Football

Illini Save Best For Last In Season-Ending 47-14 Rout of Northwestern

Illini Save Best For Last In Season-Ending 47-14 Rout of Northwestern

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St. Louis Athlete Samuel M'Pemba Becomes First Five-Star Prospect To Visit Illini Campus in Bielema Era

St. Louis Athlete Samuel M'Pemba Becomes First Five-Star Prospect To Visit Illini Campus in Bielema Era

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The proof of the University of Illinois football program heading in a positive direction can come from nothing more than where Samuel M'Pemba started his weekend. 

M'Pemba, a five-star athlete in the 2023 recruiting class, was on the Illinois campus Friday for an unofficial visit as he begins to narrow down the many scholarship offers he’s received since last spring. 

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound multi-talented athlete currently plays at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., while being listed as a wide receiver while lining up mostly as a tight end or H-back for the nationally-recognized prep school but most college programs are recruiting him at the next level as a stand-up pass rusher. 

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Bielema & Fitzgerald Both Promoting Respect Among In-State Rivalry Game

Bielema & Fitzgerald Both Promoting Respect Among In-State Rivalry Game

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Game notes: Illini host Northwestern in season finale

Game notes: Illini host Northwestern in season finale

(From Fighting Illini Sports Information Department) CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The […]

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IlliniGuys - Illini vs Northwestern Predictions

IlliniGuys - Illini vs Northwestern Predictions

The Illini are playing to finish 5-7 and have […]

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Time To Look At The NCAA Transfer Portal

Time To Look At The NCAA Transfer Portal

The Fighting Illini Football team is now starting to compete. It's not a thing of beauty, that's for sure. But teams no longer view Illinois as the team they want to schedule for Homecoming. With two big wins on the road in recent weeks - at then number seven Penn State and recently 20th ranked Minnesota, teams are taking notice.

But you're only as good as your roster. Illinois coaches have spent their off-weeks on the road recruiting, well aware that they will be losing more than 20 seniors this year and you can expect a few others to leave the program to seek playing opportunities elsewhere. Filling those voids will be necessary to the program moving forward. Unlike years past, college sports teams no longer have to worry about junior college players or playing freshman too early. The NCAA Transfer Portal could be one of the best weapons to keep the Illini train moving forward. 

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Recruiting:  OL Michael Kostantonov visits Memorial Stadium 

Recruiting: OL Michael Kostantonov visits Memorial Stadium 

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting  November […]

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Bielema Expects to Leave COVID-19 Isolation Friday “at the latest”

Bielema Expects to Leave COVID-19 Isolation Friday “at the latest”

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema still expects to be on the sidelines for the rivalry game against Northwestern this weekend. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 22, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Bret Bielema has high hopes to leave his isolation room around the Thanksgiving holiday. 

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The Trench Report: Iowa

The Trench Report: Iowa

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 22, 2022

Illinois fans won't like the result of Saturday's game, but after poring over the film, I came to the conclusion that Iowa was just better than Illinois.

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Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illinois Prep RB Trevor Burnett Prepares for a Visit

Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Illinois Prep RB Trevor Burnett Prepares for a Visit

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting 

Nov. 21, 2021

The next few months are crucial for the Fighting Illini football staff. Illinois football is making believers that coach Coach Bielema is the right person to turn Illinois around for the long term by building a program with players that fit what he is accustomed to and has been successful with. 

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Bret Bielema’s Culture Building Showed in His Absence Saturday

Bret Bielema’s Culture Building Showed in His Absence Saturday

Even without its first-year head coach, Illinois played like it more than belonged on a field against a Big Ten West power. Something they haven’t bragged in past years. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 21, 2021

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Look, I wanted to know how this plan would work for Illinois without Bret Bielema. 

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Mike Cagley's Heat Checks and Hail Marys - Iowa

Mike Cagley's Heat Checks and Hail Marys - Iowa "Measuring Tape" Reveals Much

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy November 21, 2021 The Illini traveled […]

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Illini’s Offense Races to 10-0 Lead & Vanishes 

Illini’s Offense Races to 10-0 Lead & Vanishes 

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Illini Start Strong, But Come Up Short In Loss to #18 Hawkeyes

Illini Start Strong, But Come Up Short In Loss to #18 Hawkeyes

IlliniGuys Staff November 20, 2021 (Cover photo courtesy Hawk […]

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Game Preview: Where Do Illini Coaches Believe This Illinois-Iowa Matchup Be Won? Second Down

Game Preview: Where Do Illini Coaches Believe This Illinois-Iowa Matchup Be Won? Second Down

While first down gets a lot of attention and third down is statistically tracked, Bret Bielema & Ryan Walters know second down is where this Illini defense makes plays. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 20, 2021

Game Preview: Illinois at No. 17 Iowa

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021: 1 p.m. CST, Kinnick Stadium (Iowa City, Iowa).

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