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Run game, game management and special teams all get failing marks in a 17-point loss to a 4-win Wisconsin squad in Madison.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MADISON, Wis. — Bret Bielema’s ‘Football 101’ that he immediately implemented after being named the 26th head football coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign was failed miserably in every facet on Saturday night in his old stomping grounds of Camp Randall Stadium.

At this point in Bielema’s Illini tenure, we know what his three principles are: 1) Run the ball; 2) Stop the run and 3) Cover kicks (play solid special teams).

In a perplexing 27-10 loss at Wisconsin Saturday night, Illinois did none of those three things Bielema holds so dear to his winning football philosophy. Illinois had just 89 sack-adjusted (meaning without yards subtracted to Luke Altmyer’s total on Wisconsin’s five sacks) yards on the ground. Despite those five sacks, Altmyer still led Illinois (7-4, 4-4 in Big Ten Conference) in rushing with 20 yards.

“We certainly didn’t run the ball and I think that’s the most frustrating thing about today is we never got into a rhythm with the run game at all,” Bielema said dejectedly in the post-game media conference.

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

November 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini did exactly what they needed to do on Saturday afternoon when they dismantled the Long Island Sharks 98 to 58. Andrej Stojakovic led the way with 20 points, 18 of those coming after intermission. Freshman Keaton Wagler bounced back from a rough outing against Alabama with 19 points in this one as he continues to be one of the best unheralded freshmen in the country. David Mirkovic added 12 and Kylan Boswell tallied 11 as the Illinois placed four in double figures. Perhaps more importantly starting center Tomislav Ivisic is beginning to round into form playing 20 minutes and scoring nine points in his return to action.

Here’s what we saw.

These 3 Things

Putting the Pieces Together -

By IlliniGuys Staff November 23, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema concluded following the fourth loss of the 2025 regular season that he must “do a better job of building a roster around (his coaching staff)”.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 23, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

MADISON, Wis. — Following what might be considered the worst effort and execution considering the opponent of the 61-game Bret Bielema tenure at Illinois, the fifth-year head coach promised a philosophy change in how he constructs the 2026 roster.

After the 27-10 loss at a Wisconsin team that arrived Saturday night with a 3-7 overall record, Bielema said “there's obviously going to be offseason adjustments and corrections”.

With the high school and junior college early signing period being just 10 days away and the 15-day transfer portal windows opening on Jan. 3 - one day after College Football Playoff quarterfinals conclude, Bielema knows his plan to reshape an Illini roster that has fell short of many preseason expectations inside and outside the Smith Family Football Complex is rapidly approaching.

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

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

By IlliniGuys Staff November 22, 2205 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Pat Farrell, who spurned Wisconsin’s efforts to control his hometown area of Chicago, is coming off his most productive weekend in an Illini jersey.

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

No. 21 ILLINOIS at WISCONSIN

Records: Illinois 7-3, 4-3 in Big Ten; Wisconsin 3-7, 1-6 in Big Ten

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025: 6:30 p.m. CST, Camp Randall Stadium, Madison, Wisconsin

Surface: FieldTurf

Capacity: 76,057

Line: Illinois by 9.5

Series notes: Wisconsin leads the all-time series 45-38-7 and in Madison, Wisconsin leads, 24-17-4. Wisconsin has won 12 of its last 14 meetings with the Fighting Illini, dating to 2008. The last time Illinois visited Camp Randall Stadium, the Illini snapped an eight-game Wisconsin winning streak at Camp Randall in the series – that streak dated back to 2002. In the teams’ last meeting, the Badgers overcame a 14-point 4th-quarter Illinois lead to score a 25-21 win in Champaign (Oct. 21, 2023). QB Braedyn Locke tossed a game-winning touchdown to offensive lineman Nolan Rucci with less than a minute remaining after he changed jersey numbers after warmups prompting a new Big Ten Conference rule to implemented.

TV: Big Ten Network; Rhett Lewis (play-by-play); Anthony Herron (color analyst) and Dannie Rogers (sideline reporter)

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), Michael Martin (sideline), and Steve Kelly (pre/half/post). The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, SiriusXM 372, the SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com/live.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A few months after he took the Wisconsin job in Jan. 2023, Luke Fickell and his staff attempted to do a recruiting barnstorming tour of much-needed areas they felt they needed to dominate.

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

November 22, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini are back in the friendly confines for a tune up against Long Island on Saturday after their tough loss to Alabama in Chicago. The Illini are a big favorite in this one against the Sharks and head coach Rod Strickland, so this is more a ‘get right’ game.

Setting the Stage
#8 Illinois (4-1) vs. Long Island (3-2)
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 // 1 p.m. CT // Champaign, Ill. // State Farm Center
Stream: B1G+ – Andrew Burkey (Play-by-Play), Justin St. Louis (Analyst), & Mazie Gierat Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Scott Beatty (Play-By-Play), Doug Altenberger

Notable
*Saturday’s contest is also the second game of stretch of five games in 17 days across four cities that includes a trio of marquee nonconference matchups vs. Top 25 opponents. Following the Illini’s game vs. #11 Alabama Wednesday, which drew 17,775 fans to the United Center in Chicago, the team hosts LIU and UT Rio Grande Valley at home before facing #3 UConn at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 28 and concluding the gauntlet on Dec. 6 vs. #20 Tennessee at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

*Illinois carries a six-game home winning streak into Saturday’s game vs. LIU. Under head coach Brad Underwood, the Illini have won 33 consecutive nonconference home games against unranked opponents.

*Through five games, Illinois leads the Big Ten in rebound margin (+17.8 rpg) and total rebounds per game (47.0), ranking fourth and 10th, respectively, in the NCAA. Illinois also ranks second in the conference in scoring offense (95.4 ppg), 3-point attempts per game (31.8), 3-point percentage defense (.286).

November 22, 2025 The Illini face a Wisconsin Badger […]

Through two wins in November, Illinois is third in the Big Ten Conference this month in rushing offense at 217.5 yards per game.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 21, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It’s become almost an annual trend that as the weather turns colder and the calendar flips to November, Illinois will suddenly find success in the run game.

In a 2024 season where Illinois finished just ninth in a 18-team Big Ten Conference and 88th in the 136-team Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing offense, the Illini finished fifth in the league in its ground attack during its four games in November.

Illinois (7-3, 4-3 in Big Ten Conference) has just completed back-to-back games with at least 200 rushing yards, for only the second time in the 60-game tenure of Bret Bielema running the operation in Champaign-Urbana.

The solution, according to the Illini’s fifth-year head coach is about as simple as it gets.

“Without a doubt, it’s the play of the offensive line,” Bielema said on Monday. “I don’t mean to get overly simplistic with everybody here but it’s not a coincidence that when that group plays well, we play well as a whole team.”

By Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

November 21, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois continues to identify its future at the most important position on the field, and one early name near the top of the board is Hunter Hochbaum, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound dual-threat quarterback from Mater Dei Catholic High School in Breese, Illinois. A member of the class of 2028, Hochbaum has already drawn interest from several college programs and has begun making visits as his recruitment gains momentum.

Hochbaum recently visited Illinois for the Maryland game and said the experience made a strong impression on him. “They treated me great. Coach Pat Ryan is a great guy to get in contact with. I felt welcomed when I arrived, and the environment was awesome. I’ve grown up watching Big Ten football, and Illinois is a great representation of the hype the Big Ten conference has,” he said.

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

November 20, 2025

The Illini fell to #11 Alabama 90-86 on Wednesday night despite 22 points and 7 assists from Kylan Boswell and 26 points from Andrej Stojakovic. Alabama scored on every possession in the final 3 minutes, and the Tide took advantage of the Illini free throw woes to get a huge bounce back win behind Labaron Philon and his 24 points and 5 assists.

Here’s a look at what we saw:

These 3 Things

Freshmen Looked Like Freshmen 

By Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

November 20, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois put together a good 2026 recruiting class with the official signing now complete, headlined by four-star guard Lucas Morillo of New Rochelle, New York. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound standout from The Newman School becomes the highest-ranked recruit in the Illini’s class and one of the most coveted guards in the country.

Morillo joins a pair of Midwest recruits in guard Ethan Brown of Rolla, Missouri, and forward Landon Davis of Waukee, Iowa. Together, the trio gives Illinois a blend of size, versatility, and long-term developmental upside that positions the program well for future success.

Nobody at Illinois hired Bret Bielema to win pretty, high-scoring blowouts in November and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 20, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The first words out of Bret Bielema’s mouth after a 24-6 victory in conference play was the performance wasn’t clean.

Of course, it wasn’t. Because sometimes when the calendar flips to November and Bret Bielema is your head coach, you just have to get in the mud and get a little dirty to feel a lot of satisfaction in the Big Ten Conference. Nobody knows more about dirty wins than Mr. Bielema himself. Winning games like this is why he was hired to Champaign-Urbana.

“What (Bielema) is building and what this team is building is just an awesome thing to be a part of. The gratitude to have a little small piece in that,” said Illinois linebacker Dylan Rosiek, who is playing with an undisclosed injury that Bielema will only say Rosiek will need offseason surgery to fully repair. “I was just walking around, looking at the lights and everything. It was just like, what a tremendous opportunity that I've been blessed to be a part of. Coming into the program, where it was, and even just the atmosphere today, when you showed up in 2022, that was not what you got.”