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What was supposed to be sweet revenge toward Morez Johnson Jr. for everybody associated with the Illini program instead became a reality check for everybody on the home sideline.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 28, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — On a night where nearly everybody inside State Farm Center wanted to create a nightmare scenario for Morez Johnson Jr., the former Illini forward led the charge toward a dream for Michigan’s front court.

From the moment he was introduced as a starter in pre-game to when he contributed 13 points, four offensive rebounds and four free throws, Johnson’s former head coach Brad Underwood had no choice but acknowledge his former signee and player was simply at another level.

“I love Morez to death. That’s the new world. He left (Illinois) for the reasons he did and you’d have to ask him why but he’s a terrific young man,” Underwood said. “He’s a next level type of player and he showed that tonight.”

By IlliniGuys Staff February 27, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Former Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer discussed at the NFL Scouting Combine how he’s preparing to begin his professional life for a role he’s never experienced in training camp - a backup.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

February 27, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)

INDIANAPOLIS — Since he began playing on his first tackle football team at seven years old, Luke Altmyer has only been familiar with starting a season in one role - QB1.

So, for 14 of 15 years of his football life, it’s accurate to suggest Altmyer has walked into every training camp scenario with the idea and understanding that he would be the starter. Therefore, the interesting element the Mississippi native discussed Friday in his seven-minute media session at the National Football League Scouting Combine would be his mental approach to the very different role of opening his rookie season this summer as a backup quarterback on a professional team’s depth chart.

“I tell people now that whether I’m mopping floors, cooking food or being a Super Bowl winning quarterback, my job is to figure out a way to be the best I can be,” Altmyer said.

Altmyer, who ended his three-year tenure with the Illini as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in program history and a two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection, said Friday he’s already spoken with NFL veteran quarterback Phillip Rivers about how the 23-year-old can provide immediate value to whatever team selects him this April.

“Obviously I want to play. I’m looking forward to playing. I know I can play and I know I can win. I’ve done that,” Altmyer said. “Regardless of where I’m at to begin with, I’ll be given a job and then it’s on me to do that job the best I can. Whether I’m doing the backup thing or running the show, I’ll need to somehow use the gifts I’ve been given.”

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys InsiderAnalyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

February 27, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

It is the next ‘biggest game of the year’ for the Illini as they host the #3 Michigan Wolverines in a showdown of the top 2 teams in the Big Ten standings on Friday night. The Wolverines and Illini both stubbed their toes last weekend and are looking to solidify their NCAA and Big Ten Tournament seeds. The Wolverines will clinch the Big Ten title outright with a win, and Illinois can put themselves in a great position for a 2 seed in the NCAA tournament and a 2 seed and triple bye in the Big Ten tournament.

Here’s a look at the matchup.

Setting the Stage
#10 Illinois (22-6, 13-4 B1G) vs. #3 Michigan (26-2, 16-1 B1G)
Friday, Feb. 27, 2026 // 7 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: FOX – Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play) & Bill Raftery (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable
*No. 10 Illinois opens a two-game homestand on Friday night with a Top-10 matchup against No. 3 Michigan. Illinois carries a nine-game winning streak vs. Michigan (began Dec. 11, 2019), including four straight at home.

*In facing No. 3 Michigan, Illinois is looking for its highest-ranked win since beating No. 2 Texas on Dec. 6, 2022, its highest-ranked Big Ten win since a 76-53 rout at No. 2 Michigan on March 2, 2021, and its highest-ranked home win since upsetting No. 1 Indiana on Feb. 7, 2013 on a Tyler Griffey layup at the buzzer.

*Illinois has defeated two Top-5 teams entering the game against No. 3 Michigan, with wins at No. 4 Purdue and at No. 5 Nebraska. The school record for Top-5 wins in a season is three, set by the 1951-52 Illini squad.

*Friday will mark the first game in 20 years at State Farm Center with both teams ranked in the Top 10, since No. 6 Illinois beat No. 7 Michigan State on Jan. 5, 2006, behind Dee Brown's career-high 34 points.

Illinois couldn’t finish off a six-point, fourth-quarter lead for […]

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

February 26, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

As I write this, Aaron Henry has packed his bags for South Bend and Illinois is changing its defensive scheme under new defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck. One thing that's clear is that Illinois is looking at a rather bare cupboard in terms of linebackers. James Kreutz returns for his senior year and will be a starter and Joe Barna will be back as well, but after them you have to go all the way down to Grant Beerman and his 15 snaps to find the next most experienced linebacker. Let's try to make some sense of this!

Newcomers
Illinois added two linebackers in the portal and I think we'll see some productivity right away from both of them. The first new linebacker on board was Robert Edmonson of Colorado State, who will be a junior this year. Edmonson started the season deep on the depth chart for Colorado State but ended up with 335 snaps in Colorado's new 3-3-5 defensive scheme.

Illini at #9 Iowa Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 - […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

February 25, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Prep Girls Hoops)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – As Illinois women’s basketball continues to build under head coach Shauna Green, assistant coach DeAntoine Beasley has remained a steady presence since the staff’s arrival in 2022. Known as “Cat,” Beasley’s long standing relationships in the game are helping the Illini connect with prospects early, including one of the nation’s most promising young players with Illinois ties.

Beasley, who played collegiately at Tennessee Tech, has maintained a close bond with former teammate Rusty Strange. That connection has helped bring Rusty’s daughter, Austin Strange, onto Illinois’ radar as she develops into one of the top young players in the country.

Austin Strange, a member of the class of 2030, already stands a legitimate 6-foot-3 wing with guard-like skills. The Strange family recently visited Illinois and came away thoroughly impressed with what they saw in Champaign.

Former Illinois pass rusher Gabe Jacas will go through NFL scouting combine individual drills on Thursday afternoon including running the 40-yard-dash on NFL Network.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

February 25, 2026

INDIANAPOLIS — In his four seasons at Illinois, Gabe Jacas was lined up in a variety of ways.

If a National Football League personnel scout or executive wants to see the former Illini pass rusher line up as a stand-up edge rusher, there’s the 2022-23 and 2025 campaigns. You want to see the 260-pounder line up with his hand in the ground as a defensive lineman? Go ahead and pop in clips from the 2024 season.

The versatility of the jobs he took on is something Jacas hopes has already shown up before his arrival this week in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine where he’s likely to interview and talk with team executives throughout the next few days.

“I think my work in college shows (NFL) teams that I can add value as a edge rusher or kick inside as an interior player, basically whatever they add from me is something I’ve done,” Jacas said. “The ability to play all across the line does nothing but add to my value. It doesn’t really matter where you line up but you have to be able to play with extension, have active hands and feet. The skills with being able to use my hands to disrupt the pass game in many ways is a big weapon of mine.”

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has formulated a professional model system that separates his on-field coordinators and assistant coaches from recruiting and player acquisition responsibilities.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer

February 25, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — One of the first things that Bret Bielema did after he accepted the head coach position at the University of Illinois was determine which members of Lovie Smith’s coaching staff he would retain.

At the time, this assistant coach retention philosophy was spotlighted by Corey Patterson being announced as the program’s running backs coach for the 2021 season. During his time in Champaign under Smith’s tenure with the Illini, Patterson was seen as key to Illinois' recruiting efforts in the St. Louis area as he brought over two of the highest rated Illini recruits in the modern era, Isaiah Williams and Shammond Cooper, who played under Patterson at Trinity Catholic High School while Patterson was establishing itself as one of the top high school programs in the state of Missouri.

Patterson went from being a corporate accountant in 2016 to being considered one of the most valuable assistant coaches at a power conference college football program in a five-year span.

The decision by Bielema to retain Patterson was more so based in the idea of retention of a Illinois roster, especially Williams - seen as the program’s best offensive athlete at the time, that Bielema had just acquired and understood had the pieces for a foundation that would in 2022 turn into an eight-win campaign highlighted by a New Year’s Day bowl berth less than 24 months after Bielema arrived in Champaign-Urbana.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

February 24, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

Illinois added three new faces in the late signing period, so I'm catching up on writing about them. Leslie Mosley Jr. is the most interesting of the three in my opinion because he has a high ceiling and an odd history that explains his lack of offers. Illinois signed the 5'10, 160 pound Mosley over some mediocre offers from FCS schools despite his 52 catches for 1,001 yards and 10 touchdowns at Class 1A state champion Cardinal Newman. Mosley will join Cardinal Newman alumni Xavier Scott, Xanai Scott and Dylan Frechette at Illinois this fall so he'll have plenty of friendly faces.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?
As a senior, Mosley was an elite playmaker

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

February 23, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men’s basketball program recently hosted several recruits on campus for a home game against Indiana at State Farm Center. Among the visitors, few names generated more buzz than Warren Township High School four-star guard Jaxon Davis.

The 6-foot-0, 165-pound standout from Gurnee, Illinois, is widely regarded as one of the state’s premier prospects in the 2027 class. Illinois did not bring Davis to campus as a courtesy visit. The Illini staff, led by assistant coach Zach Hamer, is working diligently to secure his commitment in what is shaping up as a highly competitive recruitment.

In an era when many elite prospects leave their high school programs for national prep schools, Davis has chosen a different path. He has remained at Warren Township, a decision rooted in family, community, and continuity.

Illinois head coach Shauna Green is now 8-0 against […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 22, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

LOS ANGELES – Up 23 in the first half, No. 10 Illinois looked untouchable. By the end, it looked stunned.

Following the loss, members of the team were on the same page that the loss stemmed from mental lapses and issues with the team’s scout. The Illini stuck to their scouting report by leaving low-percentage shooters open and playing the numbers game. UCLA made them pay.

“It was so easy early, but there’s no let-up,” head coach Brad Underwood said. “You can’t do that. We let them find a rhythm, and we let really average shooters on their team start making shots and get comfortable, and then it stressed us.”

The bubbling stress culminated at the end of the first half with what Underwood called a freshman mistake from guard Keaton Wagler – a foul on a Trey Perry desperation heave from beyond the arc that was called a shooting foul, leading to three points from the free-throw line. IlliniGuys’ Zeno Jo asked Underwood about whether Illinois’ failures down the stretch simply boiled down to trusting the scout to a fault, which he responded to with a resounding yes.

Illinois moves to 0-3 in overtime games as they […]