Football

Based on his post-game media conference, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema sees things that bother him about the pass protection issues that presented themselves on Saturday in loss to Minnesota.

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 6, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In what was likely a sarcastic but possibly enlightening comment immediately the 25-17 loss to Minnesota, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema believes his team’s final offensive play is a microcosm of the problem that has popped up recently. 

“I think it was a fitting ending for us that our final play ended on a sack fumble on a three-man rush,” Bielema said. “I think that showed exactly what wasn’t in the deck of cards for us.” 

So, let’s first look at this final offensive play because frankly, it’s really not all that complicated to understand.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema was reprimanded, and Illinois was fined $5,000 by the Big Ten Conference for a violation the league’s sportsmanship Policy with “his criticism of officiating” following 25-17 loss to Minnesota.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 5, 2024

ROSEMONT, Ill. — The University of Illinois athletics department has been issued a $5,000 fine by the Big Ten Conference for what conference officials are categorizing is a violation of the league’s sportsmanship policy following Illini head football coach Bret Bielema’s comments directed at league officiating after the Illini’s 25-17 loss to Minnesota last weekend. 

By Steve Sturm - IlliniGuys Football Analyst November 5, […]

Kedric Prince IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 4, 2024

Champaign, IL. — Just minutes after Tywan Cox decommitted from USF and committed to Illinois, three-star offensive lineman JJ Hirdes also had a change of heart, flipping his commitment from Western Michigan to the Illini.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting

November 4, 2024

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Despite suffering a loss to the Minnesota Gophers on Saturday 17-25, the Illinois Fighting Illini received encouraging news today as Tywan Cox, a defensive back from Miami Northwestern, announced his commitment to Illinois. Cox, initially pledged to the University of South Florida (USF), flipped his commitment following an official visit to Champaign.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host Sports Spectacular and Big Sports Radio […]

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys & Big Sports Radio National Football […]

By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst

November 2, 2024

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After he shook the hand of Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck, Bret Bielema made sure to get some final words with head referee Larry Smith and a few other members of Smith’s officiating crew on Saturday.

Following the 25-17 home loss to Minnesota, Bielema left the Memorial Stadium turf fuming about non-calls, calls and what the Illinois fourth-year head coach considered a subpar performance from a Big Ten Conference officiating crew.

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 […]