Football

Hank Beatty’s Citrus Bowl performance propelled him to a successful 2025 and some point to Beatty’s former backup at the slot - Collin Dixon - as that next candidate in this Music City Bowl.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 28, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — If you track rise of Hank Beatty’s performance from the fourth play of the 2024 Citrus Bowl, you’d see a stock that is still on an upward progression.

With Illinois down 3-0 in the Citrus Bowl to then-No. 14 South Carolina in Orlando, Beatty took a slant route 59 yards down to the 1-yard-line where he ran past two Southeastern Conference defensive backs to propel him to a then-career-high 90 receiving yards in the win. Beatty also had a remarkable, highlight reel worthy third-down catch in the fourth quarter, which teammates and coaches said Saturday they still rank as the Rochester native’s best moment in an Illini jersey, that helped secure the program’s momentum-starting moment that led to a preseason Top 15 ranking to start the 2025 season.

“While I still give him junk about not getting into the end zone on that slant route in the bowl that he nearly took to the house, you could see a different kind of Hank Beatty from that moment on,” Illinois wide receiver coach Justin Stepp said Saturday after the Illini’s second bowl practice at Vanderbilt.

By Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 27, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's X page)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — College football recruiting never truly stops. The programs that stay ahead are the ones planning years in advance, and Illinois has firmly entered that category.

What once felt like a long-term objective under Bret Bielema has now become standard operating procedure. In his first season in Champaign, recruiting two or three years ahead was more projection than expectation.

Now, Illinois is actively building future classes as a program that has established itself within the Big Ten and gained national relevance.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema hints to reporters Saturday […]

Tennessee may likely showcasing two freshman starters in its secondary for the 2025 Music City Bowl matchup against Illinois.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 27. 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The biggest Tennessee mystery for this Music City Bowl game will likely be solved when the Volunteers first line up on defense.

Tennessee will be without starting cornerback Colton Hood after the 20-year-old declared for the 2026 National Football League Draft and opted out participating in this bowl game after earning All-Southeastern Conference second team honors from The Associated Press and a All-SEC third team selection from the league’s coaches. The Georgia native, who spent one season at Tennessee after previous stops at Auburn and Colorado, made 50 tackles and made one interception, which the 2025 Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist returned for a touchdown this season against Mississippi State.

The trio of rushing production for Illinois consisting of Kaden Feagin, Aidan Laughery and Ca'Lil Valentine are all expected to return for the Illini in the 2026 season.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 27, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — All three tailbacks leading the Illinois rushing attack this season are expected to return to Bret Bielema’s Illini program for the 2026 campaign.

Aidan Laughery, who received three starts including starts in the first two games of the 2025 season, confirmed in his post-practice availability to IlliniGuys.com he would not be considering the transfer portal after concluding his season-ending 1-on-1 meetings with Illini coaches before the holiday break.

Laughery, who rushed for 67 yards on 16 attempts nearly a year ago in the Citrus Bowl win over then-No. 14 South Carolina, is expecting to use this postseason game a springboard for himself and an Illini rushing attack that finished 13th in a 18-team Big Ten Conference this season.

Laughery said Saturday he’s fully healthy for the first time this season after playing through a recurring ankle injury from the 45-19 win at Duke on Sept. 6 and forced the Gibson City native to miss four games this season and be limited to only 62 carries in 2025 campaign.

Illinois may turn to a likely 2026 starter ot a younger player who hasn’t experienced any game in an Illini jersey to replace J.C. Davis vs. Tennessee in Music City Bowl.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

December 27, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics; the player depicted is not Brandon Henderson)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Illinois coaching staff has been using this opt-out by J.C. Davis to rotate in several options at left tackle during bowl preparation practices.

Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. confirmed that both Knapik brothers who transferred in nearly a year ago from Idaho have seen first-team reps at the left tackle position for this 2025 Music City Bowl matchup versus Tennessee on Dec. 30 (4:30 p.m. CST, ESPN). Illinois has begun on-site, closed bowl practices inside Vanderbilt’s newly renovated FirstBank Stadium on the West End of Nashville with veteran players being back in full action after being given limited reps on the on-site practices inside the Smith Family Football Complex before the team gave the players off for the Christmas holiday.

By Zeno Jo - IlliniGuys Staff Writer

December 27, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy player's Instagram page)

While the thick of the holiday season is now behind us with Black Friday and Christmas in the rear-view mirror, it’s never too late to do some eye shopping – especially in today’s college sports world.

The Music City Bowl against Tennessee is yet to be played, and we’re still weeks, if not months, away from portal commitments rolling around. Still, here’s the first edition of a shortlist of wish list players from 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.

IlliniGuys.com has further information on a veteran quarterback that Illinois is hopeful to get an official visit from after the Music City Bowl. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Beat Reporter

December 26, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois has its eyes on the Ivy League for a possible veteran transfer quarterback to lead its offense for the upcoming 2026 season. 

By IlliniGuys Staff December 25, 2025 (Cover photo courtesy […]

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By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

December 20, 2025

I've used the college schedule break to check in on the commitments after their senior years. This is the second of my two-piece article with the first one being on the offensive commits and this one on the defense.

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Sr. Recruiting Analyst

December 18, 2025

(Cover photo courtesy Kedric Prince/IlliniGuys)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — One of the headline prospects in Illinois football’s 2026 recruiting class is quarterback Michael Clayton II, who committed to the Illini in November 2024 and never looked back.

Several IlliniGuys writers and analysts were asked to identify players who could rise to the top in this class, and the conversation consistently returned to Clayton, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound signal caller from Edison High School in Miami, Florida.

We caught up with Clayton for a one-on-one Q&A to discuss signing day, his next steps, and even the unique celebrity of his high school coach, Luther Campbell, the former rapper known as Luke Skyywalker from 2 Live Crew.

Kedric: How does it feel to finally be signed and knowing what's ahead of you?

Michael: I’ve known I wanted

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer is the third ever recipient […]

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst December 17, […]

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular December 16, 2025 The […]