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Illinois made its first splash in the transfer portal Sunday night when East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser signed with the Illini. Here’s the best online reactions to the signing: And of course…
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illini have officially landed transfer quarterback Katin Houser, who announced his commitment on Sunday night. ESPN first reported the news. Illinois then announced it on its own profile minutes later, saying Houser has signed. Houser spent the last two seasons with East Carolina University, competing in the American Athletic Conference, and […]
EAST LANSING, Mich. — A tough ranked matchup in hostile territory. Following a huge ranked win against No. 7 Maryland just three days ago, Illinois traveled to East Lansing in an evenly expected matchup Sunday morning, taking on No. 24 Michigan State. Illinois was looking to get back-to-back ranked Big Ten wins, but the test […]
It’s rare to find a group as maligned in a 9-4 season as the 2025 Fighting Illini defense. More specifically, Aaron Henry has been tarred and feathered in the media for the defense’s lack of performance. Bret Bielema’s squad gave up 345 yards per game and notched a total of six interceptions on the season. […]
ECU transfer QB Katin Hauser will soon be visiting Illinois as an option for his final year of collegiate eligibility, according to 247. The 6-foot-3 Orange County native played for St. John Bosco and began his career playing for Mel Tucker at Michigan State. Prospect Pedigree Houser picked Michigan State over 13 other offers. His […]
PHILADELPHIA — Keaton Wagler is indispensable to Illinois. Against the best of the best, they can’t survive without him. He’s the type of player who can melt into a game. The kind that provides a 10-0 spark with his elegant movement on the court, high basketball IQ, elite shooting ability, and an ideal positional length […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illini don’t need to be perfect to be elite, they just need discipline. They need to be violent where it counts. And that’s the stuff that doesn’t always make the highlight reel, but will exhaust teams and help win you games: offensive rebounds, tipped balls, second efforts, blocks that turn into […]
Happy Portal Szn to those who celebrate. My favorite part of the season is the offseason. And the hot stove is already lit. On Nov. 4, 2023, the Illini played the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Starting QB Luke Altmyer got off to a blazing hot start. He completed 18 of his first 22 passes. As the […]
Littyville is out… Again. ESPN reported Thursday that Illinois assistant head coach Thad Ward is leaving Champaign and heading back to Kansas State to be an associate head coach and receivers coach. Ward was previously the Wildcats’ wide receivers coach in 2022. Ward has had two stints with the Illini, first with Lovie Smith from […]
CHAMPAIGN Ill.— Absolute statement win at home. Illinois beat No. 7 Maryland 73-70 on New Year’s Day at State Farm Center, marking the Illini’s first win over a top-10 team since 2014. “This is our biggest win in terms of our time here,” said head coach Shauna Green. This was Maryland’s first loss of the […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Star Illinois kicker David Olano has officially announced on social media that he will be entering the transfer portal with one year of eligibility. Olano, a former three-star recruit out of high school, has blossomed into one of the better kickers in the country during his three years with the Illini. The […]
The Illini closed out 2025 in historic fashion, when Illinois knocked off Tennessee on Tuesday night in the Music City Bowl in Nashville, 30-28. Trading blows in the first half Tennessee opened the scoring on its opening drive after Illinois’ first possession ended in a turnover on downs (failing to convert on 4th and-7). On […]
On this episode of “Oskee Talk” TCR’s Pleas Honeywood & Donald Glenn join me to revisit Tuesday’s thrilling Music City Bowl win versus Tennessee. We also discuss the legacies of Luke Altmyer & Bret Bielema and briefly look towards the 2026 season. Click HERE to listen! Join the conversation! Comment below and make sure to subscribe […]
Illinois beat Southern on Monday night to cruise to its 10th win of the season. The Illini finished 2025 on a high note and officially wrapped up their challenging non-conference schedule. Illinois is tied for the most wins entering the new year under head coach Brad Underwood with 10 and a program record three Quad […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — With 4:58 left in the fourth quarter, Tennessee’s Joakim Dodson muffed a kickoff, and for at least a brief moment, the thought of a game-sealing recovery by Illinois swirled in all of Nissan Stadium’s minds. A thrilling victory, free of headspinning drama to secure Illinois’ second-straight bowl win. That brief illusion quickly […]
NASHVILLE — After winning the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl in heart-racing fashion, the Illini secured their ninth win of the 2025 campaign, solidifying the first back-to-back nine-win seasons in program history. This is a big-time milestone for head coach Bret Bielema, who’s now won 37 games in his first five seasons at Illinois, as […]
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It all came down to one play. One kick. And when the Illini needed it most, they looked to their ace — All-Big Ten kicker, David Olano. With the mix of Tennessee Orange and Illinois Blue lining Nissan Stadium and the fans screaming as loud as they can, Olano drilled a 29-yard […]
NASHVILLE — The Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl was originally predicted to be a battle between two offensive juggernauts. In reality, Illinois’ defense had one of the most highlight-worthy plays of the game early in the third quarter. It all started with a strip sack from sophomore linebacker Joe Barna at around the Tennessee 15-yard […]
How to Watch Illinois at Penn State (at The Palestra, Philadelphia) Game Time: 6 p.m. Saturday TV Channel: BTN Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: N/A (Illinois 88.6% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (10-3, 1-1 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Illinois 90, Southern 55 Gameday Reading: Penn State Nittany […]
With non-conference season wrapping up on Tuesday, it is time to get our first glance at how the bracket is shaping up. For Illinois, wins already banked against Texas Tech, Tennessee, and at Ohio State give them three Quad 1 wins and have the Illini well on their way to another tourney appearance. What Underwood […]
Rochester, Illinois, is a small town just Southeast of Springfield in Sangamon County. Its population is 3,863. It is the epitome of small-town America. It is also the hometown of Hany Beatty, the Fighting Illini’s star senior wideout. Beatty has turned four years of hard work and dedication into a career of triumph at Illinois […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois’ 2025-26 non-conference slate has officially come to a close. The Illini took care of business on Monday afternoon at the State Farm Center beating Southern 90-55. This win improved Illinois’ non-conference record to 9-2, which is impressive considering the quality schedule Brad Underwood’s squad faced. A very balanced scoring effort helped […]
It was quite the eventful week for Illinois’ Ben Humrichous. On Monday, he helped Illinois to a record-setting win over Missouri in the annual Braggin’ Rights game. On Tuesday, he married former Illini women’s basketball player Adalia McKenzie. “It was beautiful. A ton of fun. Adalia looked beatiful. It was awesome,” Humrichous said Sunday ahead […]
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A statement made in hostile territory. Illinois walked into one of the Big Ten’s toughest road environments on Sunday morning and walked out with a signature conference victory. Behind timely shot-making, toughness on the glass and poise down the stretch, the Illini knocked off Purdue 83-73 at Mackey Arena to move […]
Illinois men’s basketball legend Dave Downey has died at age 84. The program announced Downey’s death in a statement on Sunday morning. Downey led the Illini in scoring and rebounding from 1961-63 and was named team MVP each season. He was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 1963 and led the Illini to a Big Ten […]