Football

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema’s request to have two working sidelines at the Wrigley Field game against Northwestern this season has been granted by the Big Ten Conference.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

July 2, 2024

CHICAGO — The Big Ten Conference office has apparently heard and responded to Bret Bielema’s request for the games scheduled to play at Wrigley Field. 

For the first time since the venue started hosting college football games again in 2010, the Wrigley Field venue will have two working sidelines and in doing so eliminating the logistical possibility of both teams needing to share the same sideline. 

Illinois senior-to-be corner outfielder Ryan Moerman has entered the transfer portal after totaling 31 home runs, 104 RBIs and 97 runs scored in three seasons with the Illini. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

July 1, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — The home run leader on the 2024 Illinois baseball team is in the transfer portal. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

July 1, 2024

You can throw away the recruiting rankings on this guy. All of the recruiting services have Cedric Wyche as a mid-to-high 3-star player, and they're all wrong. Folks, this is a 4-star player. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

June 30, 2024

Well, if you listened to Matt and me on the podcast the other night, we both said the same thing when Mike asked us what needs to change in recruiting: The Illini need to add more difference maker types, even if means recruits that present a bigger risk, and they need to draw from more nearby metro areas. Bret must have been listening in, because that's exactly the type of player that he flipped as we spoke.

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 29, 2024

Champaign, IL — The Fighting Illini football program has added more defensive talent to their roster for the class of 2025. Fresh off his official visit to Illinois, Robert Jones III, a defensive back from Vero Beach, (FL.), made his decision shortly after leaving campus.

Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 29, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Fighting Illini football team has ventured south to secure their next backfield prospect. Today, Illinois received a commitment from Cedric Wyche, a 5-foot-10 running back from St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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

June 28, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the latest commitment and some good news coming up.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 27, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — College football can be unpredictable, much like the weather—hot one day and freezing cold the next. Recruits often commit to a program, only to reconsider after taking other visits, leading to unexpected changes in their decisions.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 27, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Robert Jones III, a defensive back who recently decommitted from North Carolina State, has provided an update on his recruitment following a visit to Illinois.

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

June 25, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at the most recent commitment for the 2025 class and the latest on two who could be next.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

June 24, 2024

New Illinois defensive backs coach Corey Parker has only been on the job for a month, but one of the first things he did was to use his Detroit roots to get into the recruitment of Roseville, Michigan safety Desmond Straughton, who'd already been offered by most of the Big Ten yet remained uncommitted. Parker would not take no for an answer with Straughton and his persistence paid off when he convinced Straughton to visit and commit on the spot.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 23, 2024

Champaign, IL– Today is a great day for Illinois sports fans. Desmond Straughton has just committed to Illinois via his X page.

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

June 22, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at some expected commitments, a possible decommitment and perhaps a surprise visitor.

In his annual media roundtable Thursday morning, University of Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman cited concerns over his school’s resume for a future ‘Super League’ scenario in college sports. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

June 21, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — When Josh Whitman asked about a possible concern over University of Illinois athletics being left out of a future consolidation into a ‘Super League’ formula for college athletics, it was a one-word answer. 

“Yes,” the Illinois’ eight-year athletics director said Thursday morning. “Without a doubt. I think we talk about that extensively here in meetings.”

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

June 20, 2024

Champaign, Ill. — Recent weeks have seen Illinois football secure several key recruits and transfers, with the most notable addition being Zakhari Franklin, a wide receiver from Ole Miss who was a four-year starter for UTSA prior. Franklin leads active college football players in receptions, yards, and touchdowns, boasting 266 catches, 3,386 yards, and 38 touchdowns.