Football

Illinois tailback Reggie Love has averaged 4.5 yards per carry in each of the first three games of the 2023 season, but early deficits have negated his effectiveness in the second half for the Illini offense.

Matthew Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 18, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Reggie Love III believes he’s one big run away from putting all of his talent and potential together into being the star tailback at Illinois this season. 

And his Illini coaches agree with this assessment from the tailback who will turn 22 years old on Oct. 11. 

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

September 18, 2023

I know that Illinois fans are smarting after suffering through the loss to Penn State on Sunday, but the film review reveals that, aside from the turnovers, the Illini showed out pretty well on Saturday. I know that's a pretty big IF to use, but I also don't think Illinois is likely to be minus 5 on the turnover battle very often and to hang in pretty well against a top 10 team while losing the turnover battle isn't such a bad result.

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

September 18, 2023

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files, I’ll give an update on two committed players who have taken visits and a couple of things I’ve heard about this weekend’s visits.

Penn State defensive coordinator’s Manny Diaz creative blitz and coverage schemes confused, hurried and ultimately defeated Illinois’ inexperienced quarterback on Saturday. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

Cover photo courtesy Steve Snider, IlliniGuys

September 17, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A major tipping point leading into evaluating the result Saturday’s Penn State-Illinois matchup was how Illinois would try to affect Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar in his first career collegiate start on the road. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 17, 2023

The Fighting Illini had a big weekend of recruits on campus, some who have already pledged to Illinois and others who are showing serious interest. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 17, 2023

Illinois prep Dierre Hill, junior from Belleville, Illinois, was on campus this weekend to check out the Fighting Illini. Here at IlliniGuys we told you Illinois would have some big-time recruits on campus...Hill was one of them.

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

September 17, 2023

The Illini fell to #7 Penn State at Memorial Stadium on Saturday by a 30-13 score. What did we learn about this team and what does it mean going forward? Sturdy’s weekly thoughts recapping the Illini football game aren’t as negative as others, but here we go. 

After being pulled from a network television game following four interceptions, the upcoming week of practice could have high importance for Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 17, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It’s a safe bet that Saturday, September 16, 2023, was likely the first time Luke Altmyer has been removed from a football game for ineffective play. 

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said Saturday following the 30-13 loss to No. 7 Penn State that he doesn’t anticipate making a change at starting quarterback for next weekend’s contest vs. Florida Atlantic.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 16, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For only the second time in his tenure at Illinois, Bret Bielema was in the position of being forced to pull his starting quarterback from a game for performance reasons. 

Following a fourth interception, a perfect strike right into the stomach of Penn State cornerback Cam Miller, Luke Altmyer’s afternoon was immediately over.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst September 16, […]

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 16, 2023

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —  This afternoon the Fighting Illini football team will take on the Penn State Nittany Lions here at Memorial Stadium. Here's a list of a few prospects that we spoke with prior to the game, only here at IlliniGuys .

September 16, 2023 The Illini host No. 7 Penn […]

Without any warmup opportunities, Illinois sophomore safety Matthew Bailey will be put to the test in his 2023 debut after missing the first two games with a severe foot/ankle injury. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 16, 2023

No. 7 Penn State at Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Sept. 14, 2023: 6:30 p.m. CST, Memorial Stadium Surface: Field Turf 

Capacity: 60,670

Records: Penn State 2-0; Illinois 1-1; 

Betting Line: Penn State by 14.5

Series notes: Penn State leads all-time series 20-6 and have won 10 of the 14 matchups in Champaign. Illinois won the last outing 20-18 in nine overtimes in 2021. 

TV: FOX; Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), and Jenny Taft (reporter). 

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 (121/195), SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com.

(Editor's note: Rich Scarcella appears on this week's edition of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular syndicated radio show, which can be heard in six states on more than 20 radio affiliates in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri. https://illiniguys.com/radio/)

(Cover photo courtesy Penn State Athletics)

Rich Scarcella is a Penn State beat writer for the Reading Eagle who appeared on the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular syndicated radio show this week. (Courtesy IlliniGuys)

September 16, 2023

Larry Smith: Rich Scarcella is a beat writer for the Reading Eagle and writes for seven other papers in southeast Pennsylvania. Rich, welcome to the show. Glad you're with us.

Rich Scarcella:  Thanks for having me, Larry. I appreciate being with you guys.

LS: We've been on this road before, right? Two years ago, Illinois struggling, they go to take on a highly ranked Penn State team. We said there's no way in the world that this is a surprise win. And we got a surprise in record fashion. Any concern right now that history could repeat itself?

RS:  I'm sure there's concern. It's a road game. It's Penn State's first road game of the year. Illinois  went into the season with a very stout defense. They haven't played that way in the first two games. I think Penn State has a lot of respect for Illinois and expects a very close game.

Brad Sturdy:  When you look at this matchup, what do you see here? I mean, could Penn State trouble from Illinois?

RS:  Well, for Penn State it's the third game, but it's the first time they're going to be seeing a dual threat quarterback with Luke Altmyer.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

September 15, 2023

This weekend is the weekend for several of the Illinois athletic programs in terms of recruiting for the football team; men's and women's basketball teams are all expected to bring some of the top prospects in the country. Saturday head football Bret Bielema's football team will take on the seventh-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. 

*Here is our list of players which is subject to change; when that happens, we will update our list*