Football

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

November 28, 2022

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

The regular season is in the books with a surprise 8-4 record but also some disappointment at losing the Big Ten West when it was theirs to have.

Mike Cagley, Co-Host IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular Cover photo courtesy […]

Before the death of his father-in-law, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema verbally laid into his players Tuesday causing a mental reshift and leading into a 41-3 win at Northwestern.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 26, 2022

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Bret Bielema said he felt his Illinois football team would play “extremely pissed off this week” and it turns out the Illini head coach was the cause for some of that anger. 

By IlliniGuys Staff

November 26, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)

EVANSTON, Ill. - Sydney Brown forced three turnovers and scored two defensive touchdowns as Illinois forced six turnovers in all to snap a three-game slide with a 41-3 demolition of rival Northwestern Saturday afternoon.

The win kept the Illini (8-4, 5-4 in Big Ten) in play for the conference's West Division title and a shot at a Big Ten Championship game berth next Saturday in Indianapolis for the moment, but a short time later Purdue rallied from a 7-3 deficit to post a 31-10 win at Indiana to clinch the West and head to Indy to face East Division champion and 3rd ranked Michigan.  The eight wins represents Illinois' most successful season since 2007, when they won 9 games en route to a Rose Bowl appearance.

By Larry Smith - IlliniGuys Staff

November 26, 2022

(Cover photo courtesy David Craan/Illinois Athletics)

Remember that moment when Illinois found itself among the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time ever?  The pride within the program.  The euphoria among fans.  The giddy speculation by the media.  

It was a glorious time in the annals of Illini football.  It was a moment that happened...just 25 days ago.

November 26, 2022 The Illini's losing streak moved up […]

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

November 25, 2022

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

The Northwestern rivalry game was supposed to be a final stamp on the Big Ten West title.

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting November 24, 2022 […]

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 24, 2022

The Illini under Coach Brett Bielema have had two themes in their recruiting so far:  offensive linemen and home-state players.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 24, 2022

I'm sure all of Illini Nation is smarting after letting a win slip away on Saturday in the big house. 

Kedric Prince, IlliniGuys Director of Recruiting 

November 23, 2022

Illinois has done very well recruiting the country to fill its roster.

Illinois had its spirits dashed in the worst way Saturday, as the Orange and Blue fell in the final seconds on a game-winning field goal by Jake Moody, losing 19-17 to No. 3 Michigan and keeping the Wolverines’ Big Ten title hopes alive ahead of a colossal tilt with No. 2 Ohio State Thanksgiving weekend.

For about 45 minutes of game time, the reality of an Illini upset looked entirely possible. Once again, Illinois showed why its defensive unit continues to remain one of the best in the country, only holding the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines to one touchdown the entire game.

The team didn’t quit under pressure and fought until the last snap. Trailing 7-3 at halftime, the Illini made some adjustments to get the offense moving in the right direction. The score eventually became 10-10 midway through the third quarter, and along with it came several defensive stops, including TFLs from Devon Witherspoon and Sydney Brown, among others.

Of course, though, the Illini did what it does best. Chase Brown, the nation’s leading rusher, carried the team on his back, accounting for two scores and 140 rushing yards. Both touchdowns put Illinois in a position to win the game until, suddenly, disaster struck. With the Illini to a one-point lead, 17-16, and a minute left, a fourth down miscue by the referees led to an illegal pick play that extended Michigan’s drive, on top of a phantom catch that helped increase the Wolverine’s field position to make the winning field goal attempt that much easier.

Bret Bielema was visibly frustrated upon the game’s conclusion, giving an earful to the officials, and letting his presence be known that his team, whether the Big Ten likes it or not, was robbed of a top-five win in program history.

Now, Illinois will have to look past Saturday’s anguish and try to maintain the Land of Lincoln trophy for the second-straight year. Although Illinois has teetered to a 7-4 record (4-4 B1G), it still has an outside shot to win the Big Ten West if the following things happen Nov. 25 and 26 – Nebraska beats Iowa, Illinois beats Northwestern and Indiana beats Purdue. That would give Illinois the tiebreaker, given its home loss to the Boilermakers just two short weeks ago.

A win in Evanston on Saturday will give the Illini their best regular season finish since 2007, which was the last time the Orange and Blue reached the Rose Bowl.

Steve Sturm, IlliniGuys Football Analyst

November 23, 2022

Do you like having Julian Pearl on the team?  I sure do. 

Mike Farrell, IlliniGuys National Football Recruiting Expert

November 23, 2022

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

The Illini have a start on the 2024 class which is where I believe they will see the true benefits of a surprising season.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema decided it was no longer productive to talk with or submit plays to the Big Ten Conference director of officiating Bill Carollo.

Matt Stevens, IlliniGuys Staff Writer

November 22, 2022

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- While also having a lot of personal items on his calendar this weekend, Bret Bielema has decided to stop his dialogue with the Big Ten Conference office about on-field officiating.