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The trio of rushing production for Illinois consisting of Kaden Feagin, Aidan Laughery and Ca'Lil Valentine are all expected to return for the Illini in the 2026 season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 27, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — All three tailbacks leading the Illinois rushing attack this season are expected to return to Bret Bielema’s Illini program for the 2026 campaign.

Aidan Laughery, who received three starts including starts in the first two games of the 2025 season, confirmed in his post-practice availability to IlliniGuys.com he would not be considering the transfer portal after concluding his season-ending 1-on-1 meetings with Illini coaches before the holiday break.

Laughery, who rushed for 67 yards on 16 attempts nearly a year ago in the Citrus Bowl win over then-No. 14 South Carolina, is expecting to use this postseason game a springboard for himself and an Illini rushing attack that finished 13th in a 18-team Big Ten Conference this season.

Laughery said Saturday he’s fully healthy for the first time this season after playing through a recurring ankle injury from the 45-19 win at Duke on Sept. 6 and forced the Gibson City native to miss four games this season and be limited to only 62 carries in 2025 campaign.

Illinois may turn to a likely 2026 starter ot a younger player who hasn’t experienced any game in an Illini jersey to replace J.C. Davis vs. Tennessee in Music City Bowl.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 27, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics; the player depicted is not Brandon Henderson)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Illinois coaching staff has been using this opt-out by J.C. Davis to rotate in several options at left tackle during bowl preparation practices.

Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. confirmed that both Knapik brothers who transferred in nearly a year ago from Idaho have seen first-team reps at the left tackle position for this 2025 Music City Bowl matchup versus Tennessee on Dec. 30 (4:30 p.m. CST, ESPN). Illinois has begun on-site, closed bowl practices inside Vanderbilt’s newly renovated FirstBank Stadium on the West End of Nashville with veteran players being back in full action after being given limited reps on the on-site practices inside the Smith Family Football Complex before the team gave the players off for the Christmas holiday.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 27, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

While the thick of the holiday season is now behind us with Black Friday and Christmas in the rear-view mirror, it’s never too late to do some eye shopping – especially in today’s college sports world.

The Music City Bowl against Tennessee is yet to be played, and we’re still weeks, if not months, away from portal commitments rolling around. Still, here’s the first edition of a shortlist of wish list players from the transfer portal. While it’s always great to cast a wide net in recruiting, this first list is staying a bit more realistic, grounded in previous interest or the obvious geographic relations these players have to Illinois.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 26, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois 2026 basketball commit Ethan Brown of Rolla High School (Rolla, Mo.) was among the spectators for the 2025 Braggin’ Rights game in Missouri, watching a dominant performance by his future team.

The 6-foot-4, 180-pound wing attended the annual rivalry matchup. On Christmas Eve Brown told IlliniGuys he enjoyed watching Illinois dominate Missouri 91-48 in front of a crowd of 18,505 fans.

“I thought the Braggin’ Rights game was great. We played well and got after them defensively.

IlliniGuys.com has further information on a veteran quarterback that Illinois is hopeful to get an official visit from after the Music City Bowl. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Beat Reporter

December 26, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has its eyes on the Ivy League for a possible veteran transfer quarterback to lead its offense for the upcoming 2026 season. 

By IlliniGuys Staff December 25, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 24, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy mtvuutiset)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — IlliniGuys Insider and Analyst and co-host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular, Brad Sturdy, dropped a major nugget this week on the I on the Illini Podcast, shedding light on movement surrounding one of the nation’s top men’s basketball recruits.

At IlliniGuys, there are no days off. Even on Christmas Eve, sources confirmed Illinois is actively working the phones, and one name continues to surface: Miikka Muurinen. The 6-foot-10, 205-pound do-it-all wing is viewed as a legitimate threat from anywhere on the floor and continues to draw national attention.

Illinois is battling a loaded field that includes

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

December 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Normally, when you go to the Braggin’ Rights game, you're looking for a competitive game; a rivalry game, a game in which both teams give everything they have and leave it all on the floor, and the results can sometimes be astonishing. Although the results were astonishing on Monday night it was not a competitive game in any sense of the word as the Illini cruised to a dominating 91-48 win in the biggest blowout in Braggin' Rights history.

It was the third consecutive win in the series for the Illini as they bolstered their case to be a top 10 team. For Missouri it was a devastating loss after playing a soft non-conference schedule and having essentially zero quality wins at this point.

Here's a recap of what we saw.

These 3 Things

Wagler Shines

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

ST. LOUIS — In an annual rivalry series game that has been known to produce beyond mystifying results, the 2025 version of the Braggin’ Rights contest elected to buck that trend by going about as planned.

Illinois, which came to Enterprise Center in St. Louis as a nearly double-digit favorite, led for all but 13 seconds in a 91-48 win. The only bizarre scenario was Illinois walked out with the largest blowout win in the series history with arguably its most dominating defensive performance.

“Tonight, we made shots and we played good, plain and simple,” Illinois head coach Brad Underwood said. “It was nine days of practice to get back to the essence of who we are the defensive end, our daily vitamins.”

By IlliniGuys Staff December 22, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

December 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Illinois and Missouri fans will descend on St Louis on Monday as the Illini and the Tigers are back at it in the McBride Homes Braggin’ Rights game. A game that probably doesn't get enough notoriety nationally for the intense rivalry between the two fan bases that surround St Louis, this will be another epic battle between two teams that can really score the ball.

Missouri enters with a record of 10-2 although they have played a very soft schedule outside of Kansas, a game they lost 80 to 60. Illinois has played a gauntlet of a schedule including five top 25 opponents and sits at 2-3 against that group. This begins the gauntlet for Missouri as they will play Florida and Kentucky after this.

This is a much-needed game for both squads. Let's take a look at the particulars

Setting the Stage
McBride Homes Braggin' Rights
#18 Illinois (8-3) vs. Missouri (10-2)
Monday, Dec. 22, 2025 // 7 p.m. CT // St. Louis, Mo. // Enterprise Center
TV: FS1 – Brandon Gaudin (Play-by-Play) & Casey Jacobsen (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Deon Thomas

Notable
*The 45th edition of the McBride Homes Braggin’ Rights game between Illinois and Missouri is set for Monday night at Enterprise Center in St. Louis (7 p.m. CT / FS1). The Illini are looking to win three consecutive Braggin’ Rights games for the first time since a stretch of five straight wins over Mizzou from 2013-17. Illinois leads the all time series 28-16.

* The Fighting Illini offense features five players averaging double figures in scoring – Kylan Boswell (16.1 ppg), Andrej Stojakovic (15.5), Keaton Wagler (15.1), David Mirkovic (13.6), and Tomislav Ivisic (10.0) – tied for the second-most in the nation.

*After leading the Big Ten in scoring last season (83.6 ppg), Illinois is currently averaging 87.8 points. At this early pace, the Illini would become the third team in program history to average 87+ points per game.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular December 22, 2025 It’s […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 21, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois freshman guard Keaton Wagler is doing more than adjusting to the college game. He is putting the country on notice.

The 6-foot-6 guard from Shawnee Mission Northwest has quickly become a key piece for the nation’s No. 18-ranked Fighting Illini, showcasing poise, confidence, and consistency well beyond his age as a freshman. As Big Ten play approaches, Wagler’s rise has not gone unnoticed beyond Champaign.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 20, 2025

I've used the college schedule break to check in on the commitments after their senior years. This is the second of my two-piece article with the first one being on the offensive commits and this one on the defense.

Illinois women’s basketball held Jackson State to just 10 […]