Football

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular October 6, 2025 The […]

By IlliniGuys Staff October 5, 2025 The Illinois football […]

If the Big Ten Conference keeps its current scheduling format, Illinois will likely draw two of the most hapless rebuilding projects in the 18-team league.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 5, 2025

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — As Illinois embarks on a historically remarkable program build, the Big Ten Conference may have handed Bret Bielema the best possible poker hand for its annual league schedule.

For all the whining, complaining, belly-aching and conspiracy theory generating that comes for this Illini fanbase about how the league office is out to make sure they suffer for the benefit of the Ohio State’s, Michigan’s, Penn State’s and now Oregon’s of the football world, the pocket aces dealt to Bielema annually are in the form of its two permanent league opponents.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has noticed he’s built a program that can bring a ‘B’ effort and still comfortably walk away with a 16-point victory on the road in the Big Ten.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 4 , 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Illinois head coach Bret Bielema likely said it best following his team’s 43-27 win at Purdue as the fifth-year leader knew his team played anything but a perfect football game Saturday.

“The biggest thing is I think we’re at a point as a team where maybe even if we don’t play our best, we can still get out of here with a 16-point win on the road against Purdue then we’ve made progress,” Bielema said in his post-game opening statement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCMTLD64Ljw    

By IlliniGuys Staff October 4, 2025 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. […]

In less than two playing seasons, Illinois wide receiver Collin Dixon has become a valuable weapon to this offense in a variety of ways.

No. 22 ILLINOIS AT PURDUE

Records: Illinois 4-1, 1-1 in Big Ten; Purdue 2-2, 0-1 in Big Ten

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025: 11 a.m. CST, Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

Surface: Grass

Capacity: 61,441

Series notes: Saturday's contest is the 101st meeting between the Fighting Illini and the Boilermakers. The overall series is 48-46-6 in Purdue’s favor, while leading The Cannon series, 42-31-2, since 1943. Illinois looks to retain The Cannon after snapping a four-game losing streak to Purdue last season with a 50-49 overtime win in Champaign.

TV: Big Ten Network; Mark Followill (play-by-play); Yogi Roth (color analyst); Rhett Lewis (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 85, the SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com/live.
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By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 4, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

It’s simply not an accident that Collin Dixon is described by everyone in the Smith Family Football Complex as the living embodiment of everything the University of Illinois football program looks for in a prospect.

Three seasons into his development that has now seen him transition into him being a starting wide receiver and a trusted go-to passing and run-blocking perimeter target for Illini play-caller Barry Lunney Jr., the same player who told IlliniGuys.com that “I know I need a year to learn everything at this level” is still not in a hurry to accept congratulations.

October 3, 2025 The Illini rebounded in fantastic fashion […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 3, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Champaign isn’t exactly known as the city of brotherly love – that goes to Philadelphia – but it looks as though Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is making a push to earn his football team that superlative.

Bielema’s roster for this season has followed two distinct themes: he’s a big believer in in-state recruiting (50 of the 115 players on the roster are from Illinois), and thinks football is something that runs in the family.

Five sets of brothers are on this year’s Illinois roster.

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

October 2, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Saturday was a big day for the Illinois football program as the Fighting Illini knocked off USC 34-32 in front of a sellout crowd at Gies Memorial Stadium. Among those in attendance was one of Illinois’ earliest pledges in the Class of 2026, quarterback Michael Clayton.

Back in November 2024, Clayton, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound quarterback from Edison High School in Miami, Fla., gave his commitment to Bret Bielema and the Illini. On Saturday, Clayton was all smiles while taking in the game-day atmosphere, talking with reporters, and snapping photos with fans prior to the game.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 1, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

This was a pride win for Illinois. In the same way the Indiana loss hurt more than just one loss, this win meant more than just a single win. It didn't completely erase the sting of the "Beating in Bloomington", but it sends Illini nation and the CFP voters a clear signal that they should not write off the Illini. I'm not sure that USC is a legitimate top 25 team at this point based on their body of work (this week's game against Michigan will tell us a lot), but the key thing I took away from this game is that after showing signs of quitting against the Hoosiers, this group played tough and stayed competitive throughout the game despite several bad breaks. To me, that means this is a group that will stay tough through the season.

It wasn't just the players who dug deep and came out with a great performance this week. The coaching staff also emptied the drawer with some plays they'd been saving for a big game. This first one was pretty inspired.

By Kedric Prince – IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

September 30, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The list of recruits on Illinois’ campus during its homecoming game against USC didn’t feature the usual large crowd, but the quality of visitors was impressive.

One of the biggest names in attendance was Jack Brown, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound tight end from Francis Howell Central High School in St. Charles, Missouri. Brown, a member of the Class of 2027, is one of the most highly regarded recruits in the country.

According to Rivals.com, Brown is the No. 1-ranked player in Missouri for 2027

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema had a message Monday for those who had doubts about his starting offensive line: “I think they answered the bell ten times over”.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 30, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Throughout what has already been described as the longest and most physical Tuesday and Wednesday practices of the 2025 season last week, Bret Bielema had a three-word message for his offensive line group.

“The big statement all week was ‘lean on them’ and all week we just kept preaching ‘lean on them’ because when we say that, my guys know what that means,” the Illini five-year head coach said. “I don’t think it was a rediscovery of (the Illinois offensive identity) but just a re-opening. Anything and everything that has ever been said or written about me will know it all starts up front. It always has and it always will.”

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular September 30, 2025 The […]

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

September 29, 202

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Some might call it a statement win and others could call it a bounce-back win, but no matter what you call it the Illinois win over USC was a key win for the Illini as they are back to life following the debacle at Indiana. Let’s look back at what we saw:

-The offensive line was very good. They got push up front against a Defensive line that was an expensive off-season addition for USC. It opened up the running game which slowed the pass rush and allowed Luke Altmyer to find the receivers. They took advantage