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For the first time since 2023, the Illinois offense will open up with a brand new center-quarterback exchange who just met months beforehand and bonded on an important May trip to California.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 25, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — Credit to Katin Houser for being the questionnaire of what was likely the most ridiculous inquiry in the University of Illinois football locker room in 2026.

In May, shortly after Houser arrived as a fifth-year transfer in Champaign-Urbana and right after completing the Illini’s spring practice season, the new projected starting quarterback sent out a text to a selected group of new teammates about their spring plans.

“So, I look down at my phone and see that [Houser] sent out a text asking guys if we’d like to come out to California for a week and I started laughing. Of course, I immediately texted back that I was in,” Illinois’ 24-year-old starting center Jake Renfro said. “I thought ‘Who in the world is saying no to this?’”

As you might anticipate from college-age men, Renfro’s assumption was correct and there weren’t many no RSVP responses in that particular text chain.

Big Ten Conference passes emergency rule ending any possibility for a Hank Beatty or Melvin Priestly return to Illini from NFL training camp rosters.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 25, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN — The timeline of Peyton Smith being on the 2026 roster at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign lasted less than a few days.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirmed Smith, who was added to the roster on Aug. 20, has left the program following the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals granting the NCAA a stay order on Friday that reversed a Colorado federal judge's decision to allow all athletes in the 2022 signing class a fifth season of eligibility.

Smith was added to the roster and was set to participate in a practice Friday in a fifth season of college football following a ruling from the U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney in Denver that all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted their fourth season of college eligibility this spring are eligible for a fifth season in 2026-27.

The stay in the Tenth Circuit also affects the status of former Incarnate Word wide receiver Josh Lorick, who arrived over a week ago as a transfer hoping to play a fifth year with the Illini. Lorick's roster status is still unclear leaving little time for him to achieve eligibility to play in games during the 2026 season. Bielema said the decision for Lorick to obtain a temporary state court order allowing him an injunction to play college football this season was “entirely up to him”.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema suggested both injuries to Platt and Brown could require both players to miss multiple weeks.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 25, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — Two projected starters are likely to be inactive when Illinois opens the upcoming season next week.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said Tuesday that he’s not expecting to have transfer wide receiver Jayshon Platt or fifth-year linebacker Daniel Brown healthy when they kick off the 2026 season at Gies Memorial Stadium against Alabama-Birmingham on Sept. 3 (8 p.m. CST, Big Ten Network).

Platt was not active and dressed in a sweatsuit on Saturday, the final media viewing of preseason practice, after suffering an undisclosed injury. Brown has been hampered with the back issues that have hampered his entire tenure at Illinois since he transferred from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College before the 2025 season.

Platt is the most recent and arguably the most costly injury to a wide receiver room that has had practically every expected contributor in a non-contact jersey throughout this month in preseason practices.

“He’s a guy who we’re getting to know for the first time and when this injury first happened, we didn’t know the exact timeline of it. We’ve gotten good news since then but whether he’s back in Week 2, Week 3 or 4, I don’t really know right now,” Bielema said about Platt on Tuesday in a local media session inside the Smith Center. “For sure I don’t think those two will be with us in Week 1.”

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 24, 2026

CHAMPAIGN – Two days after hitting the blocks at the IHSA Track & Field State Championships this summer, Nate Cichy was on his way to Champaign, not Cambridge.

The freshman Illinois receiver was committed to Harvard, offered in May, before flipping his decision at the last second. Now? He’s one of head coach Bret Bielema’s most talked-about freshmen. Cichy, who went to high school in Mount Prospect in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, comes from an Illinois family, but actually playing for the Illini was something he did not expect.

“It's been crazy,” Cichy said. “Like, literally in the span of a month, I went from thinking I'm going to the East Coast, to all of a sudden I'm staying right next to home. It's just been a blessing, honestly. Like, that's why I'm, like, I'm trying to prove myself every single day to show that the coaches that I was worth that decision.”

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

August 23, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The high school basketball recruiting scene has been a hot topic over the past couple of weeks, and Illinois is positioning itself to host some of the nation's top young talent this fall.

In recent years, Illinois has been one of the kings of the NCAA transfer portal, while also establishing a strong presence in the European market. The Illini's success in both areas has led to questions about how heavily head coach Brad Underwood and his staff would continue recruiting high school prospects.

Here at IlliniGuys, several of you have asked whether Underwood would ever go back to heavily recruiting the high school ranks, especially when college coaches and analysts have said one of the best ways to build a roster in today's game is to hit the transfer portal hard.

Underwood is now in a position where he can do all three. Illinois can recruit the transfer portal, pursue European talent and target elite high school prospects. With the Illini establishing themselves as a nationally ranked program, Underwood and his staff have put themselves in a position to be selective about the players they pursue.

Recently, we shared that five-star center Darrius Wabbington, a 6-foot-10 prospect from Sunnyslope High School in Phoenix, named his list of top schools. One of the more significant developments was Illinois replacing Kentucky on his list.

His father, Derek Wabbington, previously shared his thoughts with IlliniGuys. We reached out to him again to get a better gauge on some of the other prospects Illinois is pursuing and the possibility of others following his son to Champaign if Darrius ultimately decides Illinois is the right fit.

"Illinois is

With Big Ten Network on the Champaign-Urbana campus on Saturday, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema opened up his entire two-hour practice session to all media.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 22, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — Good afternoon and welcome to the portion of preseason camp where the entire two-hour practice is viewable.

Why? Well, today is the camp preview for Big Ten Network as the Illinois program enters its sixth campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema and therefore, the practice session is fully open and viewable to all local media. This is the part where I point out that trade secrets were not revealed at Gies Memorial Stadium that could cost Illinois any victory and nothing bad happened as local media watched the entire two-hour practice session. Message to those in the Smith Center, I’m more than happy to come back, watch and learn if/when given the opportunity.

Broadcast Note: Big Ten Network will debut its ‘Training Camp Special’ in Champaign on today at 5 p.m. CST and re-airs at 7 p.m. CST and 9 p.m. CST.

The IlliniGuys.com video of all media sessions should be available on our YouTube channel, X (@matthewcstevens) and on the IlliniGuys.com football board.

We’ll keep the injury report and positional change chart up until the Sept. 3 season opener vs. Alabama-Birmingham (8 p.m. CST, BTN).

Illini Positional Changes and/or Jersey Number Changes for upcoming 2026 season
WR Jacob Eberhart - what Bielema called a temporary “sixth-month lease” move from defensive back
WR Jershaun Newton - positional switch from quarterback
TE Kaden Feagin - No. 83 from No. 3
DL Will Holmes - positional switch from linebacker to defensive end/OLB
WR Nate Cichy - late signee after decommitting from Harvard - No. 19
OLB Carter Smith - listed on roster as a DL but is working with Archie McDaniel’s OLB position group
LB Des Straughton - listed on roster as a DB but working with Roger Cooper’s LB position group
LB Kaedyn Cobbs - listed on roster as a DB but working with Roger Cooper’s LB position group

Illini Injury Report
DB Matthew Bailey - still wearing a green, non-contact jersey and didn’t participate in team drills or individua drills.
WR Jayshon Platt - wasn’t active or in uniform today while in the injury pit.
WR Brayden Trimble - was in a green, non-contact jersey but didn’t participate in any individual or team drills.
OT Micah ‘Champ’ Smith - in the injury pit without his helmet for the entire viewing period and wearing a green, non-contact jersey due to an undisclosed injury.
WR Hudson Clement - limited in a green, non-contact jersey but went through all individual team drills.
LB Daniel Brown - lower body soft tissue injury in summer - expected to be cleared soon.
LB Robert Edmonson - undisclosed injury and wasn’t active on Saturday.
WR Naz Rankin - in a green, non-contact jersey without his helmet and was in the injury pit.
RB Corey Rashad - in a green, non-contact jersey without his helmet in the injury pit.
WR Jacob Eberhart - in the injury pit without his helmet and in a green, non-contact jersey. Likely won’t get full medical clearance until the week of the season opener vs. UAB
DB Tanner Heckel - was in the injury pit with a green, non-contact jersey.
OL Kai Pritchard - in the injury pit for the entire viewing period while wearing a green, non-contact jersey but without his helmet.
WR Davon Grant - likely career-ending injury for the consensus 2026 three-star signee
LB Jaylen Stewart - hip and shoulder surgery - out for season for consensus 2026 three-star signee
LB Erik Gayle - torn achilles - out for season
DL Cameron Brooks - season-ending injury
TE Tanner Hollinger - season ending injury
TE Grant Smith - season ending injury
--------------------------------

- Let’s quickly address the top of the injury report.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 22, 2026

CHAMPAIGN – “He didn’t force me to do anything.”

That’s how Jacob Eberhart describes the conversation that moved him from backup safety towide receiver. It wasn’t a mandate or an order from head coach Bret Bielema or his coaches, but rather a choice he says he made himself.

“That’s what a lot of people are thinking,” he told IlliniGuys during the program’s local media day last week. “Coach B is a big guy on choosing what you’re gonna do. I don’t think he’s ever gonna force anybody into doing something. He wants you to be comfortable where you are.”

Illinois’ wideout room is entering the late weeks of August shorthanded. IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst Matt Stevens’ latest practice report detailed injuries to no fewer than four in the unit, including returning veteran Hudson Clement and Florida International transfer Alex Perry, who Bielema shared was likely out for the year after receiving surgery.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

August 21, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois is making its move for one of the best players in the 2028 class, as five-star forward Benjamin Berrouet is working toward a potential visit to Champaign this fall.

Berrouet, a 6-foot-8 five-star prospect from Dynamic Prep in McKinney, Texas, is ranked #5 nationally in the 2028 class by ESPN. With his size, versatility, and ability to impact the game in several ways, Berrouet has become a major target for some of the country's premier programs.

His recruitment reflects his standing as one of the nation's elite young prospects.

Berrouet has a who's who of college basketball programs pursuing him, including

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema explained how a recent temporary restraining order in Louisiana could affect the Illini getting back a pair of All-Big Ten players.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 20, 2026

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirmed he’s holding two roster spots open for a pair of alums currently in preseason camp with National Football League teams.

Following the ongoing legal news out of Louisiana where 16 college football players were among the more than 30 plaintiffs who secured the temporary restraining order in that state on Wednesday to return to college for a fifth year of eligibility, the Illini six-year head coach has intentionally left open two 2026 roster spots for wide receiver Hank Beatty and offensive lineman Melvin Priestly - two undrafted players who were starters from last season’s squad.

“This is something I’ve been working on for about a month,” Bielema said in his opening media statement on Thursday inside the Smith Center. “In order to possibly avoid the question about all of these pro guys coming or not coming. I still have a couple roster spots coming to me if a situation were to present itself but obviously we’re in a wait and see.”

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirmed the acquisition of […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 20, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Summer school and summer workouts are complete at Illinois, and for sophomore transfer Divine Bourrage, the past two months have been about much more than basketball.

They have been about getting comfortable, rebuilding confidence and, perhaps most importantly, becoming herself again.

Bourrage, a 5-foot-11 combo guard and wing who transferred to Illinois after spending her freshman season at LSU, arrived in Champaign in June. Her mother, Leanne Binion, has watched closely as her daughter has adjusted to a new program, coaching staff and environment.

Along with junior wing Berry Wallace, a Pickerington, Ohio, native, Bourrage is one of head coach Shauna Green’s highest-ranked recruits, according to ESPN.

Wallace finished No. 22 in ESPN’s final 2024 rankings. Bourrage finished No. 24 in the 2025 class after being ranked as high as No. 4 nationally at the beginning of that same summer.

When it came time for Bourrage to choose a college, her decision came down to LSU and Illinois. LSU ultimately won the recruiting battle, bringing Bourrage to a program with a rich tradition that included winning the 2023 national championship.

But things did not go as planned for Bourrage.

From the time she arrived in Baton Rouge until the day she left, something never seemed quite right. That experience is now behind the talented sophomore, who is getting an opportunity for a fresh start at Illinois.

IlliniGuys asked Binion how she feels now that her daughter is at Illinois.

Illinois wide receiver Jayshon Platt is among 44 pass […]

August 19, 2026 Illinois named six captains for the […]

Illinois tailback Ca'Lil Valentine was one of 62 players […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 18, 2026

CHAMPAIGN – He’s larger than life. At 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, Micah “Champ” Smith is one of those guys who fits the “big man on campus” stereotype of a highly-rated football recruit. Not too long ago, though, that could have been a different campus.

Smith, a four-star recruit hailing from Fort Pierce, Florida, had been committed to UCLA since last summer, but reopened his recruitment after the Bruins parted ways with head coach DeShaun Foster.

"It was a difficult process for me and my family,” Smith said. “Coach Foster being fired earlier in the season... it came down to us having to make a decision. They didn't sign a new staff until after National Signing Day, and I planned to sign on National Signing Day, so it was very, very difficult on me and my family."

Smith took official visits to Ohio State, Tennessee, and Texas, and was even spotted at an Illini game last fall — though during that visit to Gies Memorial Stadium, he declined to speak with reporters.

"We kind of went silent on the media just because a lot of false things were being put out around my name, and I didn't say anything,” Smith said. “Because there's no need for me to do that.”