Football

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst

October 3, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics) 

As I type this the news is coming out that Wisconsin has fired head coach Paul Chryst after Illinois took his Badger team to the woodshed on Saturday.  While that seems like a rash move to me considering that Chryst was 9-4 last year and is 67-26 and 43-18 in the Big Ten in his 7 1/2 years in Madison, I have to say that as I'm re-watching the game all I can see are examples of Illinois looking like the better-coached team.  Illinois is not more talented than Wisconsin, but they outworked and out-executed Wisconsin on Saturday and the difference between the two teams was especially stark in the second half as Wisconsin looked defeated in all three phases.  Now to this game:

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

October 3, 2022

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

There are lots of big happenings with Illinois and Wisconsin in the span of 48 hours.

Three Associated Press Top 25 pollsters voted Illinois on their ballots for this week. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 2, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- For the first time since 2019, voters have put the name ‘Illinois’ on their weekly submitted Associated Press Top 25 ballots. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 2, 2022

MADISON, Wis. --- Paul Chryst has been terminated in the middle of his eighth season as head football coach at the University of Wisconsin. 

Mike Cagley, IlliniGuy Cover photo courtesy of Steve Apps […]

Illinois tailback Chase Brown is suddenly in the conversation for awards and honors that no Illini running back has seen in decades. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

Cover Photo: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

October 1, 2022

MADISON, Wis. --- Chase Brown just isn’t ready to give up that title of nation’s leading rusher. 

Illinois may be ready to make a play for […]

October 1, 2022 The Illini looked magnificent against the […]

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema admits to having a different mentality as a football coach and a person as he returns to Camp Randall Stadium for the first time in a decade. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

October 1, 2022

Game Preview: Illinois at Wisconsin

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and his staff continue to monitor the path of Hurricane Ian for the families of several of the program’s roster players and recruits. 

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

September 30, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- For the third straight game this season, Josh McCray will not be on the Illinois active roster. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

September 30, 2022

(Mike Farrell also has his own website: https://mikefarrellsports.com/)
Dezmond Schuster courtesy player Twitter page.

Not a ton new going on with Illini recruiting

For the first time since 2010, Illinois has the Big Ten’s leading rusher as Chase Brown leads the country with 151 rushing yards per game. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 29, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Pat Pierson/Illinois Athletics

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Despite it being listed as an individual statistic, Illinois is considering the fact that Chase Brown is currently the nation’s leading rusher as a team ordeal. 

For the first time in a decade, the Illini program has one of the nation’s best running back numbers in terms of Brown’s yards (604) and yards per game (151). And when he was reminded of this idea following a 31-0 win over Chattanooga last Thursday night, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema was less than surprised. 

Illini football head coach Bret Bielema confirms that sophomore […]

Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant has quickly presented himself as Tommy DeVito’s most-trusted medium and deep route threat in this new Illini offense. 

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

September 28, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- When Tommy DeVito arrived at Illinois, he quickly learned that he wasn’t going to get jersey number 13 - the only jersey number he’s had in his football career.

So, instead of wearing 13, the new Illinois quarterback made a decision that number would be involved in the offense in the form of sophomore wide receiver Patrick Bryant. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

September 28, 2022

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

Another win in the books for Illinois football and while Chattanooga isn’t exactly a world beater, being 3-1 heading into a crucial stretch in the schedule is good.