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

February 2, 2025

The Illini are back at home after the forgettable loss in Lincoln and need a win over a surging Ohio State Buckeyes team that has won 3 in a row including 2 on the road. Illinois has lost 4 of 6, but have been without one of their stars in each game due to injury, illness or foul trouble. Can they right the ship at home? 7’1 Center Tomislav Ivisic is listed as questionable, but odds are that he will not play again on Sunday as he works himself back into shape.

Regardless, Illinois will have to play much better offensively on Sunday if they want to get the win. Here’s a peek at what to expect.

Setting the Stage

#18 Illinois (14-7, 6-5) vs. Ohio State (13-8, 5-5)
Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 // 12 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
TV: CBS – Kevin Harlan (Play-by-Play) & Jim Spanarkel (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas National Radio: Compass Media Networks – Matt Smith (Play-By-Play) & Robert Horry (Analyst)

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

February 1, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois football program is making waves on the national stage. Head coach Bret Bielema and his staff secured a commitment from five-star cornerback Victor Singleton of Toledo, Ohio, solidifying Illinois as a rising force in college football.

Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic to have his injury report status upgraded Sunday to questionable vs. Ohio State but the optimism for him being active or a impactful contributors isn’t high.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

February 1, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — While the title of his playing status will likely change, the amount of minutes of game activity for Tomislav Ivisic is still unknown.

Ivisic, the first-year center who has missed the last three games after being diagnosed with mononucleosis, is still very unlikely to be a big factor when No. 18 Illinois hosts Ohio State Sunday afternoon (Noon CST, CBS).

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 31, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There has been a lot of attention on the state’s No. 3-ranked player, tight end JC Anderson from Mt. Zion, but Mack Sutter is considered the second-best prospect in the state at the same position.

Illinois will return all five starters from the 2024 season but also seven of the 10 offensive linemen who were on the travel roster.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 31, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Bret Bielema has said and will likely say throughout the remaining months of this offseason that he did not spend Christmas Eve with his wife and two young daughters.

Instead of being with his family on Dec. 24, the head coach of the University of Illinois football program elected to take the private plane from Willard Airport in Savoy authorized to him in his contract by the Illinois athletics department for recruiting trips to visit arguably the most important person for his 2025 roster.

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

January 31, 2025

There are bad losses throughout a season and one of them came on Thursday night in Lincoln, when Illinois fell to Nebraska 80-74 in OT. The Huskers had lost 6 straight and although many think they are a bubble team; this was a brutal loss for Illinois. Not because of Nebraska, but because of the way Illinois played. Poor 1st half shooting, followed by 11 second half turnovers killed Illinois, and yet they still found a way to force overtime before they went cold again and shot 0-8 from 3 in the extra period.

The Illini are now 6-5 in Big Ten play and they look like a team and coaching staff that is befuddled by what they are seeing and experiencing. Yes, the loss of Ivisic hurts, but this team still has talent and the ability to play better than this, win or lose.

Deep Thoughts

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

January 31, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's page on X)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – A major statement could be made across the Big Ten, Midwest and the college football landscape if Illinois lands the state's top recruit, Morgan Park's 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver Nasir Rankin.

By IlliniGuys Staff January 30, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By IlliniGuys Staff January 30, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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 […]