Football

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. 

A 14-play, 83-yard touchdown drive ending with 27 seconds remaining gave Wisconsin its first and only lead of the afternoon as Illinois dropped the Homecoming game 25-21 to the Badgers. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 21, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — The targeting penalty and subsequent ejection of Jer'Zhan Newton with 10 minutes to go Saturday is the moment Illinois head coach Bret Bielema saw enough to know that he has seen enough. 

A 14-play, 83-yard touchdown drive ending with 27 seconds remaining gave Wisconsin its first and only lead of the afternoon as Illinois dropped the Homecoming game 25-21 to the Badgers. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 21, 2023

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois led for 59 minutes and 33 seconds, but a game-winning drive led by Wisconsin redshirt freshman quarterback Braedyn Locke helped the Badgers steal a road victory. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 21, 2023

Saturday on the gridiron, there is an all-important football game taking place at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, at 2:30 p.m. between the Fighting Illini and Wisconsin Badgers.

Seth Coleman had three sacks at Maryland last weekend and can cite the play of the lineman around him for that career-high performance. 

Wisconsin at Illinois

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023: 2:30 p.m. CST, Memorial Stadium, Champaign

Surface: Field Turf

Capacity: 60,670

Records: Illinois 3-4, 1-3 in Big Ten; Wisconsin 4-2, 2-1 in Big Ten

Betting Line: Wisconsin by 3

Series notes: Wisconsin leads the all-time series 44-39-7. Illinois leads 22-19-3 in games located in Champaign. Illinois won 34-10 at Wisconsin last season in which Paul Chryst was fired the following day and current Illinois senior football analyst Jim Leonhard was promoted to the interim head coach. 

TV: FS1; Eric Collins (play-by-play) and Devin Gardner (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 (137/195), SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com.

By Matt Stevens/IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 21, 2023

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN — Similarly to an emergency road sign you’ll see during highway construction, the message to Illinois pass rushers is a four-line commandment: Stay In Your Lane. 

In the 27-24 upset win at Maryland on Saturday, Seth Coleman went from sackless in the 2023 season to a career-high three because his defensive line pals filtered Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa right to his 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame. 

Even without the presence of injured defensive lineman Keith Randolph, Illinois (3-4, 1-3 in Big Ten) was able to constantly move and affect the pocket on Tagovailoa to the tune of 15 quarterback pressures, 11 quarterback hurries and Coleman’s three sacks in 44 total dropbacks. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

October 20, 2023

Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema planned his recruiting schedule perfectly. Back in early September, Illinois hosted several recruits, when it played Penn State, ranked seventh in the county.