Football

After publicly stumping for a nationally unpopular 16-team College Football Playoff format in Las Vegas, Tony Petitti’s Big Ten office has reportedly leaked a 28-team format with more auto bids.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 19, 2025

Approximately a month ago Big Ten Conference commissioner Tony Petitti attempted to justify his league’s position centering on automatic bids and not at-large selections for a proposed 16-team College Football Playoff and a devaluing of the selection committee’s responsibility. As Petitti stood at the podium during the first day of Big Ten Football Media Days in Las Vegas, it became clear this position was owned by the Big Ten and only the Big Ten and that the position was/is nationally unpopular.

The response from the Big Ten personnel including Petitti, who was in Champaign-Urbana last week attending an Illinois preseason football practice where Big Ten Network was doing its preview show of the Illini’s 2025 season, was to reportedly leak a 28-team College Football Playoff format with more automatic bids than the previous 16-team format.

Illinois conducted its second preseason scrimmage of this month on Friday inside Memorial Stadium and Illini fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema, along with his coordinators, shared some details. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 18, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema called his team’s Friday night scrimmage session inside Memorial Stadium “very productive” and IlliniGuys.com thought we’d just quickly highlight some of the details he presented to local media on Monday afternoon. 

NOTE: It is important the reader understands the scrimmage was closed to all media and public on Friday night and so these summary details are all things Bielema said, but not personally verified by IlliniGuys.com, in his Monday afternoon media session. 

As we typically do with the preseason practice reports, let’s start with an injury report. The summary here is the Illini, especially up front, continue to be more and more healthy compared to the rash of nagging injuries that they experienced early in preseason camp. 

Bielema indicated the only player completely inactive for the scrimmage was preseason All-Big Ten left tackle JC Davis but Bielema did confirm Davis, who has been dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot, has been “out of the [walking] boot half of the day now”. When asked a follow-up question about Davis, Bielema said

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular August 18, 2025 It’s […]

The University of Illinois football team will have six captains for the upcoming 2025 season including two new leaders in quarterback Luke Altmyer and outside linebacker Gabe Jacas.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 16, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — The University of Illinois will have four returning and two new captains for the upcoming 2025 season.

Bret Bielema, the Illini’s fifth-year head coach, announced Friday the following six captains for the 2025 football season: tight end Tanner Arkin, center Josh Kreutz, linebacker Dylan Rosiek, defensive back Miles Scott will be leaders on this team for a second consecutive season and will be joined by quarterback Luke Altmyer and outside linebacker Gabe Jacas. Since taking the job before the 2021 season, Bielema has always done the captains selections with a vote of the players on the rosters during preseason camp practices.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 15, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The class of 2026 has been good to Illinois football, bringing talent, depth, and potential. In the most recent On3 recruiting rankings, the Illini are listed at No. 25 nationally with 24 commitments.

This week, Illinois received more positive news when wide receiver Jabari Watkins, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound recruit from the class of 2027 from Thomasville, named his top nine schools. The list includes Illinois, Florida State, Georgia, Cal, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Missouri, Pittsburgh, and Nebraska.

With the Big Ten Network’s preseason camp stop being Wednesday, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema opened up the full two-hour practice session to the media. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 13, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Good afternoon and welcome to my favorite day of preseason camp practice for the Illinois program.

Today was the day the Big Ten Network analysts are invited into the Illini’s practice session for their camp preview edition (which is scheduled to air later tonight) and therefore, it is on this day when Illinois fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema allows local media to view the entire two-hour practice session. 

Illinois Training Camp Special Air Times - Big Ten Network

• Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. CT

• Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 8:30 p.m. CT

• Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 11 p.m. CT

• Thursday, Aug 14 at 3 a.m. CT

The Illini’s preseason nagging injuries are likely to be healed by long before the season opener on Aug. 29 against Western Illinois. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — When asked about the good news following the scrimmage inside Memorial Stadium, Bret Bielema responded in the way every head coach wants when they set up a preseason competition - no turnovers. 

The Illinois football team has transitioned its second week of preseason practices to the grass fields in between the Smith Family Football Complex and Memorial Stadium. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 12, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Good afternoon and welcome to another preseason camp practice for the Illinois program for the 2025 season in the fifth campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema. 

August 12, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Hoosier Huddle)

Here's the latest on some of 12th ranked Illinois' opponents this season:

By IlliniGuys Staff August 11, 2025 The most-hyped preseason […]

August 11, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy Starr Portice, Michigan […]

Illinois offensive line is currently out its top two offensive tackles on both sides of the line with nagging injuries but Bret Bielema’s coaching staff are getting intense looks at the youth of its depth chart.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

August 9, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Don’t get Bret Bielema wrong. The Illinois fifth-year head coach would obviously prefer to get through a month-long preseason camp without injuries to any of the projected starting lineup but as he enters his 16th season leading a power conference football program, he also realizes that request is only just short of an impossibility.

So, after one week of work, Bielema and his coaching staff are breathing easier that only one of the the six offensive line injuries in preseason camp is significant and none of the other five are expected to last before the Aug. 29 season opener against Western Illinois (6:30 p.m. CST, Peacock).

Illinois has 16 returning starters from the 2024 season. That fact and the eight hours a week coaches have had with players in winter and summer leading to expedited installation right now. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 7, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — Good evening and welcome to the sixth preseason camp practice for the Illinois program for the 2025 season in the fifth campaign of Illini head coach Bret Bielema that is one of eight practices that will begin under the lights in Memorial Stadium.

Illinois has 16 returning starters from the 2024 season. That fact and the eight hours a week coaches have had with players in winter and summer leading to expedited installation right now. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 7, 2025

CHAMPAIGN — The previous history of offseason rules in college football made for much more trial-and-error elements in preseason camps for power conference programs. In 2025, it’s all about installing what you’ve already tested months ago. 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 7, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois head coach Bret Bielema gave fans the familiar signal that good news was on the way, and on Thursday morning, that hint became reality.

The Illini received a commitment from Jack Gray, a punter from Adelaide, South Australia. Gray will join Illinois on a full scholarship, continuing the program’s tradition of featuring an Australian punter, a streak that dates back to the 2017 season.