Jason Langendorf

Jason Langendorf

Joined: Sep 28, 2024

Jason Langendorf has covered Illinois basketball, football and more for Illinois on SI since October 2024, and has covered Illini sports – among other subjects – for 30 years. A veteran of ESPN and Sporting News, he has published work in The Guardian, Vice, Chicago Sun-Times and many other outlets. He is currently also the U.S. editor at BoxingScene and a judge for the annual BWAA writing awards. He can be followed and reached on X and Bluesky @JasonLangendorf.

Apr 2, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) during open locker room at the Final Four. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Oct 4, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema watches warm ups before the game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Apr 3, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood speaks during a press conference ahead of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Morton lineman Soren Fifer, left, protects the quarterback in the second half of their Week 4 high school football game against Metamora on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025 in Morton. The Redbirds defeated the Potters 43-40.

Mar 30, 2024; Boston, MA, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Ty Rodgers (20) dribbles the ball against the Connecticut Huskies in the finals of the East Regional of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Basketball

Rodgers, an experienced and versatile wing who started on the Illini's 2023-24 Elite Eight squad, chose Boise State as his transfer destination

Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Gabe Jacas (17) celebrates his sack on Rutgers Scarlet Knights quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Football

At least one expert believes Jacas, the former Illini linebacker taken No. 55 overall (second round) by the New York Giants, was a top draft value

Wisconsin Lutheran's Zavier Zens (23) breaks around Madison Memorial's Cole Slack (5) during the WIAA Division 1 boys state championship basketball game on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin.

Basketball

Zens – a rugged, sharpshooting forward from the class of 2026 – picked the Illini over Iowa and Nebraska, among others

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) shoots against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Basketball

Stojakovic, the last of the Illini holdouts among potential returnees, made his official announcement Friday: "I'm back"

Mar 10, 2024; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Ty Rodgers (20) walks off the court after the game against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Basketball

The last connection to Illinois' 2023-24 Elite Eight team and a figure beloved by Illini Nation, Rodgers elected to enter the portal Thursday

Mar 21, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; The Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic (13) reacts after a play during the second half against the VCU Rams during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Illini's twin towers announced their return for 2026-27 on Wednesday, securing the club's size, frontcourt depth and experienced core

Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) looks on in the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Basketball

The player who may be most integral to a follow-up Final Four run announced Wednesday that he will be back with the Illini next season

Illinois forward David Mirkovic (0) and center Zvonimir Ivisic (44) react during the Illini's Final Four 71-62 loss to UConn on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Basketball

The Illini are (very likely) going to need a new starting point guard in the 2026-27 season. Is Mihailo Petrovic the guy?

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic (13) reacts after losing to the Connecticut Huskies during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

The Illini saw an excellent season (28-9) end just a bit earlier than hoped when the Huskies showed up with more firepower in their Final Four showdown

Nov 28, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) is guarded by UConn Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) in the first half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Can the Illini (28-8) follow the lead of the 2004-05 Illinois squad by taming the Huskies (33-5) and advancing to Monday's national title game?

Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) reacts in the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Now is no time for the Illini (27-8) to let up – not with Iowa (24-12) working magic and awaiting them in Saturday's Elite Eight matchup

Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes during an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

"We're both drastically different," Underwood said of the Illini and Huskies since last they met – and he won't read much into that Illinois loss