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By IlliniGuys Staff January 14, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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

January 14, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini are headed up I-57 to take on the Northwestern Wildcats in the battle for Illinois supremacy against a struggling squad that is 0-5 in Big Ten play. The Illini are 3-0 on the road and this will be their 4th road contest in their first 6 Big Ten games.

Here's a look at the particulars:

Setting the Stage
#13 Illinois (13-3, 4-1 B1G) at Northwestern (8-8, 0-5 B1G)
Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026 // 7:30 p.m. CT // Evanston, Ill. // Welsh-Ryan Arena
TV: BTN – Cory Provus (Play-by-Play) & Steve Smith (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart & Doug Altenberger

Notable
*No. 13 Illinois carries a season-best five-game win streak into Wednesday night's matchup at Northwestern.

*This is Illinois' final contest of a stretch with three out of four Big Ten road games to open the new year. Illinois is 5-2 away from home, including 3-0 in road games, following Sunday's 75-69 win at No. 19 Iowa. Illinois is aiming to start 4-0 on the road in Big Ten play for the first time since the 2004-05 season. • The Fighting Illini carry a four-game road win streak dating back to last season, the program's longest since winning five straight road games from Dec. 23, 2020 through Feb. 20, 2021.

*Illinois is vying to improve to 14-3 overall, which would equal its best record through 17 games since 2012-13.

By IlliniGuys Staff

The 2026 two-week college football transfer portal has opened - let the frenzy begin!

You can be sure that conversations have been going on behind the scenes for several weeks as several players made their intentions known long before today.

Three days after a thrilling and historic win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, Illinois and head coach Bret Bielema and staff now look to capitalize on their unprecedented momentum and improve a roster that loses some key players and a good bit of its depth in this offseason.

Here is a list of players leaving and coming into the program via transfer. This will be updated on a regular basis through January 16th:

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — With only a few days left in this year’s transfer portal window, Illinois football has experienced its share of roster movement like programs across the country. Still, head coach Bret Bielema continues to place major emphasis on high school recruiting, especially within the state of Illinois.

One of the top names now connected to the Illini is Brayden Parks, a 6-foot-2, 305-pound defensive tackle from Brother Rice High School. According to one national recruiting site, Parks is a four-star prospect and is already on Illinois’ radar as a priority in the 2027 recruiting class.

Illinois has made a strong case in recent years for player development under Bielema, particularly along the defensive front. Defensive tackle Johnny Newton reached the NFL in 2024, landing with the Washington Commanders. The Illini also continue to produce high-level pass rushers, including senior Gabe Jacas, a standout from Port St. Lucie, Florida.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 13, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois hosted 2026 wing Boyuan Zhang for an official visit and the 6-foot-7, 205-pound prospect from Veritas Academy (Calif.) left Champaign impressed after taking in the Illini’s 81-55 win over Rutgers at State Farm Center last week.

Weeknight visits are not always common for high school recruits unless they are local, but Zhang made the trip because of his strong interest in the Illinois program.

Also on a surprise visit for that same game was Illinois 2027 commit Quinton Kitt

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 12, 2026

Illinois' second addition in the transfer portal came at a great time for nervous Illinois fans, because as several Illinois defensive linemen were hitting the portal, Illinois added Penn U. defensive lineman Carter Janki. Janki was in Champaign for a visit as soon as the portal opened and he committed soon after, showing that the staff had identified him as a key piece to their plans for 2026. Janki is a 6'5, 290 pounder who will likely be a defensive end for the Illini next fall in his last year of eligibility.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

Janki is a tough kid who displays some power and he was a steady performer

By IlliniGuys Staff January 11, 2026 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Fmr. Loyola Academy three-star prospect Connor Sullivan is returning home after accepting an offer out of the transfer portal with

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 11, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head coach Bret Bielema repeatedly has said publicly that he and his player personnel staff keep files on several Illinois native players who decided to start their collegiate careers out of the state.

Bielema’s stated purpose of these long-term files is to keep tabs on players who might one day decide to leave their first university for an opportunity to return their home state via the transfer portal. Welcome to the story of Connor Sullivan.

Sullivan, a 6-foot-4 and 270-pound defensive lineman with four years of eligibility, was a three-star prospect at the dominant Loyola Academy football program in Wilmette, Illinois where he registered 54 total tackles with 12 tackles for loss and five sacks in his junior season of 2023. Sullivan suffered a season-ending injury preventing him from participating in the 2024 season and before he was able to sign to play at Washington State.

A 29-11 start inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena leads No. 16 Illinois to its fifth straight victory and a 3-0 in road league games as they down No. 19 Iowa 75-69 on Sunday afternoon.

By Matt Stevens - llliniGuys Staff Writer

January 11, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

An incredibly fast start by its perimeter leadership led to Illinois picking up its third straight conference road win and a Top 20 victory.

The No. 16 Illini quieted the Carver-Hawkeye Arena crowd right off the opening tip to see a 29-11 run over the first 12 and a half minutes of play resulting in a 75-69 win over No. 19 Iowa. Illinois (13-3, 4-1 in Big Ten Conference) has now started 3-0 on the road in league play for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

The 29-11 run, which saw Illinois open the game 10 of 19 from the field, was paced by 13 early points from Andrej Stojakovic as the veteran transfer guard finished the afternoon with 17 points and five rebounds by attacking the rim in his first ever trip to Iowa City.

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

January 11, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Joe Clark/IlliniGuys)

The Illini are headed to Iowa City to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in a matchup of ranked teams from Carver Hawkeye. This isn't your old school Iowa under Fran McCaffrey who wanted to outscore you, this team has a better defense than offense and relies on a slow-paced style while grinding you possession after possession. More Bo Ryan style then Fran McCaffrey under new coach Ben McCollum.

Here's a look at the particulars...

Setting the Stage
#16 Illinois (12-3, 3-1 B1G) at #19 Iowa (12-2, 2-2 B1G)
Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026 // 11 a.m. CT // Iowa City, Iowa // Carver-Hawkeye Arena
TV: FOX – Jason Benetti (Play-by-Play) & Steve Smith (Analyst)
Radio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network – Brian Barnhart (Play-By-Play) & Doug Altenberger

Notable
* Illinois is 4-2 away from home this season, including 2-0 in road games. Illinois is aiming to start 3-0 on the road in Big Ten play for the first time since the 2021-22 season.

*Andrej Stojakovic is 28 points away (972) from joining Kylan Boswell (1,156) in the 1,000-career point club.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 10, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Brian O'Mahoney/News-Sun)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema has steadily elevated the Illini’s perception both on the recruiting trail and on the field.

That progress has translated into the ability to attract high-profile prospects, particularly at the skill positions, as Illinois continues to modernize its offensive identity.

One position that remains a clear point of emphasis is tight end. Illinois has evaluated and pursued several in-state and nationally ranked tight ends, but the results have not yet matched the staff’s ambitions. Bielema and tight ends coach Robby Discher have stayed aggressive, continuing to search for a difference-maker who can anchor the position long term.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 9, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Colorado State Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois linebackers coach Archie McDaniel has gone to a proven place where he’s found talent in his position group.

Robert Edmonson Jr., who has spent the last three seasons at Prairie View A&M and Colorado State, has agreed to bring his veteran experience to the Illinois middle linebacker group for the 2026 season. However, before he’s started his college football journey in the Southwest Athletic Conference, Edmonson Jr. was all-state selection out of Shadow Creek High School in Pearland, Texas. The Pearland area is just 21 miles south of Houston where McDaniel spent the previous three seasons with the Cougars program before Bielema hired him away to the Illini staff before the 2024 season.

Under McDaniel's guidance, senior linebacker Donavan Mutin led Houston with 85 tackles during the 2022 season. The Spring, Texas, native capped his career with 252 tackles. Mutin's 245 tackles from 2019 to 2022 ranked seventh among all American Athletic Conference linebackers.

Linebackers Mannie Nunnery and Jamal Morris also turned in strong sophomore campaigns in 2022. Nunnery's 74.2 overall defensive grade by Pro Football Focus ranked second among American Athletic Conference underclassmen linebackers. He also paced the league's underclassmen with a 78.2 coverage grade. Morris was key for the Cougars down the stretch, totaling 10 tackles against SMU on Nov. 5 and eight tackles in Houston's Independence Bowl victory against Louisiana.

Illinois signs former Georgia State and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College cornerback Damaryion ‘Deuce’ Fillmore for his final year of eligibility in 2026.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

January 9, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has found a veteran cornerback in the transfer portal to provide depth in their defensive secondary in form of Damaryion Fillmore.

Fillmore, who goes by ‘Deuce’ and is listed 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, started in all 12 games this past season for Georgia State where he recorded 39 tackles and three pass breakups. Fillmore arrived at Georgia State after playing two seasons at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, which has a relationship with Illini coaches after signing former Illini offensive lineman Zy Crisler - who started 36 games for Illinois from 2022-24.

Fillmore joins East Texas A&M cornerback Lavon Williams as defensive backs that Illinois has signed out of the transfer portal in this offseason window from Jan. 2 to Jan. 16. Fillmore is expected to compete for the starting cornerback spot opposite of Jaheim Clarke and/or the nickel spot with returning defensive back Tanner Heckel and junior college signee Jakwon Morris.

Fillmore had 37 tackles and three interceptions in 10 games played at Gulf Coast Community College, which is what got him several FBS offers from Sun Belt Conference, Conference USA and Mid-American Conference schools.

Fillmore’s film at Georgia State in the 2025 season had to

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 9, 2026

Now that we're getting some clarity on who's coming and going in the portal, It finally seems safe to start writing about the newcomers. The first player to commit to Illinois from the portal this year is a guy who I really like. The staff made Lavon Williams of East Texas A&M a priority and he was on campus as soon as the starting gun for portal season went off. Williams came to East Texas A&M as a corner/safety and though he had virtually no interest coming out of high school, he's turned himself into a player that several P4 teams wanted out of the portal. In fact, East Texas A&M wasn't even in Division I when Williams committed, so you could argue that Williams is jumping two levels during his college career.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 9, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema and his staff have been aggressive in this year’s portal, which officially opened Jan. 2 and will close next Friday and roughly 3,000 players nationwide are searching for a new destination for the 2026 season.

Teams participating in the College Football Playoff national championship game will receive an extension from Jan. 20th through Jan. 24.