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Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry believes his unit needs to become more focused on creating takeaways that have led to their five wins in 2025.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Just because it’s been almost 15 years since he graduated with as a consumer trends major while playing at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Aaron Henry hasn’t forgotten what a mathematical trend looks like.

So, when the third-year Illinois defensive coordinator is shown a spreadsheet or statistical analysis split, it won’t take him long to identify during the five Illini wins in 2025 is when his defense and the Illinois special teams unit has produced 10 takeaways. It will likely take Henry even less time to find that in the two losses, Illinois has produced a single momentum-shifting turnover from the opposing offense.

Henry’s assessment of his defensive unit through the first seven games in an internal self-scout that his boss and former head coach at Wisconsin, Bret Bielema, requires of all his three coordinators during a off week produced a simple conclusion.

By Kedric Prince Staff Writer

October 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Fighting Illini men’s basketball team is gearing up for what is expected to be another exciting season. Last week’s Big Ten Media Day offered an early glimpse into expectations for 2025-26, as the conference’s preseason rankings were released.

The media selected Illinois to finish fourth behind, in order, Purdue, Michigan, and UCLA. KenPom.com’s preseason rankings were equally high on the Illini, placing them at No. 6 nationally, the second-highest Big Ten team behind the No. 2 Boilermakers.

Illinois assistant coach Zach Hamer spoke about his expectations for the upcoming season and the energy surrounding the program.

October 23, 2025

IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst Kedric Prince shared the following insider notes earlier this week following Illinois' 92-65 exhibition win over Illinois State on Sunday.  He gives an intriguing glimpse inside the program, looking at how players are developing 

What I learned yesterday at the State Farm Center, where Illinois defeated Illinois State 92-65 in front of 15,180 fans, goes beyond the final score.
Let’s start with what happened off the court. Recruiting is nowhere near what it used to be or how it’s done, and Illinois has adjusted its approach accordingly. In Brad Underwood’s early years as head coach, he had to sell his vision. Now, with the success he’s built, the Illini approach things differently.

By IlliniGuys Staff October 22, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

October 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Fighting Illini men’s basketball program welcomed several visitors to campus this past weekend, including committed forward Landon Davis from Waukee, Iowa, 2026 4-star guard prospect Adam Oumiddoch; and Ben Wade, a 6-foot-9, 205-pound small forward from Iowa City, Iowa, in the Class of 2028.

Wade doesn’t yet hold an offer from Illinois, but he told IlliniGuys that the Illini are high on his list, especially with Davis already committed, adding extra appeal to the recruitment. The two sat together inside the State Farm Center to watch Illinois roll past Illinois State 92-65.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 21, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – At this time, it seems as though one of the key cogs in the Illinois offense this season will be point guard Mihailo Petrovic. Head coach Brad Underwood has harped on the 6-foot-3 Serbian point guard’s pace, a key strength as the Illini are looking to play faster and more downhill than ever.

Petrovic made the flip to college basketball after a strong campaign in the Adriatic League, where he averaged 14.3 points, 7.3 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game and became a potential MVP candidate. At just 22 and beginning to establish himself as one of the top players in a league that’s produced the likes of Nikola Jokic, Dario Saric, and Goga Bitadze, Petrovic explained why he made the move from the Balkan Peninsula to Champaign.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular October 21, 2025 […]

With 12 FBS job openings before Halloween, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema acknowledges Monday his profession “is a hard deal” and he’s reached out to some of the terminated men in this 2025 season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 20, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Every time he sees that somebody in his coaching fraternity is terminated, Bret Bielema can’t help but recall the one and only time he was terminated from a job.

After a 48-45 loss to Missouri, Bielema was walking off the playing surface of Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas when his interim boss, Julie Cromer, handed him termination papers immediately ending his five-year run as the Arkansas head football coach before he got to the tunnel of the home locker room of the season finale.

“Some of these guys (who have been fired) are guys I would consider friends. I know that when I was handed papers saying I was no longer wanted, I know I liked hearing from people even though I really, at the time, didn’t want to hear from them,” Bielema said Monday.

By Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

October 20, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Landon Davis, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Waukee, Iowa, made the trip to Champaign with his family for his official visit as Illinois hosted Illinois State in an exhibition game at the State Farm Center.

We caught up with Davis to get the latest on his visit and what stood out the most during his time in Champaign.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has repeatedly said he and his staff are using this off week to answer questions about specific problem areas of a his football team after seven straight games.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 20, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Let’s immediately start with what would have to be considered encouraging news for Illinois fans from regarding the running game.

According to his Wednesday afternoon Zoom media conference, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirmed he expects all personnel from his running back room to be healthy for its next game on Oct. 25 at Washington following this current off weekend. This would obviously include Ca’Lil Valentine, who injured his leg/ankle in the first half of the 34-16 loss to No. 1 Ohio State, along with Kaden Feagin, who injured his shoulder in the first half against the Buckeyes but returned to action after halftime and Aidan Laughery, who had been slow to fully recover from a severe ankle injury in the win at Duke over a month ago.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illini fans got their first taste of 17th-ranked Illinois basketball in a 92-65 exhibition victory over Illinois State, albeit with some unavailable players, with the likes of Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, and Mihailo Petrovic all sitting this one out for various reasons.

While the Redbirds were without All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team selection Chase Walker and Second Team selection Johnny Kinziger, the game gave Illinois a chance to go up against the preseason No. 1 team in the MVC. Here are three quick takeaways from the win:

David Mirkovic: The Swiss Army Knife

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

October 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — According to a national recruiting site, the Illinois football program has offered 28 potential recruits, which speaks volumes about those players. Very few sophomores receive offers this early, and those who do are typically the type of difference-makers coaches recognize right away.

IlliniGuys subscribers, meet Avery Thompson, a 6-foot-3, 170-pound wide receiver from Paducah, Ky. The talented sophomore has quickly made a name for himself on the recruiting trail with his size, athleticism, and ability to make plays downfield.

By IlliniGuys Staff October 19, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff October 19, 2025 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - […]

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

October 19, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

And we are back. The Illini open up the exhibition season with a matchup against in-state opponent Illinois State at the State Farm Center on Sunday afternoon. The ‘Balkan Illini’ will be short handed in this one as Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic and Mihailo Petrovic remain sidelined due to injury, tonsils and NCAA clearance, respectively. But the Illini will still tip off at 2:00pm Sunday as they get ready for the regular season in two weeks.