Football

Illinois defensive coordinator has been the figurehead of a lot frustration and anger from fans since his promotion by his boss Bret Bielema. The 38-16 win on Saturday proved he has lots of answers.  

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 17, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — No hyperbolism necessary here - the last 21 minutes or so of this football is the absolute best tape of an Illinois defense with Aaron Henry as the play-caller. And it may not even be close. 

By IlliniGuys Staff November 16, 2024 CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - […]

After four years of developing into one of the […]

November 16, 2024 The Illini come into this game […]

The season-ending injury to Dylan Rosiek in the 25-17 loss to Minnesota is going to force Illinois to rely on several players with little to no significant playing experience. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 14, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The players inside the Smith Family Football Complex may need to acknowledge the private messaging in the public command coming from Illinois inside linebackers coach Archie McDaniel.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 13, 2024

Illinois made a big splash on the recruiting front during its week off when 4-star quarterback Michael Clayton II of Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida chose the Illini over offers from numerous other high majors.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 12, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Fighting Illini football program received one of the most significant commitments of the Bret Bielema era on Sunday. Michael Clayton II, a 2026 quarterback from Sanford, Florida, became the first player to pledge to Illinois in his class.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema believes several key members of his roster who have gone unused through nine games will emerge in this final month. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 12, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Through the first nine games of this season, Gentle Hunt has played one snap of action. 

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 11, 2024

Illinois continued its recent recruiting success by flipping Coopersville (Michigan) offensive tackle J.J. Hirdes from his commitment to nearby Eastern Michigan to Illinois soon after flipping Tywan Cox from his prior commitment to USF.  Hirdes is a true tackle who was getting some interest from other Big Ten schools when Illinois turned up the pressure to secure his commitment.  However, he isn't quite as strong of a prospect as Cox.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 19, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, IL — During their bye week, the Illinois football program picked up its recruiting efforts, resulting in a major win as four-star quarterback Michael Clayton II committed to the Illini.

IlliniGuys learned that Illinois was set to make Clayton’s top three when he announced his decision in December. Just yesterday, he narrowed his list to seven schools, which included Ole Miss, Nebraska, South Carolina, Louisville, Auburn, Missouri, and Illinois.

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 9, 2024

(Cover picture courtesy player's page on X)

I feel like I need to warn any family members of current or former Illini: If you're worthy of a P4 scholarship in football, you can expect a recruiting blitz from Bret Bielema.  Tywan Cox is the sixth player to pledge to the Illini after having a brother play football in Champaign, and I don't think this trend is going to slow down anytime soon.  Aside from all that, I'm really enthusiastic about Cox as a prospect regardless of his lineage.  Despite his excellent performance at football factory Northwestern (Miami) High School and his lineage from his brother Torrie Jr. and father Torrie Sr., Tywan didn't get the high major interest he would have liked and committed to USF in June.  However, Illinois got involved and stayed involved through the fall and liked Tywan's fall film enough to make him an offer and he jumped.

What does he bring to the Orange and Blue?

After the first CFP rankings, IlliniGuys.com senior reporter Matthew […]

Based on his post-game media conference, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema sees things that bother him about the pass protection issues that presented themselves on Saturday in loss to Minnesota.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 6, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In what was likely a sarcastic but possibly enlightening comment immediately the 25-17 loss to Minnesota, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema believes his team’s final offensive play is a microcosm of the problem that has popped up recently. 

“I think it was a fitting ending for us that our final play ended on a sack fumble on a three-man rush,” Bielema said. “I think that showed exactly what wasn’t in the deck of cards for us.” 

So, let’s first look at this final offensive play because frankly, it’s really not all that complicated to understand.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema was reprimanded, and Illinois was fined $5,000 by the Big Ten Conference for a violation the league’s sportsmanship Policy with “his criticism of officiating” following 25-17 loss to Minnesota.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 5, 2024

ROSEMONT, Ill. — The University of Illinois athletics department has been issued a $5,000 fine by the Big Ten Conference for what conference officials are categorizing is a violation of the league’s sportsmanship policy following Illini head football coach Bret Bielema’s comments directed at league officiating after the Illini’s 25-17 loss to Minnesota last weekend.