Football

Decisions need to be made on several young players on this 2021 roster before this coaching staff gets a chance to make evaluations.

Even with a four-game window before canceling a possible redshirt season, Illinois first-year head coach Bret Bielema knows he can’t attempt to rush the development of young talent at the risk of stunting their growth and confidence.

“It’s little things with each guy, to be quite honest,” Bielema said. “Sometimes you can tell by their body language they just feel really confident, feel really good and you see them do things repeatedly during practice you’re like, ‘OK, this might become gameday reality.’”

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By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Contributor October 12, […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said after the 24-0 loss to Wisconsin that the entire roster needs to be evaluated heading into this open week. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 11, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Don’t expect much to be the same regarding Bret Bielema’s football program at the University of Illinois following this new debacle. 

IlliniGuys.com football beat writer/analyst Matt Stevens does not have […]

Mike Cagley October 10, 2021 The beginning of Wisconsin […]

Illinois passing offense had its worst afternoon in several years in a humbling, lopsided loss to Bret Bielema’s former employer, Wisconsin on Saturday.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 10, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A completed forward pass normally takes a trio of basic concepts: protection, an accurate throw and a catch. Following the 24-0 loss to Wisconsin Saturday, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema admitted his team isn’t very proficient in any of those three.

By IlliniGuys.com Staff October 9, 2021 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- […]

Despite three early losses, Wisconsin brings the nation’s best defense against the run and Illinois needs to find a rushing attack. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuy Staff Writer

October 9, 2021

Preview Box - Wisconsin at Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021: 2:30 p.m. CST, Memorial Stadium.

Surface: Field Turf

Capacity: 60,670 

Records: Illinois 2-4 in 2021; 2-6 in 2020; Wisconsin 1-3 in 2021; 5-5 in 2020.

Betting Line: Wisconsin by 11. 

Series notes: Wisconsin leads 43-38-7. Bret Bielema is the sixth modern-day head coach to leave Wisconsin and come back to face the Badgers with another school.

TV: BTN; Mark Followill (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), and Elise Menaker (sideline).

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Martin O'Donnell (analysis) & 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.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Seth Coleman has not been active for practice all week and is more than likely out of the Homecoming game against Wisconsin. 

The redshirt freshman outside linebacker, who has two sacks and three tackles for loss in this 2021 season, will likely be missing from Illinois’ active roster when they kick off for the 2:30 p.m. contest. 

Coleman was helped off the field by Illinois training staff in the second half of the 24-14 victory over Charlotte last week. 

Matchup: Wisconsin (1-3, 0-2) at Illinois (2-4, 1-2)

Time: 2:30pm CT

Television: Big Ten Network -- Mark Followill (play-by-play), Matt Millen (analyst), and Elise Menaker (sideline)

Radio: The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network will have the radio call featuring Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Martin O'Donnell (analyst), and Michael Martin (sideline).

Series: Illinois trails, 38-43-7
Last: Wisconsin 45, Illinois 7 (10/23/2020)
Streak: Wisconsin W1
at Champaign: Illinois leads, 22-18-3

Big time football recruit has serious Illinois interest

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

October 8th, 2021

Payton Kirkland is a 6-foot-5, 330-pound, OT from Orlando, FL, Kirkland is a 5-star junior that had well over 53 DI offers.

The Illini are coming into homecoming on a one […]

By Kirkland Chappell - IlliniGuys Football Contributor

October 7, 2021

Surely at this point in our lives we have all learned that nothing good ever comes easy. For recent Illini game-day visitor Marquel Spence, that statement is so true.

Illinois defensive coach Aaron Henry hasn’t been shy about mentioning what Wisconsin quarterback Graham Mertz did to the Illini defense in the 2020 opener. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 6, 2021

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- The memory of what Graham Mertz did to the Illinois secondary players nearly 365 days ago is still a fresh mental wound.