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COLUMN: Let’s Get Crazy - Illini Now in CFP Contention

COLUMN: Let’s Get Crazy - Illini Now in CFP Contention

After the 21-7 win over Michigan Saturday, Illinois is firmly in the College Football Playoff contention no matter what happens next weekend at Oregon. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 19, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The time has officially come to lose our minds. Illinois is firmly going to be in the College Football Playoff discussion throughout the following week. 

Following the 21-7 win over Michigan, Illinois is a team, that in the third week of October in the year 2024 of our Lord, needs to be taken seriously among some traditional college football blueblood programs. 

In picking up a victory in the biggest game of his 44th game since becoming the 26th head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bret Bielema has taken Illinois to a place they haven’t been in several decades. 

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22nd Ranked Illini Outmuscle #24 Wolverines Before Sellout Crowd

22nd Ranked Illini Outmuscle #24 Wolverines Before Sellout Crowd

By IlliniGuys Staff October 19, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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IlliniGuys Predictions - Michigan at Illinois

IlliniGuys Predictions - Michigan at Illinois

October 19, 2024 The Illini played an unexpectedly exciting […]

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Why Josh McCray is Special to Illini’s Bret Bielema - ‘Everything keeps telling him that he’s going to get beat down, and he just keeps getting back up’

Why Josh McCray is Special to Illini’s Bret Bielema - ‘Everything keeps telling him that he’s going to get beat down, and he just keeps getting back up’

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is always going to […]

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One-on-One with Tre White

One-on-One with Tre White

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 18, 2024

Champaign, IL – Tre White, a combo guard/wing who transferred to Illinois from USC and Louisville, was the second transfer to commit to the Fighting Illini this offseason, following sophomore Jake Davis. White brings experience to Illinois, coming in with more court time than anyone on the 2024-25 roster, aside from returning junior Ty Rodgers.

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Winning Illinois Football Brings Four-Star Cameron McHaney to Champaign

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Winning Illinois Football Brings Four-Star Cameron McHaney to Champaign

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 18, 2024

Champaign, IL – There's an old saying: "If you build it, they will come." That phrase, from the 1989 film Field of Dreams, is one of the most iconic lines in baseball movie history.

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The Farrell Files Illinois - Key Visitors for the Michigan Game

The Farrell Files Illinois - Key Visitors for the Michigan Game

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

October 18, 2024

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at some key visitors for the Michigan game and where the Illini stand with them.

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Illini Film Review: No. 23 Illinois 50, Purdue 49 (OT) - Evaluating Illini Woes & Luke Altmyer’s Play-Action Mastery

Illini Film Review: No. 23 Illinois 50, Purdue 49 (OT) - Evaluating Illini Woes & Luke Altmyer’s Play-Action Mastery

IlliniGuys.com needed some extra time to discuss with Illinois coaches what unique set of circumstances and trouble transpired throughout the week and the 60-minute game vs. Purdue. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 17, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Some IlliniGuys.com subscribers might have been wondering where the film review was this week, am I right?

Well, this one took longer to put together and it’s for a simple reason. I needed to make sure the best I could that what I was seeing on the television copy was even similar to the interpretation of the coaching staff at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Isaiah White, a Committed Defensive Lineman from Indianapolis, Back at Memorial Stadium

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Isaiah White, a Committed Defensive Lineman from Indianapolis, Back at Memorial Stadium

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 17, 2024

Champaign, IL – Isaiah White, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound three-star recruit from Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, remains firm in his commitment to Illinois. The class of 2025 defensive tackle pledged to the Illini in early June and plans to honor his commitment.

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Sheek Pearson Recaps Illinois Basketball Visit

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Sheek Pearson Recaps Illinois Basketball Visit

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 17, 2024

Champaign, IL — During the Illinois-Purdue football game on Saturday, several key football prospects were present. Typically, it’s easy to distinguish football players from basketball players, but among them on the east side of Memorial Stadium was a 6-foot-11 young man who clearly wasn’t a football player. It was Sheek Pearson, a power forward from St. Louis, Missouri.

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Around The Big Ten - Oct. 17th

Around The Big Ten - Oct. 17th

October 17, 2024

Here's a look at a few storylines around the Big Ten heading into Week 8:

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Top Ohio LB Is Serious About Illinois Football

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Top Ohio LB Is Serious About Illinois Football

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 16, 2024

Champaign, IL. – Cam Thomas, a four-star football prospect, attended the Illinois-Purdue game on Saturday, who got the attention of reporters on the field early that afternoon.

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Bielema’s Request to Illini Fans For Saturday vs. Michigan: “That place should be rocking” 

Bielema’s Request to Illini Fans For Saturday vs. Michigan: “That place should be rocking” 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is asking fans for the most electric atmosphere in years at Memorial Stadium when they host No. 24 Michigan on Saturday afternoon.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 16, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Allow Bret Bielema a moment to get on his soapbox on Monday afternoon.

As he looked to his right at the empty Memorial Stadium field, the Illinois fourth-year head coach decided to answer a question about being on CBS back-to-back weeks in his weekly media conference by attempting to explain to Illini fans what an intimidating home atmosphere can do for a developing football program.

“There’s definitely growth that we have to go through as a football team but also the fanbase,” Bielema said Monday. “Listen, we haven’t lost a game out there [pointing to Memorial Stadium field] this year.”

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The Trench Report: Purdue

The Trench Report: Purdue

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 15, 2024

Let's all take a deep breath. It was ugly. Our team lost its composure. The Illini run defense remains problematic going into a match-up with an elite running team.

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Kaden Feagin Status Doubtful For Michigan Game with Hyperextended Left Leg

Kaden Feagin Status Doubtful For Michigan Game with Hyperextended Left Leg

Illinois running back Kaden Feagin is doubtful to play vs. No. 24 Michigan on Saturday after suffering a hyperextension of his left leg in practice early last week. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 15, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois is preparing for Kaden Feagin to miss this weekend’s game against No. 24 Michigan. 

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