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

January 30, 2025

It’s always difficult to decide if you want to play a team that is reeling and desperate or a team that is playing well and due for a bad night. Personally, I will always take the team that is reeling, even if they are desperate. That’s the case on Thursday night in Lincoln when Illinois takes on the Nebraska Cornhuskers, losers of 6 in a row. The Cornhuskers are a dangerous team, already with wins over UCLA, Indiana and Creighton, but they are a team that has holes and they have been exposed a bit of late. Can the Illini add to their misery?

Here’s a breakdown.

Setting the Stage
#18 Illinois (14-6, 6-4) at Nebraska (12-8, 2-7)
Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 // 7:30 p.m. CT // Lincoln, Neb. // Pinnacle Bank Arena
TV: FS1 – Kevin Kugler (Play-by-Play) & Nick Bahe (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Doug Altenberger

Meet the Huskers

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   Illinois at Rutgers […]

The return of Cole Rusk from a severe knee injury a few weeks before the start of last season may mean more big packages in the Illini offense in 2025.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 29, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Bonnie Ryan/Associated Press)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Imagine preparing your offense to be big with a veteran quarterback, numerous options at the tailback spot, a pair of physical wide receivers and a pair of contrasting styles but complimentary tight ends. This was Illinois plan in going into August 2024.

And then Cole Rusk’s knee gave out in a non-contact drill and everything about what Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. and tight ends coach Robby Discher had prepared for was scrapped.

IlliniGuys.com can confirm the ESPN.com report that former Ball […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office)   Fighting Illini all-time […]

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 29, 2025

Illinois remained hot on the recruiting trail when Lincoln Way West Edge Rusher Jacob Alexander pledged to the Illini on Monday.  Alexander was among a large group of recruits in Champaign for the Junior Day weekend last weekend and we hope he is merely the first of many commitments from the weekend.  As for Alexander himself, he is a 6'4 240 pounder who plays in a sort of DE/ OLB hybrid for Lincoln Way, and though he only had 36 tackles and 5 sacks last year and merited only a mid 3 star ranking from the recruiting services, I like him more than most.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 28, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Dylan Mingo's page on X)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — While Illinois football has been making waves with its impressive recruiting efforts, let’s not overlook the success of Illinois basketball, which has long set the recruiting standard in Champaign.

Brad Underwood, hired before both football coach Bret Bielema and women’s basketball coach Shauna Green, continues to elevate the Illinois basketball program. Together, the three coaches have put their respective programs to a higher level.

According to Rivals, Bielema’s 2026 recruiting class ranks 17th nationally. Green’s 2025 recruiting class is ranked seventh in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz, making Illinois the only Big Ten women’s basketball program in the top 10.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]

By IlliniGuys Staff January 27, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

In her 113th career game at Illinois, fifth-year center Kendall Bostic reached the top of the school’s all-time rebounding record Monday night against Purdue. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 27, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Before every game she’s played in college, Kendall Bostic calls her dad to discuss the game plan. 

It’s a routine and tradition that Bostic can kept throughout her five-year college playing career, one at Michigan State and four at Illinois, and a daily father-daughter phone call is something that both hope continue long after Bostic is done playing the sport she loves. 

“He’s a coach and he’ll never stop being a coach,” Kendall Bostic said about her dad following the 83-74 season-opening victory on Nov. 7 against then-No. 19 Florida State. “I’ll always ask him ‘what’s your take?’ or ‘what do you see?’ And God love him, he’s goes all in on the scouting reports. He'll send paragraphs. It helps. I love it. He'll send clips and he'll watch stuff. It's just a cool relationship I have with him over basketball. He helped me get to where I am today. I didn't have any of the trainers. I played AAU and worked out with my dad. I credit him to where I am today because he got me here, so I always like to kind of hear his input before games.”

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 27, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After another visit to Champaign, edge rusher Jacob Alexander had seen enough. It was time to let the rest of the country know that he will be playing football for the University of Illinois.

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

January 27, 2025

If you could bottle up the energy that the Illini had on Sunday against in state foe Northwestern, you could have a team that is ready to go somewhere. The Illini cruised to an 83-74 win, leading by 20 points the majority of the game before a Northwestern fake rally at the end. The Illini placed 6 players in double figures and 7 of them had 8 or more points as they moved to 14-6 and 6-4 in league play.

Here’s a recap:

These 3 Things

Energy Is Contagious

By IlliniGuys Staff January 27, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Illinois vs. Purdue Date […]

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 26, 2025

Illinois closed the deal with wide receiver Kenyon Alston on Orlando's Bishop Moore High School on Wednesday.  Alston had long been rumored to be an Illinois lean, so much so that fellow Class of 2026 QB Michael Clayton has been talking about him as a future teammate from the time of Clayton's commitment.  Alston is a big time get whose high 3 star ranking is a bit misleading given that he has 20+ high major offers including Florida State and Miami.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?