Football

If the 45-0 win over Eastern Illinois is any evidence to the future plans, Illinois coaches are planning to line up third-year pass rusher Gabe Jacas in all kinds of ways. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 30, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Despite an announced crowd of 43,849 and a Big Ten Network audience all seeing Gabe Jacas consistently put his hand on the ground in a defensive lineman stance, his head coach wants everybody to believe nothing has changed.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular August 30, 2024 […]

Against an overmatched in-state Football Championship Subdivision opponent, Illinois managed to leave the 2024 season-opener with a series of wins. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 29, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — While it’s historically a rare occurrence when Illinois football finds itself in a perceived no-win situation, Bret Bielema’s team left the 2024 season opener with multiple reasons to feel it was a productive outing.  

August 29, 2024 Larry, Zain and Steve tied at […]

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular and Resident Illini Guru

August 29, 2024

There are five things that I need to see tonight. They are as follows:

1. Control of the LOS - Show me two lines that can dominate a lower-level opponent and create running lanes, protect the QB and stop the run.

Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. is the godfather of the son of Eastern Illinois head coach Chris Wilkerson. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 29, 2024

Eastern Illinois at Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024: 8 p.m. CST, Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Ill.

New Illinois defensive backs coach Corey Parker has been placing boxing gloves and oven mitts on the hands of his players in practice this month to resist the urge to grab and hold in coverage.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 29, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — There is one statistic Aaron Henry simply has never wanted to forget from the 2023 season. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirms the special teams kicking situation for the Illini’s 2024 season opener vs. Eastern Illinois on Thursday night. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 28, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois player who will start out hearing words directly from defensive coordinator Aaron Henry through his helmet will be Miles Scott. 

The 2024 season is designed for J.C. Davis to instantly answer any preseason questions by his coaches over a lack of physicality in his play at left tackle. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 27, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A reasonable argument can be made for the arrival of J.C. Davis served as arguably the most important transfer portal addition of the offseason for Illinois. 

Illinois is now down to just five healthy scholarship players in Robby Discher’s tight end room less than three days before the 2024 season opener against Eastern Illinois. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 27, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Nathan Guinn is no longer enrolled at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and therefore, is no longer a member of the Illini football roster. 

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

August 27, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll have a couple more upcoming visit updates, rank 2025 commit OT Griffin Rousseau vs the industry and tell you now the Illini OL stacks up against the rest of the Big Ten this season.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 27, 2024

Champaign, IL – On September 7th, the Fighting Illini will host the 22nd-ranked Kansas Jayhawks in what is expected to be a significant game for Illinois. It’s scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CT on FS1, this will present an opportunity for the Illini to showcase their improvement the past four years under coach Bret Bielema. Now is the time to maintain fan enthusiasm, and, most importantly, impress potential recruits.

Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. thinks the first exam for quarterback Luke Altmyer in the 2024 season against Eastern Illinois will be a test of confidence. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

August 26, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In almost every way, Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. has acknowledged all the talk of preseason camp about the development of the Illini’s starting quarterback is nothing more than just that - talk. 

Illinois Athletics August 25, 2024 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois will […]

 Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

August 25, 2024

Champaign, Ill. — The state of Illinois has recently become a fertile ground for the Illini in terms of football prospects. One standout is Clayton Lakatos, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver from Edwardsville, Illinois, who has kept Illinois on his radar.