Football

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Sr Recruiting Writer

January 4, 2026

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The transfer portal, or as it’s known at IlliniGuys, Portal Kombat, is in full effect.

The Illinois football program landed its first commitment of the 2026 transfer portal season Tuesday,

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

January 3, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

I could get used to finishing a season this way. Illinois finished its second straight 9-win season with its second straight win over an SEC team that it had never beaten before. Not only that, but they did it in what felt a whole lot like a road venue, and they did it while outgaining Tennessee 417 yards to 278 and winning the turnover battle. Without a very fortunate kickoff return and a couple of bad breaks, this is a convincing win over a big-name team.

I'm going to start with defensive highlights this week, as I thought this was our best defensive performance of the year from a scheme standpoint. And this first play was the first eye-opener for me. Most of you are already aware that after Gabe Jacas, Illinois presented very little pass rush this year. So with Jacas sitting out the bowl game, I was assuming Illinois was going to have trouble rushing the passer this year. However, the staff used the time off well and dialed up several blitzes that had Tennessee scratching its collective heads. Tennessee's offense was sacked 22 times this season and threw 437 passes, yet suffered 4 sacks and threw the ball 18 times in the bowl game. And none of them were flukes. I'd have slapped you if you told me that was going to happen.

On this first play, Illinois has its best three pass rushers on the line in the game with Durojaiye, Thompson and Lowery.

Illinois is losing running backs coach Thad Ward as […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 1, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Through 13 games, the Illinois women’s basketball team has had its best start to a season ever. One of the biggest components in the engine pushing the team to that start has been junior guard Maddie Webber.

Webber is currently third in scoring on the team, averaging 11.5 points per game while shooting just below 47% from three-point range. She’s also the first-ever player of Asian descent to play under Shauna Green, and – as far as we at IlliniGuys are aware – the first in program history, too. She’s half-Korean, with ancestry through her father linking her to the country, and says that that part of her identity is something that means a lot to her, not just off the court, but on it, too.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

January 1, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The NCAA transfer portal continued to churn, and Illinois football found itself back in the middle of the action today.

Former Rock Island standout Cole Rusk, a tight end who transferred to Illinois from Murray State, is now officially in the transfer portal. The move comes as a surprise, as the 6-foot-5 Rusk departs what had long been considered his dream school.

David Olano, who connected on the game-winning field goal […]

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

January 1, 2026

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Happy New Year, IlliniGuys readers! With the Music City Bowl behind us now, portal season is truly upon us now. After a few days to soak in the bowl win and tying the knot on securing 19 wins in two years, the staff will soon get to work to fill out gaps on its roster through the transfer portal.

On the defensive side of the ball, linebackers JoJo Hayden and Easton Baker, defensive lineman Jeremiah Warren, and cornerback Vernon Woodward III have entered the transfer portal.

While it’s always great to cast a wide net in recruiting, this first list is staying a bit more realistic, grounded in previous interest or the obvious geographic relations these players have to Illinois.

Illinois delivers another near perfect performance to topple a Southeastern Conference opponent in a late December bowl game for back-to-back postseason wins for the first time since 2011.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 31, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Illinois head coach Bret Bielema had repeatedly said how much he loathes when good-natured fans mention to him how long it’s been before the Illini football program accomplished something.

As he’s completed his fifth season leading the football program in Champaign-Urbana, the phrase Bielema dislikes hearing the most is ‘did you know it’s been since (fill in the year) since Illinois has (fill in the accomplishment)’ and Bielema was determined on Tuesday night to slow down that kind of talk by seeing his team create its own history.

“We talked a lot about all different kinds of numbers. (Monday night) I got emotional in a team meeting because I saw them that after the Northwestern win that this group has either tied or surpassed a number of records,” Bielema said Tuesday night after the 30-28 win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. “I knew if we got this one that we’d not have to talk about these kind of numbers or read about other years anymore. Usually you either find yourself reading about history or writing history and this group is doing a lot of writing history.”

Run Offense
When asked to describe the game-winning 64-yard drive that led to David Olano’s 29-yard walk-off field goal, Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer shrugged his shoulders before admitting

By Brad Sturdy - IlliniGuys Writer/Analyst & Co-Host, IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular

December 31, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

We are in the midst of the Golden Era of Illinois football

Enjoy it. Take it in. Celebrate. There will be time for fans to worry about next season in the coming weeks, portal opens Jan. 2, and for the next 8 months. For now, know that Illinois football is in good hands and have shown themselves to be a legit football team and program. I don’t think we appreciate enough what has happened at Illinois since Josh Whitman took over 9 years ago and Bret Bielema 5 years ago.

Here are a few thoughts from Nashville as I sit in the airport waiting on my flight.

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer had the confidence of his teammates, coaches and fans that one more game-winning drive was coming with four minutes and 58 seconds left in the Music City Bowl.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 31, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Immediately after a 96-yard kick return for a touchdown to give Tennessee a one-point lead, Luke Altmyer’s mother had the same immediate reaction of Illinois players, coaches and fans.

Chad Altmyer, while sitting in Section 238 near the 30 yard line of Nissan Stadium looked up at the ribbon board showing the game clock and turned to his wife, Betsy, who knew and said out load they’d seen the script of this type of game play out before.

“Betsy said it best because she immediately watched the offense trot on the field and said out loud ‘here we go again’ and let it be known that Luke’s mom immediately thought a game-winning drive was going to happen again,” Chad Altmyer said to IlliniGuys.com Tuesday night. “She immediately remembered this is how Luke’s career at Illinois began.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3hG4sxmVe8    

By IlliniGuys Staff December 30, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

Illinois will need to slow down one of the nation’s fastest tempo offenses in order to achieve back-to-back seasons of bowl wins for the first time since 2011.

ILLINOIS vs. TENNESSEE

Records: Illinois 8-4, 4-4 in Big Ten; Tennessee 8-4, 4-4 in Southeastern Conference

Date/Time/Place: Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025: 4:30p.m. CST, Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Surface: Matrix Helix Turf

Capacity: 69,143

ODDS: Tennessee by 2

Series notes: Illinois will play in the Music City Bowl for the first time in program history and the Illini will play Tennessee for the first time in program history. Illinois is back in a bowl game in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2010-11. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is 1-0 all-time against Tennessee after getting a 24-20 victory in 2015 in Knoxville while Bielema was the Arkansas head coach.
Bielema is looking to tie the program record for bowl wins (two) by an Illini head coach, while also trying to become the first coach in program history to win a bowl game in back-to-back seasons. Illinois is bowl eligible three times in a four-year span for the first time since 1991-94.

TV: ESPN; Tom Hart (play-by-play); Jordan Rodgers (color analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter)

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (play-by-play); Carey Davis (color analyst); Kevin Mitchell (color analyst); Michael Martin (sideline) and Steve Kelly (pre/half/post). The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, SiriusXM 84, the SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com/live.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 30, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Aaron Henry had two words to describe the matchup against Tennessee’s ‘Veer and Shoot’ offense.

“It’s going to be a chess match,” Henry said.

December 30, 2025 The Illini face a more talented […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and defensive coordinator Aaron Henry don’t believe Illinois can rely on one player to fill the void of inactive defensive starters Gabe Jacas and Matthew Bailey.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 29, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Unlike the Music City Bowl replacement for left tackle J.C. Davis, the Illinois coaching staff realizes it may take more than one person to replace each of the spots for its two lost defensive starters.

When it comes to finding a left tackle replacement for Davis, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and Illini offensive line coach Bart Miller both know one player is likely to be in that spot for 60-80 plays on Tuesday as offensive linemen aren’t typically subbed out.

Bielema confirmed Monday what he’d been hinting at for several days that Nathan Knapik will get his first career start on Tuesday in the 2025 Music City Bowl.