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Illinois conducted its second preseason scrimmage of this month on Friday inside Memorial Stadium and Illini fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, along with his coordinators, shared some details. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 18, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema called his team’s Friday night scrimmage session inside Memorial Stadium “very productive” and IlliniGuys.com thought we’d just quickly highlight some of the details he presented to local media on Monday afternoon. 

NOTE: It is important the reader understands the scrimmage was closed to all media and public on Friday night and so these summary details are all things Bielema said, but not personally verified by IlliniGuys.com, in his Monday afternoon media session. 

As we typically do with the preseason practice reports, let’s start with an injury report. The summary here is the Illini, especially up front, continue to be more and more healthy compared to the rash of nagging injuries that they experienced early in preseason camp. 

Bielema indicated the only player completely inactive for the scrimmage was preseason All-Big Ten left tackle JC Davis but Bielema did confirm Davis, who has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, has been “out of the [walking] boot half of the day now”. When asked a follow-up question about Davis, Bielema said

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular August 18, 2025 It’s […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Talented nontraditional big men are rare in today’s game, especially those who can score with their back to the basket while also stretching the floor. Aliou Dioum, a standout in the 2026 class, is one of those versatile prospects, and Illinois is still in the running for his commitment.

The University of Illinois football team will have six captains for the upcoming 2025 season including two new leaders in quarterback Luke Altmyer and outside linebacker Gabe Jacas.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 16, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — The University of Illinois will have four returning and two new captains for the upcoming 2025 season.

Bret Bielema, the Illini’s fifth-year head coach, announced Friday the following six captains for the 2025 football season: tight end Tanner Arkin, center Josh Kreutz, linebacker Dylan Rosiek, defensive back Miles Scott will be leaders on this team for a second consecutive season and will be joined by quarterback Luke Altmyer and outside linebacker Gabe Jacas. Since taking the job before the 2021 season, Bielema has always done the captains selections with a vote of the players on the rosters during preseason camp practices.

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

August 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Hudl page)

School is back in session and the football season is just weeks away from kicking off.  That means it's "visit season" - time for prospective Illini to come in, tour the campus and facilities, and hear why they should choose Illinois over their other suitors.

For the first time in decades, prospective Illini student-athletes will be taking in home games of a football program ranked in the top 15. Illinois men's basketball plans to take advantage of that raucous atmosphere.  Here's a look at some of the recruits making arrangements to be in Champaign:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The class of 2026 has been good to Illinois football, bringing talent, depth, and potential. In the most recent On3 recruiting rankings, the Illini are listed at No. 25 nationally with 24 commitments.

This week, Illinois received more positive news when wide receiver Jabari Watkins, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound recruit from the class of 2027 from Thomasville, named his top nine schools. The list includes Illinois, Florida State, Georgia, Cal, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Pittsburgh, and Nebraska.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 14, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy USA Basketball)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois men’s basketball program is wasting no time making waves in the 2026 recruiting cycle, securing two early commitments while positioning itself for a run at one of the top prospects in the nation.

Head coach Brad Underwood and his staff have already landed Ethan Brown, a 6-foot-4, 175-pound combo guard from Rolla, Mo., and Landon Davis, a 6-foot-8, 210-pound power forward from Waukee, Iowa. Both are three-star prospects who bring skill, versatility, and competitive toughness to the class.

But Illinois’ recruiting push isn’t slowing down. On the weekend of September 12th, when the No. 12 Illini football team hosts Western Michigan, four-star forward Cameron Holmes from Goodyear, Ariz., will be in Champaign for a visit.

With the Big Ten Network’s preseason camp stop being Wednesday, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema opened up the full two-hour practice session to the media. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 13, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Good afternoon and welcome to my favorite day of preseason camp practice for the Illinois program.

Today was the day the Big Ten Network analysts are invited into the Illini’s practice session for their camp preview edition (which is scheduled to air later tonight) and therefore, it is on this day when Illinois fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema allows local media to view the entire two-hour practice session. 

Illinois Training Camp Special Air Times - Big Ten Network

• Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. CT

• Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 8:30 p.m. CT

• Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 11 p.m. CT

• Thursday, Aug 14 at 3 a.m. CT

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

Double Dribble 2-1 Focus: Jasmine Brown-Hagger Eyes Bigger Role, Tomislav Ivisic Expecting a Big Year.

Player Biography: Jasmine Brown-Hagger, a 5-foot-9 combo guard from Shorewood, Illinois, played her high school basketball in-state and ran with Example Academy on the AAU circuit. Regarded as the No. 1 player from Illinois in her class by espnW HoopGurlz, she initially committed to Mississippi State before transferring to Illinois last summer.

What we know:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 13, 2025

Today’s Double Dribble 2-1 Focus features Illinois men’s center Tomislav Ivisic and women’s guard Brown-Hagger.

Player Biography: Tomislav Ivisic enters his second season with Illinois as a 7-foot-1 center from Croatia. Due to his playing status before arriving on campus, the NCAA reviewed his eligibility, but he ultimately joined the Illini as a sophomore.

He earned third-team All-Big Ten honors from the media last season, leading the team in rebounding at 7.7 per game and blocked shots at 1.2 per game.

Ivisic made history

The Illini’s preseason nagging injuries are likely to be healed by long before the season opener on Aug. 29 against Western Illinois. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — When asked about the good news following the scrimmage inside Memorial Stadium, Bret Bielema responded in the way every head coach wants when they set up a preseason competition - no turnovers. 

The Illinois football team has transitioned its second week of preseason practices to the grass fields in between the Smith Family Football Complex and Memorial Stadium. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Good afternoon and welcome to another preseason camp practice for the Illinois program for the 2025 season in the fifth campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema. 

August 12, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Hoosier Huddle)

Here's the latest on some of 12th ranked Illinois' opponents this season:

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