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By IlliniGuys Staff

December 9, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Stock Risers)

CHAMPAIGN, IL – The Illini are off to a strong start this season with a 6-2 record, but while the games are underway, recruiting efforts are relentless. Illinois is hosting a big-time prospect, four-star wing Alexander Constanza, a 6-foot-8, 190-pound small forward from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on an official visit starting today.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]

Illinois football is 0-6 all-time against Southeastern Conference opponents and is a 10.5-point underdog to No. 15 South Carolina in 2024 Citrus Bowl. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 8, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — No matter the specific situation he has encountered, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema says feels like he’s fighting uphill against the program’s history. 

By IlliniGuys Staff December 8, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois has been selected to its second New Year’s […]

(From Illinois Sports Information Office) Date | Time Sunday, […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

December 8, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – There were 19 players who had given verbal commitments to Illinois football head coach Bret Bielema and were expected to sign and send in their National Letters of Intent on National Signing Day on Wednesday.

But a 20th such letter was a bit of a surprise.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 7, 2024

We should call this wildcard week, because in the last three days Illinois has added three players to its recruiting class who all have incredibly good attributes in some ways yet big question marks in other ways such that each of them could be All Conference, or All Afterthought. The third of these three players has the best resume in that John Forster was at one time a four star rated player, yet is currently a high three star player by all the evaluators and its seems to be based primarily on the lack of production in his senior year. However, St. Joseph Regional High School saw that Forster is more than a between tackles runner like Forster's predecessor, four star Syracuse signee Yasin Willis. Forster is a runner first, but he's a reliable receiver with very good hands, so St. Joseph splits him out wide to both run routes and to stay alive as an option for their multi-purpose quarterback. It's a really interesting offense, but unfortunately for Forster it doesn't work to feature his outstanding running ability.

Brad Sturdy, IlliniGuys Insider December 7, 2024 The Illini […]

Illinois late-game execution - especially defensively on Northwestern’s leading scorer Nick Martinelli - showed the Illini’s lack of experience and cohesion early in this 2024-25 season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 7, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

EVANSTON, Ill. — Sometimes sports is as simple as letting your opponent walk themselves right into defending your best player over and over and over again.

This is how Northwestern head coach Chris Collins described the overtime period on Friday night that saw his leading scorer, Nick Martinelli score seven straight points in a two-and-a-half minute stretch to lead Northwestern to a 70-66 upset win over No. 19 Illinois in overtime.

By IlliniGuys Staff December 6, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Insider/Analyst

December 6, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini have enjoyed their week off but they begin what is a high major gauntlet on Friday night as they head to Evanston to take on Northwestern for their Big Ten opener. The Cats are coming off a heartbreaking loss in their Big Ten opener at Iowa, while the Illini are coming off of a big win over Arkansas on Thanksgiving and have seen their national profile explode.

Let’s look at the particulars.

Setting the Stage

#19/17 Illinois (6-1, 0-0 B1G) at Northwestern (6-3, 0-1 B1G)
Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 // 8 p.m. CT // Evanston, Ill. // Welsh-Ryan Arena
TV: BTN – Kevin Kugler (Play-by-Play) & Robbie Hummel (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play), Doug Altenberger

Notable

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 6, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy player's page on X)

Illinois has been flipping players to the Orange and Blue all over the place this fall with the team's success on the field and they continued adding to their 21-man class of 2025 with Dylan Frechette from West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman by way of Rhode Island.  Frechette is a three-star left tackle with rare athletic ability, but he presents the wildest of wild cards because of his positioning, athletic ability, and level of competition.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema expresses excitement over the 2025 signing class being able to continue the Newton, Scott and Cox family names long after the older brothers leave the program.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 5, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Since Bret Bielema became the 26th head football coach in the history of the University of Illinois program, the idea of a family atmosphere has always been a marketing slogan.

In the Illini’s 2025 recruiting class, Bielema elected to turn the “FAMILLY” slogan into a reality of talent on the football by signing three younger brothers of players already on the 2024 roster.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirms Thursday his leading […]