Football

With Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and Illini offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. on the sidelines Friday night, the program’s 2024 class verbal commitment at quarterback was more than impressive.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 28, 2023

STARKVILLE, Miss. — With a live audience including the two Illinois coaches who primarily recruited him, Trey Petty displayed all the physical qualities that led him to be the program’s 2024 class verbal pledge at quarterback. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 28, 2023

Freshman Myson Johnson-Cook visited Illinois once again for the Wisconsin game. Each time the 6'3", 205 pound, Decatur, Illinois, youngster visits the campus, the more and more he learns and becomes in awe of his home state university.

Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. built a fruitful pipeline in Starkville, Mississippi as the Illini plan to enroll the last two starting quarterbacks from that town’s high school. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 27, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

STARKVILLE, Miss. —  Barry Lunney Jr.’s two big recruiting wins since arriving at Illinois have both come from building a pipeline in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. 

In late December, three days before the Illini would play in the 2023 ReliaQuest Bowl, Luke Altmyer announced his intention to transfer to Illinois from Ole Miss. The Illinois offensive coordinator was the host of Altmyer’s recruiting visit to the campus earlier in Dec. 2022 to make an impact with his southern roots, family and his promise to development Altmyer, who was a former four-star prospect coming out of Starkville High School, on the football field after the quarterback’s less than enjoyable experience in two seasons at Ole Miss under head coach Lane Kiffin. 

After securing the Illini’s present (and future because of Altmyer’s three years of eligibility), Lunney secured his first significant recruiting victory of a high school prospect at the quarterback position in the form of a verbal pledge of current Starkville High’s Trey Petty.

Despite playing a significant amount of his 66 snaps Saturday with his hand in the ground, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema insists Gabe Jacas isn’t moving to a new position. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 26, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema doesn’t want to hear more talk that Gabe Jacas is changing positions. 

October 26, 2023 2nd ranked Michigan has the week […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has lobbied new Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti on developing NFL-style audio communication from coach to player through the helmet to avoid further sign stealing issues. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 26, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN —  The head football coach at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana would like the current investigation into Michigan to give further motivation for audio technology in college football should be voted into play.

Bret Bielema said Wednesday he isn’t familiar with the details of the scandal that has led to Connor Stalions, the currently suspended Michigan football analyst being the focus of a sign-stealing investigation. The Big Ten Conference has confirmed Michigan was under investigation by the NCAA for allegedly scouting future opponents in person, which would be a violation of NCAA rules.

What Bielema says he is familiar with is the idea that sign stealing happens throughout the television copy of game tape on opponents and during the 60 minutes of a game while he and his staff are on the sideline of a college football game. 

IlliniGuys.com will dissect the 18-0 collapse in the fourth quarter of Illinois’ 25-21 loss to Wisconsin on Saturday. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 25, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — There is one major problem Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry has after reviewing the final two Wisconsin drives on Saturday resulting in 15 unanswered points in a 25-21 loss is that his squad’s future on the defensive line and secondary were on the field. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema confirms Wednesday that the first half suspension for Illini defensive lineman Jer'Zhan Newton was upheld by the NCAA. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 25, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Jer'Zhan Newton will not be permitted to be on the field for the first 30 minutes of Illinois’ next game. 

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

October 25, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files, I’ll have an update on QB Trey Petty, more on DB Jaren Sensabaugh and a JUCO OL that is a must get.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 23, 2023

 Champaign, Ill.--An Illinois prep has an Illinois offer along with other top DI football programs.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 23, 2023

We've all seen this story before. The Illini come out ready to play. Look pretty good. Catch a bad break, and fold. We've seen it happen several times already this year, not to mention all the games we can recount from past coaching staffs and generations. These games have haunted we Illini football fans for most of our lives. When Illinois' best player was ejected on a questionable targeting penalty and the defense gave up a few big plays after that because they were out of sorts, Illini fans through Memorial Stadium and around the world started to think "We're going to lose this game aren't we?" The stadium was hushed. The players on both sides of the field felt it, and it truly did affect the game. This was one of those moments just like the Bartman/ Moises Alou play in 2003 when a bad break spiraled into a loss because everyone wearing the home team's colors is so used to catching bad breaks. As I was leaving that game listening to other Illini fans recount where that game landed on the list of bad losses at Memorial, I had to wonder whether the team might have won that game if they were playing on the road.

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

October 23, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll share some things I’ve heard about a key visitor and an upcoming visit that could be key.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 22, 2023

Champaign, Ill.--Starkville, Mississippi, has one of the best quarterbacks in the country: that is Trey Petty, who committed to the Fighting Illini in late April of this year.

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

2023 was supposed to be the breakthrough season for Illinois but after eight games, Bielema is clinging to a four-game stretch for a shred of stability.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 22, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema left Memorial Stadium Saturday night more despondent than any of the previous 16 losses as Illinois head football coach.