Featured

With the Big Ten Network’s preseason camp stop being Wednesday, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema opened up the full two-hour practice session to the media. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 13, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Good afternoon and welcome to my favorite day of preseason camp practice for the Illinois program.

Today was the day the Big Ten Network analysts are invited into the Illini’s practice session for their camp preview edition (which is scheduled to air later tonight) and therefore, it is on this day when Illinois fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema allows local media to view the entire two-hour practice session. 

Illinois Training Camp Special Air Times - Big Ten Network

• Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. CT

• Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 8:30 p.m. CT

• Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 11 p.m. CT

• Thursday, Aug 14 at 3 a.m. CT

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

Double Dribble 2-1 Focus: Jasmine Brown-Hagger Eyes Bigger Role, Tomislav Ivisic Expecting a Big Year.

Player Biography: Jasmine Brown-Hagger, a 5-foot-9 combo guard from Shorewood, Illinois, played her high school basketball in-state and ran with Example Academy on the AAU circuit. Regarded as the No. 1 player from Illinois in her class by espnW HoopGurlz, she initially committed to Mississippi State before transferring to Illinois last summer.

What we know:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 13, 2025

Today’s Double Dribble 2-1 Focus features Illinois men’s center Tomislav Ivisic and women’s guard Brown-Hagger.

Player Biography: Tomislav Ivisic enters his second season with Illinois as a 7-foot-1 center from Croatia. Due to his playing status before arriving on campus, the NCAA reviewed his eligibility, but he ultimately joined the Illini as a sophomore.

He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from the media last season, leading the team in rebounding at 7.7 per game and blocked shots at 1.2 per game.

Ivisic made history

The Illini’s preseason nagging injuries are likely to be healed by long before the season opener on Aug. 29 against Western Illinois. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — When asked about the good news following the scrimmage inside Memorial Stadium, Bret Bielema responded in the way every head coach wants when they set up a preseason competition - no turnovers. 

The Illinois football team has transitioned its second week of preseason practices to the grass fields in between the Smith Family Football Complex and Memorial Stadium. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Good afternoon and welcome to another preseason camp practice for the Illinois program for the 2025 season in the fifth campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema. 

August 12, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Hoosier Huddle)

Here's the latest on some of 12th ranked Illinois' opponents this season:

By IlliniGuys Staff August 11, 2025 The most-hyped preseason […]

August 11, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy Starr Portice, Michigan […]

Illinois offensive line is currently out its top two offensive tackles on both sides of the line with nagging injuries but Bret Bielema’s coaching staff are getting intense looks at the youth of its depth chart.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 9, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Don’t get Bret Bielema wrong. The Illinois fifth-year head coach would obviously prefer to get through a month-long preseason camp without injuries to any of the projected starting lineup but as he enters his 16th season leading a power conference football program, he also realizes that request is only just short of an impossibility.

So, after one week of work, Bielema and his coaching staff are breathing easier that only one of the the six offensive line injuries in preseason camp is significant and none of the other five are expected to last before the Aug. 29 season opener against Western Illinois (6:30 p.m. CST, Peacock).

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 8, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men’s basketball program continues to build its future with the addition of 2026 forward Landon Davis, a 6-foot-9, 210-pound standout from Waukee, Iowa, who spoke with IlliniGuys about why he chose to join the orange and blue.

Davis, a skilled and versatile frontcourt player, received his first Division I offer from Illinois, a moment he won’t forget. Illinois assistant coach Zach Hamer made the call, and Davis admitted the offer left him more than thrilled.

Davis visited Champaign last year during a football game, he told IlliniGuys, and that early interest laid the foundation for his decision.

Illinois has 16 returning starters from the 2024 season. That fact and the eight hours a week coaches have had with players in winter and summer leading to expedited installation right now. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 7, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Good evening and welcome to the sixth preseason camp practice for the Illinois program for the 2025 season in the fifth campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema that is one of eight practices that will begin under the lights in Memorial Stadium.

Illinois has 16 returning starters from the 2024 season. That fact and the eight hours a week coaches have had with players in winter and summer leading to expedited installation right now. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 7, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — The previous history of offseason rules in college football made for much more trial-and-error elements in preseason camps for power conference programs. In 2025, it’s all about installing what you’ve already tested months ago. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 7, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois head coach Bret Bielema gave fans the familiar signal that good news was on the way, and on Thursday morning, that hint became reality.

The Illini received a commitment from Jack Gray, a punter from Adelaide, South Australia. Gray will join Illinois on a full scholarship, continuing the program’s tradition of featuring an Australian punter, a streak that dates back to the 2017 season.

Illinois middle linebacker Dylan Rosiek missed the final four games of the season last season after suffering a fractured foot but returns in 2025 to an experienced positional room.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 6, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — During the 25-17 home loss to Minnesota last November, Dylan Rosiek heard what he thought was a strange pop or a ripping noise.

Initially, before looking down at his left foot, the Illinois starting middle linebacker was convinced his football cleat had split open and broken. The reason for this assumption was Rosiek had never suffered an injury in his football career that required any kind of major surgery so he wasn’t sure what something that significant would feel like.

When he realized his cleat was structurally intact, there was only one conclusion left. The foot inside the cleat was very much not. The fracture in his left foot was taken care of with surgery the week after Illinois’ final loss of the 2024 season which led to months of rehabilitation before he was medically cleared for contact shortly before the start of spring practices. And then Rosiek suffered a broken bone in his hand, ending his journey back to the playing turf.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 5, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Prep Hoops)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois men’s basketball added another key piece to its 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of Landon Davis, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound forward out of Waukee, Iowa.

Davis joins 6-foot-4 guard Ethan Brown of Rolla, Missouri, as the second pledge in Brad Underwood’s 2026 class. Brown was the first to commit, but the addition of Davis shows the Illini are wasting no time building for the future.