Football

The injury list continues to grow for the Illini following a 25-17 loss to Minnesota on Saturday.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 2, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Dylan Rosiek has played his final down of football in the 2024 season. 

The Illinois fourth-year linebacker suffered a fracture of his leg in the first quarter of the 25-17 loss to Minnesota on Saturday. The surgery and rehabilitation will require Rosiek to miss several months and will likely make him questionable for the beginning of the upcoming spring practice session that typically begins in Champaign in late March and early April. 

The 25-17 loss to Minnesota Saturday means Bret Bielema’s […]

By IlliniGuys Staff November 2, 2024 (Cover photo courtesy […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 2, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, IL. — Illinois is hosting a strong group of recruits this weekend, including a mix of three- and four-star prospects, the largest number of high-profile visitors seen on campus under head coach Bret Bielema in a long time.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 2, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Fighting Illini football team prepares to face the Minnesota Golden Gophers on Saturday, hoping to bounce back from last week's 38-9 loss to Oregon.

On Friday night via a retweet on X, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema stated three key injured players who didn’t finish the loss at Oregon last weekend will play today vs. Minnesota. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 2, 2024

Minnesota at No. 24 Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024: 11 a.m. CST, Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Ill. 

Surface: Field Turf

Capacity: 60,670

Records: Minnesota 5-3, 3-2 in Big Ten; Illinois 6-2, 3-2 in Big Ten

Betting Line: Minnesota by 2.

Series notes: Minnesota leads the overall series 40-33-3 but Illinois leads 20-17-1 in Champaign. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is 10-0 all-time against Minnesota and 3-0 as the Illini head coach. 

TV: FS1; Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), Josh Sims (reporter)

Radio (Illinois): Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Kevin Mitchell (analyst), Michael Martin (sideline), and Steve Kelly (pre/half/post).  The broadcast can be heard live on TuneIn online radio, SiriusXM, the SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com/live.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head coach Bret Bielema elected to use social media to announce the availability of his starters who left the Oregon game and didn’t return this past weekend. 

The Illini were soundly beaten by an outstanding Oregon […]

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 31, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois head coach Bret Bielema didn’t have any answers on Pat Bryant along with all of the other injured Illini players who left the Oregon game and didn’t return this past weekend.

In his final local media availability before kickoff against Minnesota (11 a.m. CST, FS1), Bielema claimed that the team's medical and coaching staff would make final decisions in the 48 hours before the game.

“As far as injury-wise, I don’t know where it’s going to land on Saturday and we’ll make some final decisions but obviously some key guys were injured in the Oregon game and they are very limited on their comeback,” Bielema said Thursday afternoon inside the Smith Family Football Complex said. “On Saturday, we’ll make that decision known when it happens.”

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 31, 2024

No one who reads Illini Guys is happy with the result from Saturday. Illinois got out gained almost 2 to 1, and Oregon called off the dogs before things got really out of hand.

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

October 30, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll look at how the Oregon drubbing effects recruiting and how Bret Bielema has gone from opposed to flips to a potential flip master.

From Illinois Sports Information Office: CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Head Coach Janet […]

Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry said Monday he was more frustrated by the lack of execution after an Oregon catch by his defensive players than disappointed by the call itself.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 30, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — On Saturday at No. 1 Oregon, the Illinois defense and specifically defensive play-caller Aaron Henry had a choice to make.

The choice was between dropping seven or eight in coverage and putting the Illini second level and secondary in positions to make open-field tackles or playing man coverage and blitzing with multiple players to get negative plays, possibly a turnover or at the very least create a quick decision by Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabirel.

Henry and the Illini defensive players elected to drop into coverage and force the Ducks veteran quarterback to make decisions from the pocket but limit deep throws and try to play a coverage where Oregon’s speed could get negated by effective tackling  - something Illinois did well against Kansas, Nebraska and Michigan.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 30, 2024

Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) operates out of the shotgun formation in Saturday's game at top ranked Oregon. (Courtesy Illinois Athletics)

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The litmus test to the difference of Luke Altmyer from last season to this 2024 campaign can likely be judged in the idea of being able to get a full night’s sleep following the blowout loss Saturday to No. 1 Oregon.

In his first season, Altmyer used to wake up in a cold sweat early in the morning like he was in the middle of a nightmare, stressed out and worrying about his performance on the football field the previous day.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 30, 2024

Illinois got the first of what figures to be several flips from other programs as a result of their on-field success when Logan Farrell changed his commitment from North Carolina to Illinois this week.

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

October 29, 2024

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

In this edition of the Farrell Files Illinois, I’ll take a look at the latest, and most surprising, commitment.