Football

The week of his team playing Michigan is always going to be challenging for Bret Bielema but Saturday allowed him to address why that opponent conjures difficult memories in his life.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 20, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Unfortunately for Bret Bielema, the winged helmet of Michigan triggers things emotionally in the 54-year-old man that he’d rather not think about. 

Instead of ignoring or trying to hide his emotions of what playing the Wolverines program psychological means to his life, the fourth-year Ilinois head coach elected to address the matter directly in a team meeting. 

“In our first team meeting on Sunday, I told our guys that I’m battling some demons like probably more than you could ever possibly imagine,” Bielema said.

The program philosophy of Illinois fourth-year head coach Bret Bielema was never more on display more than Saturday during the 21-7 victory over Michigan. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 19, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Bret Bielema believes the domination by Illinois over the defending national champions, a two-time Big Ten Conference champion and perennial physical bully started months ago. 

In a 21-7 victory over Michigan, Illinois exemplified Bielema’s three keys for every football team in a way that was obvious. 

Key No. 1 - Run the ball. Illinois (6-1, 3-1 in Big Ten Conference), which arrived at a sold-out Champaign’s Memorial Saturday as the 12th best rushing attack in the league, had 172 rushing yards through three quarters of action on a Michigan defense that had allowed 150 on the ground to two teams in the last two years. And the name of those programs are Alabama and Penn State. 

After the 21-7 win over Michigan Saturday, Illinois is firmly in the College Football Playoff contention no matter what happens next weekend at Oregon. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 19, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The time has officially come to lose our minds. Illinois is firmly going to be in the College Football Playoff discussion throughout the following week. 

Following the 21-7 win over Michigan, Illinois is a team, that in the third week of October in the year 2024 of our Lord, needs to be taken seriously among some traditional college football blueblood programs. 

In picking up a victory in the biggest game of his 44th game since becoming the 26th head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bret Bielema has taken Illinois to a place they haven’t been in several decades. 

By IlliniGuys Staff October 19, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

October 19, 2024 The Illini played an unexpectedly exciting […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is always going to […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 18, 2024

Champaign, IL – There's an old saying: "If you build it, they will come." That phrase, from the 1989 film Field of Dreams, is one of the most iconic lines in baseball movie history.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football Recruiting Expert

October 18, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at some key visitors for the Michigan game and where the Illini stand with them.

IlliniGuys.com needed some extra time to discuss with Illinois coaches what unique set of circumstances and trouble transpired throughout the week and the 60-minute game vs. Purdue. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 17, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Some IlliniGuys.com subscribers might have been wondering where the film review was this week, am I right?

Well, this one took longer to put together and it’s for a simple reason. I needed to make sure the best I could that what I was seeing on the television copy was even similar to the interpretation of the coaching staff at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 17, 2024

Champaign, IL – Isaiah White, a 6-foot-3, 270-pound three-star recruit from Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis, remains firm in his commitment to Illinois. The class of 2025 defensive tackle pledged to the Illini in early June and plans to honor his commitment.

October 17, 2024

Here's a look at a few storylines around the Big Ten heading into Week 8:

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 16, 2024

Champaign, IL. – Cam Thomas, a four-star football prospect, attended the Illinois-Purdue game on Saturday, who got the attention of reporters on the field early that afternoon.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is asking fans for the most electric atmosphere in years at Memorial Stadium when they host No. 24 Michigan on Saturday afternoon.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 16, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Allow Bret Bielema a moment to get on his soapbox on Monday afternoon.

As he looked to his right at the empty Memorial Stadium field, the Illinois fourth-year head coach decided to answer a question about being on CBS back-to-back weeks in his weekly media conference by attempting to explain to Illini fans what an intimidating home atmosphere can do for a developing football program.

“There’s definitely growth that we have to go through as a football team but also the fanbase,” Bielema said Monday. “Listen, we haven’t lost a game out there [pointing to Memorial Stadium field] this year.”

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 15, 2024

Let's all take a deep breath. It was ugly. Our team lost its composure. The Illini run defense remains problematic going into a match-up with an elite running team.

Illinois running back Kaden Feagin is doubtful to play vs. No. 24 Michigan on Saturday after suffering a hyperextension of his left leg in practice early last week. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 15, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois is preparing for Kaden Feagin to miss this weekend’s game against No. 24 Michigan.