Another Illinois basketball season begins on Sunday with a preseason scrimmage against Illinois State. One guy who almost certainly won't feature is Andrej Stojakovic, a former McDonald’s All-American and son of three-time NBA All-Star Peja Stojakovic. He is reportedly injured right now, and it's doubtful that reports will emerge between now and the weekend that he will be … [Read more...] about Projected Illinois Basketball 2025-26 Depth Chart
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illini Football Gets Harsh Reality Check Against #1 Ohio State
Saturday saw Memorial Stadium, at the University of Illinois, with an atmosphere much more electric than usual. It's extremely rare to see the stadium as full (and as orange) as it was for an 11 am kickoff. Of course, this is what happens when the Illinois Fighting Illini are ranked #17 in the nation, and playing the nation's #1 team, who also happen to be the reigning … [Read more...] about Illini Football Gets Harsh Reality Check Against #1 Ohio State
#1 Ohio St. Buckeyes at #17 Illinois Fighting Illini Preview, Prediction, TV Info
The #1 Ohio State Buckeyes and #17 Illinois Fighting Illini will be getting together at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, for the first time since 2017. OSU has won every game in this series since 2007, a monumental chapter in Illini football history which marked the last time that Illinois beat a team ranked #1. Illinois is 3-13 all-time against #1-ranked teams, also winning … [Read more...] about #1 Ohio St. Buckeyes at #17 Illinois Fighting Illini Preview, Prediction, TV Info
How Bret Bielema Could Someday Become the Icon of Illini Football
Bret Bielema showed it again today- he just knows how to get his team to respond. He knows how to motivate his team, after a demoralizing defeat, to come out and make a response. #24 Illinois pulled off a 6.5 point upset on Saturday, over #21 USC, by winning 34-32 on a last second field goal. … [Read more...] about How Bret Bielema Could Someday Become the Icon of Illini Football
USC Trojans QB, WRs a Big Challenge for Banged Up Illini Secondary
USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava is the nation’s highest rated passer. He’s also currently sixth in passing yards and second in yards-per-attempt. He leads an attack that is third nationally in total offense and fifth in scoring. USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon is fourth nationally in receiving yards, and Illinois must find a way to make him into lemonade on … [Read more...] about USC Trojans QB, WRs a Big Challenge for Banged Up Illini Secondary
#21 USC Trojans at #23 Illinois Fighting Illini Preview, Prediction
Illinois is one of several schools that claim to have "invented" the homecoming tradition. Nothing says autumn like a homecoming or "HoCo" as the kids call it these days, football game. The #23 Illini will welcome in the #21 USC Trojans for the homecoming clash, one that totally changed in complexion last weekend. … [Read more...] about #21 USC Trojans at #23 Illinois Fighting Illini Preview, Prediction
Deron Williams Waiting for Brad Underwood, Illini to get over March Madness Hump
In the Illini nation, the opinion of Deron Williams will always hold sway. The greatest NBA player in Illini basketball history, or at least for the modern era, he is what you would call "a club legend." So his public endorsement of current Illini basketball head coach Brad Underwood matters, a lot. … [Read more...] about Deron Williams Waiting for Brad Underwood, Illini to get over March Madness Hump
#8 Illinois Fighting Illini at #17 Indiana Hoosiers Game Preview, Prediction
The Indiana Hoosiers versus the Illinois Fighting Illini, wow, what a great men's basketball game this will be! Oh wait, hold on, this is actually football! What a time to be alive! Illinois and Indiana are playing a football game where they both have numbers next to their names. I'm old enough to remember a time where not every single college football game was televised, and … [Read more...] about #8 Illinois Fighting Illini at #17 Indiana Hoosiers Game Preview, Prediction
Mihailo Petrovic ‘big piece of the puzzle,’ says Brad Underwood
It took awhile, but Illinois Fighting Illini point guard Mihailo Petrovic is on campus. He arrived from Prokuplje, Serbia to Champaign, IL on August 25th, and once the season gets started, we'll see why he's worth the wait. "I felt pretty good because there were some things that just took time, and time was the only cure for it," Illini basketball coach Brad Underwood said … [Read more...] about Mihailo Petrovic ‘big piece of the puzzle,’ says Brad Underwood
Illini Football Hasn’t Been This Good in a Quarter-Century
Yesterday saw the Illini get their first non-conference road win over a power four conference team since 2007 (Syracuse 41-20). While they entered as favorites by a slim margin (-2.5) at Duke, they won by a resounding 26 point margin (45-19). As such, they moved up two spots to #9 in the AP poll, which marks the program's highest ranking since December of 2001. It's worth … [Read more...] about Illini Football Hasn’t Been This Good in a Quarter-Century