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The annual Braggin’ Rights game between Illinois and Missouri tips off this Monday, giving the Illini a chance to reset after a disappointing showing against Nebraska. Every season, this matchup finds its way to the top of Illinois fans’ calendars. As a recent UIUC graduate, I admit, I do not know the entirety of the […]
Illinois announced Friday that head wrestling coach Mike Poeta was placed on indefinite administrative leave. In a statement, athletic director Josh Whitman said Poeta will “remain away from the program while the University conducts an investigation into potential violations of his employment agreement stemming from possible noncompliance with University fiscal control policies.” The statement did […]
Illinois football heads into earnest bowl prep and an offseason full of uncertainty. After 17 regular-season wins in two years, Illinois could be staring down the barrel of a “step back” season in 2026. The roster is losing star players at the three most important positions on the field: quarterback Luke Altmyer, left tackle JC […]
With the December Big Ten games and most of the non-conference season in the books, it is a good time to re-evaluate preseason expectations and see where Illinois stacks up in the conference. Please note that these are not power rankings (if they were, UCLA and Oregon would be much lower and Nebraska much higher), […]
Illinois and Missouri will face off in the annual Braggin’ Rights game on Monday, Dec. 22. The first meeting between the two programs took place on Dec. 21, 1932, when Illinois defeated Missouri 36-24 inside Brewer Fieldhouse. The Illini won the first four games of the rivalry and currently lead the all-time series 35-20. The […]
How to Watch Braggin’ Rights 2025 (Illinois vs. Missouri) Game Time: 7 p.m. Monday TV Channel: FS1 Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: N/A (Illinois 68% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season) Last Game: Nebraska 83, Illinois 80 Gameday Reading: Missouri Tigers (10-2, 0-0 SEC) […]
Midseason reinforcements are here. Illinois officially announced Tuesday night that Toni Bilic is joining the Illini effective immediately, but he will not play in any games. The 6-foot-8 inch, 210-pound forward/wing from Croatia will participate in practice and “focus on strength training and development,” the program announced in a statement. “Toni is a multi-positional, skilled […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It is an unprecedented time in college football. The college football transfer portal opens up Jan. 2, meaning coaches have to prepare for their biggest games of the season, work on keeping their current players in their building and all while looking at new players to bring onto campus. For Illinois head […]
On Dec. 30, the Illinois Fighting Illini will face the Tennessee Volunteers at Nissan Stadium in Nashville in the Music City Bowl. In the preseason both were thought to compete for the College Football Playoff. Both teams are 8-4 overall. The Illini were 5-4 in the Big Ten, and the Vols were 4-4 in the […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The stage has been set for the Illini’s matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers in this year’s Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl, but up until this weekend, uncertainties remained. Questions had been hovering across message boards and social media alike over who would be suiting up and who would be sitting out for […]
On this episode of “Oskee Talk” Brandt Dolce joins me to recap men’s basketball’s performances against Ohio State (8:56) and Nebraska (12:12), examine Illinois’ most concerning defensive stat (19:50), and discuss Illini fan overreactions (28:21). We scrutinize Brad Underwood’s stubbornness (30:58) and more officiating nonsense (38:29) before previewing next week’s matchup with Mizzou (50:09). We […]
The kid looks good. Keaton Wagler was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Monday. In his first two league games last week, Wagler averaged 21 points and 7.5 assists. He scored a career-high 23 points in the win over Ohio State, and followed that up with a double-double in the three-point loss to […]
Illinois may never stop adding Balkan-born players to their roster. Jonathan Givony is reporting that Illinois has earned a commitment from Croatian forward Toni Bilic. The 6’9, 20-year-old is arriving during the semester break and is eligible to play immediately. Bilic was a member of Croatia’s FIBA U18 team in 2023 and was a part […]
Illinois may never stop adding Balkan-born players to their roster. Jonathan Givony is reporting that Illinois has earned a commitment from Croatian forward Toni Bilic. The 6’9, 20-year-old is arriving during the semester break and is eligible to play immediately. Bilic was a member of Croatia’s FIBA U18 team in 2023 and was a part […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A lot of emotions from both head coaches, good shooting, and a fourth quarter run weren’t enough for the Mean Green in Champaign on Sunday. Behind Berry Wallace’s 28 points, Illinois continued its hot stretch to start the season with a 81-69 win over North Texas at State Farm Center. “It’s a […]
Former Illinois football head coach Mike White died Sunday at age 89, according to the program. White coached the Illini from 1980-87, leading them to a 47-41-3 record. He led Illinois to three bowl games, including the 1984 Rose Bowl. The Illini won the Big Ten title in 1983, becoming the only team ever to […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After a red-hot start to the season, sophomore Berry Wallace has had a slower start than expected in December. However, many at the Ubben basketball center weren’t worried that Wallace wouldn’t find her shot. On Wednesday, head coach Shauna Green had some blunt words about it. “I have no concerns about Barry […]
We all know at this point that it was disappointing how Illinois lost to Nebraska on Saturday at the buzzer. But Brad Underwood went viral after the loss when he explained why he sent freshman David Mirkovic to the bench. “David was in Serbia today,” Underwood said. “He wasn’t in this building… I couldn’t play […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Against an unbeaten Nebraska team built on experience, the Illini couldn’t quite complete the comeback in their first Big Ten test at State Farm Center. No. 13 Illinois dropped its first home game of the season Saturday, falling to No. 23 Nebraska 83-80 as the Cornhuskers stay unbeaten at 11-0. Despite a […]
CHAMPAIGN Ill. —The Illinois women’s basketball team is coming off a strong 70-62 wire-to-wire win over Missouri on Wednesday, and are now 9-1 through their first ten games of the season. This is their best start to a season since 1981-82 and a real testament to what head coach Shauna Green has done to the […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Fresh off its best start since 1981-82, Illinois women’s basketball (9-1) is looking to stay hot. The Orange and Blue have two more non-conference games left on the slate, and then it’s going to start to get real come New Year’s. But the increase in competition doesn’t seem to be a factor […]
Luke Altmyer will finish his college career as Illinois looks for back-to-back nine-plus win seasons. The Illini QB announced Friday afternoon he will be active for the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 vs. Tennessee in Nashville. Altmyer famously returned to Illinois for his senior season, despite the overtures of big money from big-name SEC […]
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois star senior outside linebacker Gabe Jacas will not be playing in the Music City Bowl, ending his college football career. In a personal statement, he stated that he will be opting out of the bowl game. A four-year player for the Illini, Jacas tallied 27 sacks, seven forced fumbles and 184 […]
The Illini may have eased some worries with their play this past week. After a disappointing performance in Madison Square Garden on Black Friday, there was good reason for some concern surrounding this Illini team. The UCONN Huskies were in control the entire game, and the Illini offense looked stagnant at times. It even began […]
It is official: Illinois accepted an invitation to the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Dec. 30 at Nissan Stadium. The opponent will be the Tennessee Volunteers out of the SEC. This will be the first time the Illini and the Vols have met on the gridiron, and the Illini’s first time in the Music […]