
Heat Checks and Hail Marys - Who to Start or Not to Start
Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]
Heat Checks and Hail Marys - Who to Start or Not to Start
Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Ca'Lil Valentine
Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
November 13, 2023
Champaign, Ill–The visitor list for the Indiana Hoosier-Illinois game was thin, but, according to several sources, that is a good thing because most of the recruits the Illini are pursuing will be competing in the state of Illinois playoffs.
COLUMN: Illinois 48, Indiana 45 (OT) - Does Bielema Have An Upcoming No-Lose QB Decision?
As he faces his alma mater next weekend, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema must decide between Luke Altmyer or John Paddock. And he may soon learn either decision has a lot of merit.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
November 12, 2023
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN — In his 11-minute post-game media session, Bret Bielema knew the quarterback question was coming.
The Illinois third-year was asked how he’s going to handle his quarterback room after John Paddock’s record-setting 507-yard passing performance and Luke Altmyer being medically cleared for contact late Friday but too late to make him active against Indiana on Saturday.
Illinois 48, Indiana 45 (OT) - How Illini WR Isaiah Willaims Has Become “A Quarterback’s Dream”
On day where he finishes with 207 all-purpose yards, Illinois wide receiver Isaiah Williams is now second in Illinois history in career receptions with 200.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
November 11, 2023
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN — In early May 2021, Isaiah Williams elected to move to a brand new positional group of wide receiver.
In early November 2023, the same player has now found himself to be second all-time in career receptions in University of Illinois football history. The only more productive pass-catcher in Illini history is College Football Hall of Fame selection and former two-time All-American David Williams.
In the 48-45 overtime victory over Indiana Saturday, Isaiah Williams made it back-to-back weekends with a game-winning touchdown catch. Both game-winning scores, the deep ball at Minnesota and the quick strike in overtime over Indiana, were the product of Williams trusting his new quarterback and his instincts after having started as a quarterback for the first 19 years of his life.
Paddock's Career Day Lifts Illini Over Hoosiers
By IlliniGuys Staff
November 11, 2023
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Walk-on John Paddock threw for a career-high 507 yards and 4 touchdowns in his 1st start as an Illini to engineer a 48-45 OT win over Indiana Saturday afternoon.
IlliniGuys Predictions - Indiana at Illinois
November 11, 2023 Pretty good week based on the […]
Breaking: Altmyer Out, Paddock To Start At QB For Illini
By IlliniGuys Staff November 11, 2023 (Cover photo courtesy […]
Bielema Confident Altmyer Can Start vs. Indiana Without Practice If Given Medical Clearance
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said he would feel fine in the 10th game of this season starting Luke Altmyer against Indiana despite the 21-year-old not being fully active for practice all week.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
November 11, 2023
Indiana at Illinois
Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023: 11 a.m. CST, Memorial Stadium, Champaign
Surface: Field Turf
Capacity: 60,670
Records: Illinois 4-5, 2-4 in Big Ten; Indiana 3-6, 1-5 in Big Ten
Betting Line: Illinois by 7
Series notes: Illinois leads the all-time series 45-25-3. Illinois leads 29-9 in games located in Champaign but have lost the last four in the series. The only time Illini head coach Bret Bielema has ever lost to Indiana was last year’s 23-20 victory for the Hoosiers on Sept. 2.
TV: Big Ten Network; Connor Onion (play-by-play), Matt Millen (color analyst) and Elise Menaker (sideline 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 (138/195), SiriusXM App, and at FightingIllini.com.
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CHAMPAIGN — In the mind of his head coach, by the time the calendar flips to November, Luke Altmyer’s practice time becomes less and less relevant to whether he can start and play in a game.
Big Ten Suspends Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh For Remainder of 2023 Season
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has been suspended by […]
Bret Bielema on Michigan Staff Members Scouting Illini Home Games: ‘It’s sickening, it’s disgusting’
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema views reports of Michigan personnel scouting games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign before their 2022 contest as ‘sickening’ and ‘disgusting’ behavior.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
November 9, 2023
CHAMPAIGN — Illinois head coach Bret Bielema wanted to make it very clear he’s not happy about the idea of University of Michigan football personnel being at Memorial Stadium to scout games.
Former Michigan Football Staffer Connor Stalions Purchased Tickets to Three Illini Home Football Games Since 2021
The former Michigan football staffer at the center of […]
Illinois 27, Minnesota 26 - Illini Film Review - An Oral History & Inside Look at the Paddock-to-Williams Game-Winning TD
IlliniGuys will dissect and get the perspective from multiple people involved before and during the play resulting in the 46-yard game-winning touchdown pass from John Paddock to Isaiah Williams
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
November 8, 2023
CHAMPAIGN — It’s not often that one play is the focus of this piece but it’s also a rarity that the key components of a miraculous game-winning play are so open in detailing the ins and outs of what might be remembered as one of the remarkable endings to a recent football game regarding the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
Ked's Recruiting Roundup - Opposing Teams Trying to Lure Valentine Away from Illini
Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting
November 7, 2023
The Fighting Illini are down to their last running back, although the season started with six on the depth chart. All were injured but true freshman Kaden Feagin; from all indications, the only backfield mate who could join Feagin again this season might be Reggie Love.
Bielema Expects Luke Altmyer “to be involved” in Illini’s Next Game vs. Indiana
While Illinois head coach Bret Bielema wouldn’t confirm if quarterback Luke Altmyer was medically cleared for contact, Bielema was encouraged Altmyer would be active Saturday versus Indiana.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
November 6, 2023
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema has been encouraged by what he’s seen in the progress regarding the health of his starting quarterback.
Luke Altmyer, who has started all of the previous nine games this season for Illinois, has given the football training staff and his head football coach preliminary indications he’ll be active Saturday to make the start against Indiana.
Inside Trey Petty’s Attendance at Ole Miss and MSU Summer Camps While Being Committed to Illinois
Two months after verbally committing to Illinois, Trey Petty and his mother give IlliniGuys.com their perspective to his attendance at Ole Miss and Mississippi State summer football prospect camps.
Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer
October 31, 2023
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Trey Petty knew he was likely to garner attention this past July with his attendance at recruiting events at the University of Mississippi and Mississippi State. And in most instances, the 18-year-old didn’t particularly care too much.