Illini OLB Seth Coleman’s Status For Citrus Bowl Remains Questionable
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirms Coleman, who suffered a severe shoulder injury at the end of the win at Rutgers in November, practiced Saturday but was inactive on Sunday.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
December 30, 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. — The health status of Seth Coleman for this Citrus Bowl matchup remains a bit of a mystery.
Football Recruiting Spotlight on James Thompson
Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Staff Writer December 30, 2024 Illinois' […]
Citrus Bowl Could Be The Emergence of Rising Star in Illini LB Malachi Hood
Premium Members Only. Please Subscribe To View The […]
Quick Recap: Boswell Joins Illini Triple-Double Club in 117-64 Rout of Chicago State
By IlliniGuys Staff December 29, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Citrus Bowl Notebook - Bielema: Illini’s 2025 Roster Could Be ‘a playoff type team’
South Carolina confirms another player opt-out and injury concerns leading into Citrus Bowl matchup vs. Illinois.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
December 29, 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. — A day after he signed his third full recruiting class to Illinois, Bret Bielema couldn’t help but mention some programs across the country that paid a lot of money in roster salary but didn’t make the 12-team College Football Playoff.
However, while knowing his Illini program have not put up nearly that kind of financial capital for the upcoming 2025 season, Bielema is putting the internal expectations inside the Smith Family Football Complex at being in a playoff game at this time one year from now.
Sturdy's Illini Basketball Preview - Chicago State at Illinois
Brad Sturdy, Illini-Insider & Co-Host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
December 29, 2024
The Illini will face their final; critter of the season on Sunday when the Chicago State Cougars come to town for an afternoon tilt. The Cougars come in 0-14, while the Illini sit 8-4 as the ready for a daunting Big Ten schedule.
Here are the particulars.
Illini Acknowledge Uniquely “Different” Challenge of South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers
Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry only had one specific word to describe South Carolina quarterback and SEC Freshman of the Year LaNorris Sellers - different.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
December 28, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy ESPN)
ORLANDO, Fla. — Based off what Illinois safety Miles Scott has been watching on preparation film of South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers, maybe it’s fitting this Citrus Bowl will be played about 20 miles from Disney World.
When Scott, a team captain and the player who will hear the communication from Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry on Tuesday for the game, decided to watch the most recent offensive play of South Carolina’s season, he had thoughts that it wasn’t real life.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Illinois Men's Basketball Hosting Jonas Boulefaa During Chicago State Contest
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
December 28, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Crosnier Julien/KMSP)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois men’s basketball program will have a rare opportunity to host a potential recruit during Sunday afternoon’s game.
Illinois will welcome Jonas Boulefaa, a 6-foot-9 power forward who currently plays for Pôle France, as the Illini take on Chicago State at 1:00 p.m. CT at the State Farm Center.
CITRUS BOWL FEATURE: Plenty of Opportunities For Unknown Wide Receivers in Citrus Bowl
Without the services of All-Big Ten selection Pat Bryant, Illinois wide receivers should expect this Citrus Bowl to serve as a jump-off point for their future development.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
December 28, 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. — Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant is expected to be back with his college teammates for Citrus Bowl practices this weekend…as a spectator.
Illini Women Hold Off Oregon To Extend Home Win Streak, 64-59
By IlliniGuys Staff December 28, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Illini Women's Basketball - Year In Review
By Larry Smith - Co-Host & Executive Producer, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
December 28, 2024
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - With the first postseason tournament title and thus the first championship banner in program history to be raised to the rafters at State Farm Center, 2024 will go down as the greatest season in Illinois women's basketball history. Here are the top 10 moments in 2024 for head coach Shauna Green and her squad:
Citrus Bowl Notebook: Bielema Makes Christmas Eve Recruiting Pitch to OT J.C. Davis
Former Alabama head coach Mike Shula will call plays for South Carolina in the Citrus Bowl in his debut as Gamecocks new offensive coordinator hire.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
December 28, 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. — When the NCAA Division I Board of Directors officially agreed to a waiver for former junior college players, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema knew exactly where he was spending Christmas Eve.
Immediately following the NCAA Division I Board of Directors, composed of university presidents, announcing a waiver had been granted for former junior college players who had exhausted their eligibility with this 2024-25 season, Bielema scheduled a private jet flight to Oakland Calif., to spend the day before Christmas with J.C. Davis and his family.
Gamecocks Loss of WR Coach Justin Stepp is Illini’s Gain in Citrus Bowl Matchup
Justin Stepp’s first season on Bret Bielema’s coaching staff will end with him going up against his most recent former employer in the 2024 Citrus Bowl matchup.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
December 27, 2024
ORLANDO, Fla. — Not likely in his wildest imagination would Justin Stepp believe that he’d be on the opposite sideline of his most recent former boss in the final game of his first season at Illinois.
However, this will be the exact situation as Stepp, who was hired as the new wide receivers coach in February by Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, and the entire No. 20 Illini squad will play No. 15 South Carolina on New Year’s Eve on Tuesday at 2 p.m. CST on ABC.
In his first Citrus Bowl media conference from inside the Smith Family Football Complex, Bielema made no secret about how much Stepp would love the opportunity, maybe more than anybody on this Illini staff, to knock off the Gamecocks to provide Illinois its 10th win in a season for the first time since 2001.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup: Badgers Losses, Illinois gains
By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
December 27, 2024
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema has tapped into the Wisconsin football program to address key needs for the 2025 season.
Under Bielema and his coaching staff, the Illini have utilized the transfer portal strategically—not to rebuild the roster, but to fill critical gaps. When backup quarterback Donovan Leary entered the transfer portal, Illinois quickly secured a strong replacement in Northern Illinois quarterback Ethan Hampton.
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