Football

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

October 10, 2023

The Fighting Illini football program had as much buzz around the program as one could expect. Athletic director Josh Whitman proudly put his chest out with 10,000 new season ticket holders.

But now reality has set in; the team is 2-4, and one pass away from being 1-5. Senior wideout Casey Washington made a game-saving catch to keep a drive alive against Toledo in game one which Illinois won 30-28.

Time to be realistic here. Illinois is having a dismal season, and it is starting to have an effect on recruiting.

Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. addressed his offense’s inability to convert key short-yardage situations in 20-7 loss to Nebraska last weekend.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 9, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — For the first time in his head coaching career, Bret Bielema has entered new, awkward and uncomfortable territory at Illinois where his team struggles to get a single yard running the football. 

“Very frustrating. In my 15 years of head coaching, I’ve never been in a position where we can’t gain half of a yard. It’s absolutely insane,” Bielema said Friday night in his post-game media conference following the 20-7 loss to Nebraska. “So, we’ll look at what we’ve asked our guys to do. Obviously we have to change the equation in the end. Bottom line, we can’t keep playing games like things and not scoring points.” 

Following a 20-7 loss to Nebraska Friday night, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said he’s never been more frustrated in his 15 years of experience in the job and guaranteed changes are coming. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 9, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Darron Cummings/Associated Press)

CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema had only a one-word answer to what was coming for his Illinois football program that he repeated over and over - changes. 

After a 20-7 loss to a Nebraska team that hadn’t yet defeated a power conference opponent in the 2023 season that pushed Illinois to a 2-4 start and a 0-3 hole in Big Ten Conference play, Bielema assured folks listening to his post-game media conference that changes were coming. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

Cover photo courtesy Steve Snider, IlliniGuys

October 9, 2023

That was a painful one. 

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

Cover photo courtesy Steve Snider IlliniGuys

October 9, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at how the horrible offense impacts recruiting and compare the Illini TE recruiting to the rest of the Big Ten for the 2024 class.

Barry Lunney Jr. believed Friday night his offensive line wasn’t going to protect Altmyer for long developing passing routes, so Illinois limited its passing offense with early success but long-term failure.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

Steve Snider, IlliniGuys Cover Photographer

October 8, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Several days before Illinois hosted Nebraska on a short week of preparation, Illini offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. was asked about scheming around offensive line issues. 

October 8, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy Northwestern Athletics) Think […]

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

October 8, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Following the 20-7 loss at home to Nebraska on Friday night there are no easy fixes for Illinois football, and that is the most disappointing part. As Illlini fans know, and have lived in the past, there isn’t a band aid that can stop a leak, or in this case a  waterfall. This program is in shambles, and not just because of the rough season, because of the current situation and the conference additions in 2024. But the rough season shouldn’t have happened the way it has played out….

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

Following the 20-7 loss to Nebraska, the 2023 football season for the University of Illinois is all but over. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 7, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — From now until the end of time, the record book will show the first Big Ten Conference wins for two of the league’s first-year head coaches will have come against the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. 

By IlliniGuys Staff October 6, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]

  Premium Members Only. Please Subscribe To View The […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

Cover photo courtesy of tennessean.com

October 6, 2023

Illinois is always looking to improve its roster. Recently Jaren Sensabaugh was offered a scholarship by the Fighting Illini. This recruitment is a bit unique in several ways. 

Bielema changing the day-to-day operational plan for a short week after the failed first try before the 34-23 loss at Kansas. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 6, 2023

Nebraska at Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Friday, Oct. 6, 2023: 7 p.m. CST, Memorial Stadium 

Surface: Field Turf Capacity: 60,670 Records: Nebraska 2-3, 0-2 in Big Ten; Illinois 2-3, 0-2 Betting Line: Illinois by 3.5 Series notes: Nebraska leads all-time series 13-6-1. The Illini look to extend their three-game winning streak in the series.

TV: FS1; Jeff Levering (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (color analyst)

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (PBP), Martin O'Donnell (analysis), Michael Martin (sidelines) & Steve Kelly (Pre/HT/Post) » The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, SiriusXM 83, SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com.

CHAMPAIGN — For each week of preparation during the season, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema carries with him a filing folder at all times. 

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

October 6, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at yet another committed player the Illini are trying to poach and share my weekly Big Ten thoughts.