Football

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

November 27, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The Illini fell to Northwestern on Saturday to finish out what was a truly disappointing 5-7 season for them. Bret Bielema said famously that he didn't come here to go 5-7, and yet two of his 3 seasons have been just that. The season was more disappointing when you look at the teams they faced. The Illini went 0-4 against first year Big Ten coaches and after a 7-1 start a year ago have wins over Northwestern, Toledo, Florida Atlantic, Minnesota, Maryland and Indiana….

Indiana fired Tom Allen, Northwestern let Pat Fitzgerald go, PJ Fleck is on the hot seat at Minnesota and FAU had a 1st year head coach. How many schools had a schedule with 5 first year coaches on it and still couldn’t make a bowl game?....

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

November 26, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy MaxPreps)

This weekend Illinois is hosting a number of recruits on campus for football. It is the last home game of the season, which means this will be the last time to show potential recruits what the game day experience is like. 

One target who is extremely interested in Illinois is Emoni Smith, a 6-foot-1, 160-pound athlete from Galloway (Westland), Ohio. He is listed as an athlete, but he is being recruited by Illinois as a safety. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema just produced by his own previous assessment an unacceptable result in a year where upward progress was needed and required. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 25, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema famously has repeated that he didn’t come to Champaign to go 5-7. Well, congratulations to everybody involved because we’ve all officially reached the rubicon here on the corner of 1st Street and Kirby Avenue. 

Year Three of the Bielema Era will always be recognized as the season that ended with five wins and seven losses. Certainly nothing more and undoubtedly something less than what was expected. 

It is a habit of a journalist to record the head football coach at his word when he says things into a microphone knowing he’s being recorded for future use - like when he speaks on pay-for-play philosophy and player injuries. Or when he, like Bielema did Saturday night, refer to on-field referee decisions as the vulgar term for cow feces. 

By IlliniGuys Staff November 25, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

IlliniGuys Staff

November 25, 2023

Coming into the training camp, Illinois was expected by many to win 7+ games and continue the upward trajectory that started in 2022.

November 25, 2023 The Illini are trying to rebound […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 24, 2023

The Illinois football program is starting to build its depth with quality scholarship players, but now their preferred walk-on room is starting to grow as well.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 24, 2023

Transfer portal season is about to heat up!

Illinois safety Clayton Bush wants you to believe Iowa’s game-winning 30-yard touchdown run is his responsibility to fill up but Illini defensive coordinator Aaron Henry knows that’s not entirely true.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 23, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

The word that comes to mind with all the coaches inside the Smith Family Football Complex when discussing Clayton Bush is accountability. 

The graduate transfer safety from Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois said in August before the beginning of the 2023 season that he was looking for a “a coaching staff with no bullcrap to tell me the truth and hold me accountable for how things are done” and the 23-year-old certainly did that when he met with local media following the 15-13 loss to No. 16 Iowa on Saturday. 

“It’s my fault. I missed my gap,” Bush said following a game where he had eight tackles and according to Pro Football Focus data three ‘stops’ which are described as the player for why the play was a failure for the offense. “Iowa is a program that does things the correct way so often that they feast on when you mess up. Well, I messed up and it cost us.” 

Illinois defensive linemen Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph confirm Saturday’s regular season finale vs. Northwestern will be the last time Illini fans will see them on the field together. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 22, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Saturday will be the final collegiate home game for Illinois defensive linemen Jer'Zhan Newton and Keith Randolph. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema says he’s looking forward to seeing how Aaron Henry progresses as Henry completes his first season as a defensive coordinator. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 21, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema doesn’t want to hear anymore second guessing of his defensive coordinator promotion of Aaron Henry.

The third-year head coach of the Illinois football program said Monday he saw similar qualities in the 34-year-old that led Henry to be part of a long line of in-house promotions who have experienced their first year of being a defensive coordinator under Bielema’s watch. With one game remaining of the 2023 regular season, the confidence from Bielema hasn’t wavered and, in fact, the leader of the Illini program says he still sees signs of progress and development. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema vehemently disagrees he directs a conservative late-game philosophy on either side of the ball citing Illini’s 5-2 record in one-possession games in 2023. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 21, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Unless you want the conversation to be short and unpleasant, it’s not recommended anybody speak inside the Smith Family Football Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign about being conservative late in games. 

Brad Sturdy, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio

November 20, 2023

The Illini cruised to an 88-60 win over Southern on Sunday night behind another stellar performance from Terrence Shannon, who scored 24 points to lead the way, and the Illini dominated the glass on their way to a 4-1 mark on the season. Dain Dainja had 12 points and Quincy Guerrier had 10, but it was a pair of Freshmen that excited the Illini fanbase. Nico Moretti was a +20 in 13 minutes of first half play before a foot injury sidelined him after a 4 point, 3 rebound and 3 assist half, while Amani Hansberry played 22 minutes and had 8 points and 7 rebounds. It was refreshing to see Freshmen showcase their talents now as the Illini try to develop their depth and put the right players in the right roles. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting November 20, 2023 […]

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 20, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Football is a game of adjustments, and while most went the Illini's way on Saturday, the Hawkeyes made the last one and it paralyzed the Illini offense at the worst possible time.  However, I'm starting this week's Trench Report with a play that turned out to be the difference in the game. 

Iowa only brings four on this 3rd and 12 play from the 5 yard line.  They're playing conservatively and seemingly happy to ensure a punt.  However,