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By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 3, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

To quote Justin Stepp in a tweet one morning this week: "I woke up feelin the cheesiest coach!". 

What a great win for Illinois.  That was definitely the biggest Illini win since 2007 at Ohio State, and potentially a program changing day that we can all hold onto forever.  South Carolina was very overrated as a 10 point favorite, but I wouldn't have argued with anyone who said they were still a distinct favorite in this game given their work through the season and strong fanbase that only had to drive to the game.  Still, Illinois controlled the action throughout and but for a few officiating oddities, they would have won by more.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 3, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois’ recent trip to Orlando for the Citrus Bowl was about more than just football — it was a business trip as well. Under the leadership of four-year head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini have continued their recruiting efforts in the Sunshine State.

On New Year’s Day, Illinois received a surprise commitment from Kingston Shaw, a 2026 three-star edge rusher from Apopka, Florida. Shaw expressed his excitement about Illinois on Twitter:

By IlliniGuys Staff January 3, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

January 2, 2025

The first two months are in the books and the Illini now dive into the deep Big Ten pool. They split their first two conference games a month ago and have already gone 2-2 vs. Top 25 teams plus an emotional win over a Missouri team that had won 10 in a row, including an upset of then -#1 Kansas.

So...where does this team stand right now, hours away from taking the court in Eugene against #9 Oregon? We asked the IlliniGuys for their thoughts:

How would you grade the Illini so far?

Mike Cagley: Right now

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

January 2, 2025

The Illini are headed west for a pair of games on the left coast against Oregon and Washington as their first foray into the new Big Ten landscape. Oregon is ranked 9th in the country and have already built an impressive resume with wins over Texas A&M, Alabama and San Diego State. This will be a tough game for Illinois to win, but here’s how they do it and how a look at the details.

Setting the Stage

#22/20 Illinois (9-3, 1-1) at #9/9 Oregon (12-1, 1-1)
Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 // 9 p.m. CT (7 p.m. PT) // Eugene, Ore. // Matthew Knight Arena
TV: FS1 – Guy Haberman (Play-by-Play) & Casey Jacobsen (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Deon Thomas

Notable

*Illinois opens the 2025 calendar year with a trip to the Pacific Northwest to face new Big Ten members Oregon and Washington, beginning Thursday night in Eugene against the No. 9-ranked Ducks (9 p.m. CT, FS1).

*This starts a stretch for Illinois with four of its next six games on the road. Illinois is 0-1 in true road games this season, and 2-2 away from home. lllinois is looking for its first road win over a top-10 team since beating No. 7 Ohio State on March 6, 2021.

*Illinois is 2-2 against ranked teams this season, with wins over No. 19 Arkansas and No. 20 Wisconsin. Illinois leads the Big Ten in the latest NCAA NET rankings at No. 11, one spot of ahead of Oregon.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 2, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois football enjoyed a season for the ages this year and that continues to show in their recruiting in the transfer portal.

Thursday morning, word leaked that West Virginia wide receiver Hudson Clement is heading to Illinois. Clement, a 6-foot-1, 198-pound sophomore from Martinsburg, West Virginia, becomes the latest addition to the Fighting Illini, according to On3 reporter Pete Nakos.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 1, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Early Wednesday morning marked a great start to 2025 for Illinois football fans as the team landed an unexpected commitment from three-star recruit Kingston Shaw from Apopka, Florida.

Illinois defensive players have seen and heard what has been said and written about their defensive coordinator over two years. They now hope this 2024 Citrus Bowl flips criticism into belief.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 1, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)

ORLANDO, Fla. — Following what is arguably the most disciplined and physically dominant defensive performances in the last two seasons, Aaron Henry’s players weren’t done proving a point.

The leadership amongst the near two dozen Illinois defensive players who played snaps during the 21-17 win over South Carolina in the 2024 Citrus Bowl were intent on sending a post-game message as well.

January 1, 2025

It was one of the most thrilling - and intriguing - calendar years ever in Illini basketball history. The deepest NCAA tournament run in nearly two decades, but a legal battle that cast a dark cloud over most of the season and the emergence of the best one-year player that the Illini have ever seen.

Here's a look back:

Illinois tailback Josh McCray, who was part of the tailback duo involved in the birth of ‘Barge’ package three years ago at Penn State was named the Citrus Bowl MVP running behind the massive set.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 1, 2025

ORLANDO, Fla. — Illinois used its 2024 Citrus Bowl win to prove the Bret Bielema old-school classic run scheme will never go out of style.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 1, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The state of Florida continues to be a valuable pipeline for the Illinois football program. On Tuesday in Orlando, the Illini secured a 21-17 Citrus Bowl victory over South Carolina.

The momentum carried into the new year as Illinois landed a significant recruit this morning. Kingston Shaw, a three-star edge rusher from Apopka, Florida, announced his commitment to the Illini. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound athlete chose Illinois over offers from Mississippi State, Arkansas, Marshall, Toledo, and Buffalo.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema accuses South Carolina of doing an immoral and unsafe trick play while Gamecocks head coach calls Bielema’s gesture ‘bush league’.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 1, 2025

ORLANDO, Fla. — Don’t try to tell the two head coaches in the 2024 Citrus Bowl that the results in a non-College Football Playoff game simply don’t matter.

Both Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer turned their competitive edge up to another level on New Year’s Eve in a situation that boiled over with just over one minute left in the third quarter.

Following the program’s first 10-win season since 2001 and first New Year’s Day/Eve bowl win since 1994, maybe we all forget the past in order to recognize the respect Illinois football has earned. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 31, 2024

ORLANDO, Fla. — Maybe Shane Beamer was trying to deflect from his program’s momentum-crushing bowl loss, maybe he truly believes it but in reality, the reasoning doesn’t matter. 

By IlliniGuys Staff December 31, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff December 31, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]