Football

Illinois safety Kendall Smith’s roller coaster performance at Indiana last week exemplifies that he’s still learning his role as a sixth-year senior. 

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Game Preview: Virginia at Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022: 3 p.m. CST, Memorial Stadium

Surface: Field Turf

Capacity: 60,670

Records: Virginia 1-0; Illinois 1-1

Betting Line: Illinois by 4

Series notes: Illinois leads the all-time series against Virginia by a 2-1 margin despite the fact that the Cavaliers easily took care of the Illini 42-14 last season in Charlottesville. This is the first time the schools will play in Champaign. The Illini’s two wins over Virginia came in bowl games with dominating wins in the 1990 Florida Citrus Bowl and 1999 MicronPC.com Bowl. 

TV: ESPNU; Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Martin O'Donnell (analysis), Michael Martin (sidelines) & Steve Kelly (Pre/HT/Post) » The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, Sirius/ XM satellite radio & SiriusXM Internet and at FightingIllini.com.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 9, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Mike Granse/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Kendall Smith managed to remind everybody watching last week that at the same time of being a sixth year senior leader he’s also an inexperienced starter. 

In the 23-20 loss at Indiana last Friday night, the Hoosiers were able to connect on two deep passes over the head of Smith as the deep safety in the Illinois secondary including a 52-yard touchdown strike that gave Indiana an early lead. 

“It’s something you’ve got to learn from,” Illinois defensive coordinator Ryan Walters said on Monday of Smith’s first-half mistakes. “He just kind of got caught with his eyes in the backfield a little bit. Kudos to Indiana for taking advantage of that and really blowing the top off of the coverage. We let one go over our head. We’ll learn from it. We’ll be better in those situations. I don’t think that was the end-all-be-all to the game.”

Chicago St. Rita pass rusher Pat Farrell says he intends to be in attendance for the Illini’s Homecoming game on Oct. 15 versus Minnesota.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 10, 2022

(Photo courtesy Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys)

CHICAGO -- John Holececk knows a little something about linebacker play and can identify an elite level talent at that position.

So, when his Loyola Academy program and its head coach rolled into St. Rita High School on Friday night, the former All-Big Ten selection and the eight-year NFL veteran was determined to give the opposing star linebacker the spotlight treatment Loyola possessed the football.

To say Pat Farrell was a big part of St. Rita’s plan on Friday night would be massive understatement. The 6-foot-5 and 235-pound athlete is hard to miss at his edge rush position and Loyola’s offensive game plan made sure to know where No. 52 was on the field at all times. Loyola’s run game ran away from Farrell and when Ramblers senior quarterback Jake Stearney, who is committed to Colgate, would get in an obvious passing situation, Farrell would see not only a massive offensive tackle but a tight end and even sometimes a tailback chip block him in a three-man effort to keep the three-star 2023 prospect away from the backfield.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

September 10, 2022

The Fighting Illini knows it takes talent to win games in the Big Ten.

That's one of the reasons defensive tackle Ty'Lheir Grose will be on campus to watch the Illini take on the Virginia Cavaliers at 3 p.m. today

Grose is a 6-foot-2, 290-pound junior college prospect (Lackawanna College) who is hoping for an Illinois offer.

September 9, 2022 The Illini battle Virginia who destroyed […]

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

September 9, 2022

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

Every coach tries to flip commitments

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 8, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Based on all verbal accounts from Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, the team’s optimal offensive line will be back in place this weekend.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

September 7, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Champaign, Ill. --  When Moline’s Matthew Bailey committed to Illinois, rumors started to fly.

Bailey had several mid-major offers, but his high school coach Mike Morrissey had said in a previous interview, “Matthew is a special kid: first, he’s extremely smart, but on the football field he’s very gifted. He has interest from other Power Five schools but Bret Bielema and his staff did a wonderful job recruiting him.”

One Private Message Showed the Bad Apples of Sports “Fans.”

Zain Bando, IlliniGuys Contributor

September 8, 2022

In the aftermath of the gut-wrenching 23-20 loss to Indiana Sept. 2

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

September 8, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Saboor Karriem)

There is a big non-conference football game this weekend in Champaign as Illinois takes on Virginia at Memorial Stadium.

That gives the Illini an opportunity to host an outstanding cornerback from West Orange, New Jersey. Saboor Karriem is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound three-star recruit who will be making his second visit to campus.

We caught up with West Orange High School coach Darnell Grant, who shared his thoughts on Karriem and the Illinois coaches after his first visit back on June 3rd.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema all but confirmed Monday that he sent the review of Hightower’s play in the corner of the end zone in the second quarter at Indiana to the Big Ten Conference office.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 8, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- By the time the bus carrying the Illinois football team and staff arrived back on its campus on Saturday morning, Brian Hightower felt the need to make sure his head coach still trusted him.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

September 7, 2022

Last Friday was a rough day for the Orange and Blue but the good news is that the defensive front seven performed very well all day. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

September 7, 2022

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)

The Illini host Virginia this weekend in what has become a must win for their bowl chances by most accounts.

Neither Illinois head coach Bret Bielema nor offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. are sure who to put on the field when All-Big Ten tailback Chase Brown needs an in-game break. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 6, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The search for Illinois’ second tailback behind Chase Brown is still ongoing. 

llinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. will not hear of anybody saying his boss, Bret Bielema, is tying his hands with his scheme. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 6, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Barry Lunney Jr. didn’t need much time at all to shoot down any implication that his boss is micromanaging his offensive scheme. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Beat Reporter

September 5, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois freshman wide receiver Shawn Miller