In 2023, University of Illinois safety Matthew Bailey missed 11 of 12 games due to injury, and took a redshirt season. The Illini football team went 5-7. Here's Illinois' record for the three seasons where he's been fully healthy and playing every game- 2025: 9-4, 2024: 10-3, 2022: 8-5. That says it all right there, in regards to the defensive back's importance and value to … [Read more...] about Exclusive: Star DB Matthew Bailey Talks ’26 Illini Season, Xavier Scott and More
illinois football
Russell Wilson Will Thrive as TV Analyst, Says His Former Coach, Bret Bielema
Illinois Fighting Illini hhead coach Bret Bielema has known legendary NFL quarterback Russell Wilson since way back when; long before he earned 10 Pro Bowl selections and won Super Bowl XLVIII. During a spring football media session, the 56-year-old Silvis, Illinois native recalled Wilson's getting drafted on the same day as Wisconsin's annual intra-squad scrimmage in 2012. … [Read more...] about Russell Wilson Will Thrive as TV Analyst, Says His Former Coach, Bret Bielema
TE Christian Abney: Emerging Illini Football Player to Watch in 2026
It goes without saying that 2026 will be a "changing of the guard" type of season for Illini football. Immediate living legend of a starting quarterback Luke Altmyer, top pass rusher Gabe Jacas, leading receiver Hank Beatty, team captain and free safety supreme Miles Scott are all gone. As is an overwhelming majority of the starters on both lines, and a couple more starters in … [Read more...] about TE Christian Abney: Emerging Illini Football Player to Watch in 2026
Bret Bielema Has an $88,000 Super Bowl Ring
As Super Bowl 60 approaches this Sunday, it's a good time to be reminded of the bodacious bling possessed by Illini Coach Bret Bielema. In addition to the Rose Bowl ring that he earned during his playing days (1990 Iowa Hawkeyes, Big Ten Co-Champions, who lost to Washington 46-34), he also has a ring Super Bowl ring. It's from Super Bowl LIII, when he served as the defensive … [Read more...] about Bret Bielema Has an $88,000 Super Bowl Ring
Music City Bowl, Illinois vs Tennessee: Preview, Opt-Outs, TV Info, FYIs
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
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
#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
#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
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
Hank Beatty Establishes Himself as Illinois #1 Wide Receiver
As we wrote, shortly after the Citrus Bowl win on New Year's Eve 2024, Hank Beatty was poised to become the Illinois Fighting Illini WR1. That prediction came to fruition as Beatty had 100 receiving yards by halftime of the Illini trouncing of Western Illinois last night. Beatty finished with five catches for 108 yards including a career best (tied) 59-yard grab. And while … [Read more...] about Hank Beatty Establishes Himself as Illinois #1 Wide Receiver