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Illinois fans, when the bracket is released on March 15, I want you to remember this Iowa game from Sunday afternoon. Specifically, remember the moment with six minutes left when Carver-Hawkeye Arena was ready to blow the roof off, but Iowa missed a breakaway dunk and then a follow up three to cut the lead […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Seemed more like a matter of when, not if. After numerous weeks of being just left out, the Illini finally found their way into being ranked amongst the very best of the nation. In this week’s AP Top 25 poll, the Illini have clocked in at No. 25. This comes after sitting […]
Illinois dispatched of two more Big Ten foes last week, and it moved up to No. 13 in the AP poll. The Illini were No. 16 in last week’s rankings. Last week, they cruised past Rutgers at home and held off a furious rally Sunday in Iowa City. At 13-3, the Illini are 4-1 in […]
How to Watch Illinois at Northwestern Game Time: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday TV Channel: BTN Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: N/A (Illinois 73.2% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (13-3, 4-1 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Illinois 75, Iowa 69 Gameday Reading: Northwestern Wildcats (8-8, 0-5 Big Ten) Head Coach: […]
This might be the year that Illinois great Nathan Scheelhaase rises the highest rank in his profession: NFL head coach. ESPN and NFL Network reported Sunday that the Browns and Raiders have requested an interview with Scheelhaase for their head coach openings. Scheelhaase is currently the Rams’ pass game coordinator. He joined them in 2024 […]
UNIVERSITY PARK, Penn. — The Illini needed a get-right game desperately, and they got just that Sunday afternoon. After dropping back-to-back games to two ranked programs, Illinois needed a win against a much inferior Penn State team. However, star sophomore Berry Wallace wasn’t going to let the orange and blue leave the Keystone State without […]
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Make that 10 of the last 11 against the Hawkeyes. After losing five straight games to Iowa from 2018-20, Illinois has now won 10 of the last 11 in the series, including five straight, and two in a row on the road in Iowa City. Illinois won its fifth straight game […]
This year’s freshman class in college basketball looks like it is going to be one of the better ones we’ve seen in a long time. Cam Boozer, Darryn Peterson, Caleb Wilson, and others have been among the most impactful players in the nation and are likely to continue their success in the NBA. Quietly emerging […]
How to Watch Illinois at Iowa Game Time: 11 a.m. Sunday TV Channel: Fox Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: N/A (Illinois 57.5% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Illinois 81, Rutgers 55 Gameday Reading: Iowa Hawkeyes (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) Head Coach: […]
Back in the halcyon days of Pardon the Interruption, Michael Wilbon used to refer to Eagles QB Donovan McNabb as Donovan F. McNabb. But Donovan McNabb’s middle name is Jamal. So what does the “F” stand for? It was a nod. From one guy from the south side of Chicago to another. Perhaps it was […]
Zvonimir Ivisic has had a heck of a season for the Illini. Not only has he been arguably the best shot blocker I’ve seen in an Illini uniform, his rebounding and presence inside have been almost as impressive as his shot blocking. Averaging 2.5 blocks per game while only playing 17 minutes per night is […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinutgers never disappoints. Except this time… it may have disappointed. No. 16 Illinois renewed its rivalry with Rutgers on Thursday night at State Farm Center, but Jake Davis and the Illini rolled from start to finish in a 81-55 win over the Scarlet Knights. It’s Illinois’ fourth straight win after a buzzer-beater […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — All the stars were out at the State Farm Center Wednesday night. After a crazy start to the new year, Illinois women’s basketball was back in action against a foe that’s had its number in the past — the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes had beaten the Illini 13 times in a row […]
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood and junior Jake Davis met with the media ahead of the team’s home game against Rutgers on Thursday. A greatly improved Jake Davis There hasn’t been a major second year jump with regard to stats for Jake Davis, but it’s clear that Davis is a much improved player. Known as […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Amidst a busy offseason for Illinois, star defensive back Matthew Bailey announced that he would be returning to Champaign for his senior season. An anchor of the Illini defense, Bailey led the team with 76 tackles a season ago and will look to keep up that high level of production in 2026. […]
Illinois basketball is on its way to a sixth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and should be in prime position to make a deep run in March. The Illini have put together an impressive first 14 games of the season, but there is still work to be done if they want to secure a protected (top […]
In this episode of ‘Oskee Talk’ I highlight the flurry of early transfer portal moves for Illini football, including the departure of kicker David Olano (7:27), the addition of QB Katin Houser (11:17), an impact signing on the offensive line (21:03) and the return of Matthew Bailey (27:22) — plus breaking portal news during the […]
January means the official start of conference play. The Illini are 11-3, for the fourth time in the last five seasons and the third consecutive season. Over the previous four seasons, the January record is 21-11; last season, it was 4-4. The best January in the Underwood era was a 7-0 mark in 2019-20. The […]
Just days after entering the transfer portal, David Olano has his next school. The star Illinois kicker will play next year at Texas A&M, he announced Monday on social media. He has one year of eligibility remaining. Olano, a former three-star recruit out of high school, had blossomed into one of the better kickers in […]
With Illinois only having a win at Penn State that does little to change their resume this week, I thought I would use the introduction to talk about streaks, but not the ones in my toddler’s underwear for a change. While it is far from official at this point, Illinois is well on its way […]
That’s a big boost to the defense. Illinois safety Matthew Bailey announced Monday that he will return for the 2026 season. Bailey, who could have put his name in the NFL Draft, started all 12 games in 2025 but did not play in the Music City Bowl due to injury. He had 76 tackles and […]
He beat Illinois this past season. Now he’s joining the Illini. Illinois received a commitment Monday from center Jake Renfro, who spent the last three seasons with Wisconsin. According to the Badgers’ website, Renfro spent much of this year injured, but he did start all 12 games for Luke Fickell’s squad in 2024. Renfro started […]
Keaton Wagler keeps getting attention. The star freshman was named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week on Monday. It’s Wagler’s second league-wide honor this season. Washington’s Hannes Steinbach was also honored Monday. Wagler has averaged 16.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists over the last two weeks, as the Illini are 3-0. Freshman David Mirkovic […]
It was no secret that the Illini were a heavily senior-laden team, with the starting offensive line and linebackers almost all being seniors, along with a top-20 QB and their best wideout moving on, along with a few key starters and rotational players. Then, when the transfer portal was opened, other players moved on, including […]
How to Watch Illinois vs. Rutgers Game Time: 7:30 p.m. Thursday TV Channel: BTN Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: N/A (Illinois 96.8% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (11-3, 2-1 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Illinois 73, Penn State 65 Gameday Reading: Rutgers Scarlet Knights (7-7, 0-3 Big Ten) […]