff Levering (Play-by-Play), Steve Smith (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Notable
*No. 14 Illinois hosts the third contest of a four-game, season-opening homestand on Tuesday night, welcoming No. 11 Texas Tech to State Farm Center (7:30 p.m. CT / FS1). Illinois carries a four-game home winning streak.

*The Fighting Illini are off to a 2-0 start to their 121st season of men’s basketball with blowout wins over Jackson State (113-55) and Florida Gulf Coast (113-70). Illinois is looking to start 3-0 for the fifth time under Brad Underwood, and the third time in the last four seasons.

*In facing No. 11 Texas Tech, Illinois is in search of its highest ranked win since a 109-77 victory at No. 9 Oregon last season (Jan. 2, 2025). Illinois is aiming for its highest ranked home win, meanwhile, since beating No. 11 Wisconsin, 80-67, at State Farm Center on Feb. 2, 2022.

*Forward David Mirkovic was named Monday as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week after back-to-back double-doubles to open his college career against Jackson State (19 points, 14 rebounds) and Florida Gulf Coast (18 points, 11 rebounds) while becoming the first Illini freshman to record a double-double in his college debut since Kofi Cockburn in 2019. Mirkovic averaged 18.0 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists on the week.

*Senior Kylan Boswell enters Tuesday’s game 21 points shy of reaching 1,000 for his career (979).

*Illinois has 27 victories over ranked opponents since the start of the 2019-20 season, another highlight of the job Brad Underwood has done rebuilding the Fighting Illini program.

*The Illini’s 27 ranked wins since 2019-20 are tied for ninth nationally over the last six-plus seasons:

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer November 11, […]

Illinois linebacker Dylan Rosiek and right tackle Melvin Priestly are expected to play Saturday vs. Maryland

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 10, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — While its first bye week may have come later than any other Big Ten Conference program, the second bye week may have occurred in time for Illinois to get back to its healthiest possible roster of the 2025 season.

Minus the obvious season-ending injury to defensive back Xavier Scott, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema feels like every other projected starter should be available when the Illini host Maryland at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Saturday afternoon (2:30 p.m. CST, FS1).

“We should be at pretty full strength on Saturday,” Bielema said Monday.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

November 10, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Phenom Hoops Report)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois men’s basketball program continues to pursue some of the nation’s best high school talent this fall, targeting players who fit Brad Underwood’s system.

While the Illini have missed out on a few major recruiting targets, they secured a key commitment from 6-foot-6 wing Lucas Morillo, a rising player whose national ranking has continued to climb.

Next on the commitment watch list is highly regarded 6-foot-6 wing Adam Oumiddoch from Overtime Elite. Oumiddoch is set to announce his college decision Wednesday, with Illinois, Oregon, LSU, St. John’s, and Villanova among his final choices.