Football

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 18, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

As I write this, Illinois Football is basking in the glow if it's #18 ranking in the nation and is looking at a week off to get healthy before heading to Nebraska to take on the Cornhuskers in two weeks.   I have to be honest here, I am enjoying writing these trench reports more and more as the Illini football program gets rolling because as I re-watch the game and take it apart piece by piece every week I get more and more encouraged by what I'm seeing.  The Illini coaching staff and players are really growing together right now and it certainly shows on the field.

Tommy DeVito showed another side to himself that was already evident from his time at Syracuse but seen first-hand on Saturday: toughness. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 17, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois got an injection of New Jersey tough on Saturday before quarterback Tommy DeVito got a long introduction to the training room inside the Smith Football Center. When the Illini quarterback arrived at the Smith Center on the morning of Oct. 9, just hours after being knocked out of the 9-6 win over Iowa, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema knew his player was serious about his treatment schedule - and maybe nothing else. 

“So, Tommy rolls up on Sunday and he’s got a black fleece robe, a pair of eye shades on up on forehead, a slipper on one foot and a boot on the other and a bag of (McDonald’s) and I told him that you look like a guy right out of ‘The Breakfast Club’, right out of the movie,” Bielema said Saturday. “Of course, he didn’t have any idea what that movie was.” 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

October 17, 2022

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

Following a surprising 6-1 start to the 2022 season, Illini football has newfound swagger on the recruiting trail.

Illinois ranked in both the Associated Press Top 25 […]

Mike Cagley, Co-Host of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular October […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and certain star players are already campaigning for Chase Brown’s Heisman Trophy candidacy.  

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 15, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Bret Bielema holds a marketing degree from the University of Iowa and is already trying to use those skills to increase the national viability of his star tailback into the Heisman Trophy discussion. 

Following Illinois’ 26-14 victory over Minnesota, Bielema said he’s already been in contact with national writers, Heisman voters and national commentators with influence about the nation’s leading rusher.
“I get it,” Bielema said Saturday. “There’s a lot of preseason rankings where players and teams had a lot of hype before the season but I reached out to as many contacts as I had about how special this young man is.” 

October 15, 2022 The Illini defense held Iowa to […]

Despite suffering a severe ankle injury last week vs. […]

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff

October 15, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

Anyone with the basic ability to search the internet knows about the recent history of Illinois football.  And to that end, Bret Bielema knew what he was inheriting when he said 'yes' to athletic director Josh Whitman in December 2020.

The glory days of Illini football were so long ago, many of the students on campus then are now grandparents.  In fact, in 1989 - when John Mackovic was leading the Illini to a 10-win season - Bielema himself was a teenaged Iowa defensive lineman proudly getting a Hawkeye tattoo.

The point is...it's been a while. I predicted last year that on our IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular syndicated radio show that Illinois might build a statue of Bielema if he puts together back-to-back eight-win seasons and I was only half kidding.  His tattoo has probably aged better than Illinois football, which has seen only one 10-win campaign in the three decades since Mackovic skipped town.

By Zain Bando - IlliniGuys Student Correspondent

October 14, 2022

CHAMPAIGN — No. 24 Illinois (5-1, 2-1 B1G) is in a spot it has not been in since 2011 — ranked nationally. After a rocky start that included a crushing loss to Indiana, the Illini rebounded in a big way on both sides of the ball. On offense, running back Chase Brown has continued to rack up big yardage, as he is during a seven-game surge of at least 100 yards per game. Against Iowa, despite Illinois not scoring a touchdown, Brown managed to get 146 yards on 31 carries and helped the offense control clock in the process. The Illini won the game 9-6, sealing the win with a Matthew Bailey interception on Iowa’s final drive. Illinois remains the only FBS program to not allow a touchdown at home.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema sounding optimistic Williams, starting cornerback Tahveon Nicholson and starting linebacker Isaac Darkangelo will play Saturday vs. Minnesota

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

October 14, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Ron Johnson/USA Today Sports)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is sounding much more optimistic about getting key starters back for the game against Minnesota this weekend.

In his final local media obligation before the kickoff against the Gophers (4-1, 1-1 in Big Ten Conference) on Saturday morning (11 a.m., BTN), Bielema expressed more than hopeful language toward the playing status of three projected starters who left the 9-6 victory over Iowa last weekend with various injuries. The Illini second-year head coach said wide receiver Isaiah Williams (concussion), cornerback Taz Nicholson (concussion) and linebacker Isaac Darkangelo (lower body) are all expected to play.

By Zain Bando - IlliniGuys Student Correspondent

October 14, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

It was less than a year ago that Illini football remained deep into the abyss of the college football landscape. A team who struggled to secure wins, keep talent, and maintain a level of consistency that would make a passionate Illini fanbase proud.

As I type this, the date is October 14, 2022, the eve of the Illini’s biggest homecoming game in recent memory. At 5-1 (2-1 B1G) and ranked No. 24 in the nation, the Orange and Blue are on the verge of clinching its first bowl berth since 2019 and moving one step closer to a potential date with destiny in Indianapolis come December.

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

October 14, 2022

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

Talk about a big game for the Illini as they host Minnesota this weekend in a game that could determine the Big Ten West race. And there will be plenty of interesting recruits on hand taking in the action.

Illini Head Football Coach Bret Bielema updates reporters prior […]

By Kedric Prince - IlliniGuys.com Director of Recruiting

Oct. 13, 2022

Among the high school recruits on campus for the Iowa game was 2025 athlete Andre Lovett. The Blue Island, Illinois, 6-foot-2, 170-pound prospect was honored to be there.