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Illini Football News and Notes: Josh McCray, Recruiting Rankings

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It has been a very eventful off-season for the Illini football program. In 2025, they'll return 18/22 starters from a team that went 10-3, won the Citrus Bowl and finished #16 (one spot ahead of Alabama) in the final AP poll. Obviously, the outlook for this team is very positive, as it should be, as spring football nears its conclusion. Lots of Illini football news and notes … [Read more...] about Illini Football News and Notes: Josh McCray, Recruiting Rankings

Illinois Football Has Five National Championships (Flashback Friday)

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Since we're talking about Illinois football playoff possibilities this upcoming season, and thus, dreaming of bigger things, let's do a Flashback Friday to the program's five national titles. Yes, Illinois football has five, count 'em five national titles on their program CV. Of course, these were all in the days long before the polls, like the Harris interactive, UPI, BCS … [Read more...] about Illinois Football Has Five National Championships (Flashback Friday)

Bret Bielema Has an $88,000 Super Bowl Ring

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As Super Bowl 59 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

Illini Return 18/22 Starters, Look Very Strong in 2025

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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 18/22 Starters, Look Very Strong in 2025

Hank Beatty Could Become the Illini WR1 Next Season

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One of the biggest benefits of bowl games is that they provide a glimpse into what is to come the next season. With every bowl game opt-out, a new opportunity is presented for someone else to step in and fill that void. And most of the time it's somebody who will then take on a greater role within the team during the next season. Illinois wide receiver Hank Beatty is a … [Read more...] about Hank Beatty Could Become the Illini WR1 Next Season

Illini Citrus Bowl Win Broke Program Barriers, Set New Milestones

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Believe it or not, the Citrus Bowl includes a college football game- it's not just an infomercial for cheese-flavored crackers. It was one hell of a ballgame too as the #20 Illinois Fighting Illini came in as 10 pt. underdogs and upset #15 South Carolina 21-17, marking the school's first ever win over a SEC team! It was also the first win for the Illini in a traditionally … [Read more...] about Illini Citrus Bowl Win Broke Program Barriers, Set New Milestones

2024 Illini Football vs the 2022 Team: Who’s Better and Why

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It is quite common, within the world of sports, to feel that the status quo will never change for the better. Until one day it finally does, and then that one long-awaited breakthrough leads to a new standard, and with that, a new ceiling. You saw that with the 2022 Illini football team, which was Bret Bielema's second year in charge of the program. That team laid the … [Read more...] about 2024 Illini Football vs the 2022 Team: Who’s Better and Why

#20 Illinois Fighting Illini vs #15 South Carolina Gamecocks: Citrus Bowl Preview

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When the 2024 Citrus Bowl, featuring the #15 South Carolina Gamecocks vs the #20 Illinois Fighting Illini kicks off on Tuesday, it will be a bowl game where both sides will be near full strength. Lots of stars in both offensive backfields will be taking part, as this is a game with very few major opt-outs. Although it is worth noting that both sides will be without their … [Read more...] about #20 Illinois Fighting Illini vs #15 South Carolina Gamecocks: Citrus Bowl Preview

Citrus Bowl Opt-Outs: Illinois vs South Carolina

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In looking at the list of opt-outs for the 2024 Citrus Bowl, or any bowl game for that matter, one has to remember Christian McCaffery. For better or worse, the San Francisco 49ers star running back is considered the Godfather of the bowl game opt-out. He's the O.G. the who started it all. McCaffery skipped the 2016 Sun Bowl, where his Stanford side beat North Carolina … [Read more...] about Citrus Bowl Opt-Outs: Illinois vs South Carolina

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