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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — 2026 offensive tackle Micah Smith has announced that he will be flipping his commitment from UCLA to Illinois. The No. 81 recruit in the 2026 class, according to ESPN, will be the highest-rated recruit in Bret Bielema’s tenure as the Illini head coach, and high-rated recruit since Martez Wilson in 2007. It […]
8 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — 2026 offensive tackle Micah Smith has announced that he will be flipping his commitment from UCLA to Illinois. The No. 81 recruit in the 2026 class, according to ESPN, will be the highest-rated recruit in Bret Bielema’s tenure as the Illini head coach, and high-rated recruit since Martez Wilson in 2007. It […]
8 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illini have added another player to their Class of 2026 Signing Class, as they flipped running back Javari Barnett on Dec. 3, National Signing Day. A three-star RB out of Tampa, Florida, Barnett has been tied to Illinois for some time now, even before making his official commitment today. In June […]
8 days ago | 0 reads
How to Watch No. 14 Illinois at No. 13 Tennessee (Nashville) Game Time: 7 p.m. Saturday TV Channel: ESPN Online Streaming: ESPN+ Odds: N/A (Illinois 45% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (6-2, 0-0 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season, 171-103) Last Game: UCONN 74, Illinois 61 Gameday Reading: Tennessee Volunteers […]
8 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Pure domination. Coming off an absolute beatdown over LIU, where the game finished with a score difference of 72 points, the Illini were looking to ride the hot hand and keep firing on all cylinders. And boy, oh boy, did they do just that. The orange and blue of Shauna Green trampled […]
9 days ago | 1 read
Again, no shock here, but Illinois didn’t find its name in the CFP top 25 on Tuesday night when the final rankings came out before the 12-team playoff is unveiled this weekend. The Illini, who finished the regular season at 8-4 after a snowy win over Northwestern, appeared in the CFP rankings once this season. […]
9 days ago | 0 reads
Three days into the offseason, and the portal announcements are coming. ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Tuesday that Illinois QB Trey Petty is entering the portal after two years in the program. Petty signed with the Illini out of Mississippi in the Class of 2024, but he never saw the field, and even though it will […]
9 days ago | 0 reads
On this episode of ‘Oskee Talk’ Brandt Dolce joins me to analyze the future outlook of Illini football, including potential staff upheaval and offseason roster needs. We review this historic stretch for Illinois and what it means for program stability as well as look at possible bowl destinations. We also recap men’s basketball’s loss to […]
9 days ago | 0 reads
Illinois won’t open its Big Ten schedule until next Tuesday when they travel to Columbus for a showdown with Ohio State, but the conference officially tips off league play Tuesday night with three matchups. Iowa, Michigan State, Purdue, Rutgers, USC, and Oregon will all begin their chase for a Big Ten regular-season title. The Illini […]
9 days ago | 0 reads
In his ninth season in Champaign, Brad Underwood keeps hitting new milestones. Illinois (6-2) checked in Monday at No. 14 in the AP poll, one spot down from last week after a Black Friday loss to UCONN at Madison Square Garden. According to TCR stats expert Jonathan Koon, it’s the 80th week Illinois has been […]
10 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It seems like Thanksgiving was relaxing for Illinois women’s basketball, as they destroyed Le Moyne after the holiday. The Illini (6-1) defeated the Le Moyne Dolphins on Sunday, 100-28. The game on Sunday is what most consider an all-around game. The orange and blue had six players record double-digit scoring, with Berry […]
11 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN — Mother Nature’s Champaign snowglobe grip fastened on Saturday night, shaking it with all her fury. It made snow pile up on Gies Memorial Stadium, it made the winds howl, and temperatures drop. It culminated in a less-than-picture-perfect Senior Night for the Illinois football program. If this game were to be played, nay, if […]
11 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN — Mother Nature’s Champaign snowglobe grip fastened on Saturday night, shaking it with all her fury. It made snow pile up on Gies Memorial Stadium, it made the winds howl, and temperatures drop. It culminated in a less-than-picture-perfect Senior Night for the Illinois football program. If this game were to be played, nay, if […]
11 days ago | 2 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Battle for the Land of Lincoln trophy had a backdrop filled with the ultimate football weather. Freezing wind and a downpour of snow. It would not be an Illinois game without a little bit of late game drama, and when usually the Orange and Blue lean on their offense to be […]
12 days ago | 0 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Battle for the Land of Lincoln trophy had a backdrop filled with the ultimate football weather. Freezing wind and a downpour of snow. It would not be an Illinois game without a little bit of late game drama, and when usually the Orange and Blue lean on their offense to be […]
12 days ago | 3 reads
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Leading up to Saturday night’s clash between the Illinois Fighting Illini and the Northwestern Wildcats, layers and layers of snow blanketed Gies Memorial Stadium. Having ice-cold hands typically complicates things for quarterbacks and wide receivers, eliminating a pretty significant part of virtually every offense in the country. With players slipping and sliding […]
12 days ago | 2 reads
According to the Fox broadcast, with 8 inches of snow Saturday in Champaign, Illinois’ season finale against Northwestern is the snowiest game in Gies Memorial Stadium history. And TCR photographer Craig Pessman is there to capture it all. We’ll keep adding photos throughout the night here.
12 days ago | 1 read
It’s going to snow across the midwest on Saturday, and we may get snow football in Champaign. A winter storm warning is in effect Saturday in Champaign County, and WCIA-TV is forecasting anywhere from 4 to 9 inches for the region. Illinois on Friday said it is monitoring the weather, but as of now, parking […]
12 days ago | 1 read
On Thanksgiving Day, the Illini received a verbal pledge from (now) former USC commit Jakwon Morris. The 6-foot corner brings high end speed and the kind of feisty “stick your face in the fan” intensity that Illinois loves in its corners. Morris is currently ranked as the nation’s top JuCo corner according to 247Sports. (His […]
12 days ago | 1 read
NEW YORK — Under the bright lights at Madison Square Garden, Illinois couldn’t buy a basket. After going cold from deep and letting a late comeback slip away, No. 13 Illinois fell 74-61 to No. 5 UCONN at Madison Square Garden in New York Friday afternoon despite another standout performance from senior guard Kylan Boswell. […]
13 days ago | 0 reads
NEW YORK — Under the bright lights at Madison Square Garden, Illinois couldn’t buy a basket. After going cold from deep and letting a late comeback slip away, No. 13 Illinois fell 74-61 to No. 5 UConn at Madison Square Garden in New York Friday afternoon despite another standout performance from senior guard Kylan Boswell. […]
13 days ago | 1 read
This Illini team has no shortage of firepower, especially offensively. That can be a blessing but also sometimes a curse. It can be very difficult setting a rotation when you have so many players that bring multiple skill sets to the table. This Illini team has no shortage of that, as you could argue 10 […]
13 days ago | 0 reads
The Illini will play their final regular-season game Saturday night against Northwestern in Champaign. Both teams will be looking to enhance their bowl resumes with a win. Illinois is 7-4, 4-4 in conference. Northwestern will also be looking to upgrade its bowl status. The Wildcats are 6-5, 4-4 in conference. The Key Players The game […]
13 days ago | 0 reads
Recruiting season never takes a break, not even for Thanksgiving. Mere hours after Brad Underwood received a verbal commitment from 2027 in-state wing Quinton Kitt, Bret Bielema secured a major addition to the 2026 football class. Jakwon Morris, a 6-foot, 175-pound defensive back from Northwest Mississippi CC, flipped his commitment from USC to Illinois on […]
14 days ago | 1 read
Brad Underwood has a lot to be thankful for on Thursday. In-state prospect Quinton Kitt committed to Illinois on Thanksgiving, according to a report from Joe Tipton. “I’m ready to work and represent my state,” Kitt told Tipton. A three-star recruit out of East Peoria H.S., Kitt is one of the top young prospects in […]
14 days ago | 1 read