Taking on Tennessee in the Music City Bowl, the Illinois Fighting Illini will face a SEC team in their bowl game for the third straight time. Because after all, "It Just Means More." They split the last two, beating South Carolina last year in the Citrus and losing to Mississippi State in the Reliaquest in 2023 (2022 season), so we'll see what happens in the rubber match … [Read more...] about Music City Bowl, Illinois vs Tennessee: Preview, Opt-Outs, TV Info, FYIs
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#12 Illini Football vs Western Illinois Leathernecks Game Preview
It is the most anticipated Illinois Fighting Illini football season in a generation, and it begins Friday, at home, against FCS opponent Western Illinois. The wait is finally nearing an end! Last year, this Illini football team doubled their win total (from 5 in 2023 to 10 in 2024) from over the previous season. So how did they do it? … [Read more...] about #12 Illini Football vs Western Illinois Leathernecks Game Preview
First 2025 Illini Football Bowl Game Projections Have Been Released
Yesterday marked the final Saturday without college football in 2025. Yes, week zero, and thus the new season is indeed almost here! We'll get to enjoy the sport on every Saturday from here on out until mid-January. And with the new campaign so close that you can sense it, the time is now to talk bowl projections and season win total futures. The outlook is bullish, on both … [Read more...] about First 2025 Illini Football Bowl Game Projections Have Been Released
#12 Illini Almost Absent in ESPN College Football Playoff Predictions
The Illinois Fighting Illini are ranked #12 in both the AP and USA Today preseason polls. There are 12 slots in the 2025 College Football Playoff. Thus, it's not a reach, stretch or hot take to predict the Illini to make the CFP this season. Tell that to ESPN, who released their playoff pundit prediction panel yesterday, and Illinois was barely represented. … [Read more...] about #12 Illini Almost Absent in ESPN College Football Playoff Predictions
Illini Football: Front Seven, Led by Gabe Jacas, Key to 2025 Success
Last year saw the Illinois Fighting Illini football team have their best season since the 10-2 Big Ten title, Champaign campaign of 2001. And a big part of that was due to the defensive front seven. While yes, it was an overall team effort, across the board, the defensive line and linebackers position group was critical. With the Illini returning a very high percentage of their … [Read more...] about Illini Football: Front Seven, Led by Gabe Jacas, Key to 2025 Success
Illinois Football Enters Season with Highest Expectations in a Generation
The annual spring and summer sports lull is about to end! Yes, the "we have no revenue college sports going on at the moment" dead zone of the calendar concludes...now. The Illinois football team began their training camp on Friday at Memorial Stadium, with Illinois football coach Bret Bielema holding a press conference on Thursday to preview fall practice. And the current … [Read more...] about Illinois Football Enters Season with Highest Expectations in a Generation
Illini Return 16/22 Starters, Look Very Strong in 2025
Is 2025 going to be the year that the Illinois Fighting Illini football program finally starts stacking winning seasons? It certainly looks that way on paper. And while there was obvious cause for optimism in 2000, 2002, 2008 and 2023 (four seasons that followed major program breakthroughs), it just didn't work out that way, and all four of those years were mere five-in … [Read more...] about Illini Return 16/22 Starters, Look Very Strong in 2025
Kaden Feagin Has Highest 2026 NFL Draft Stock of Any Illini
With the 2025 NFL Draft now behind us, it's already time to start looking ahead to the 2026 class. And given that the Illinois Fighting Illini will be a preseason top 15, maybe even top 12, kind of team, future NFL talent abounds. It's very early, and obviously a lot is going to change, but right now, tailback Kaden Feagin leads the way when it comes to Illini with NFL Draft … [Read more...] about Kaden Feagin Has Highest 2026 NFL Draft Stock of Any Illini