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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

An intriguing, likely overlooked position battle is unfolding as the Illini enter fall camp – and Bret Bielema gave the details on Monday

Football

An intriguing, likely overlooked position battle is unfolding as the Illini enter fall camp – and Bret Bielema gave the details on Monday

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Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts after a play against the UConn Huskies during the first half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Illini, according to ESPN, appear to have a different outlook entering the 2026-27 season than most would have expected

Oct 16, 2025; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; East Carolina Pirates quarterback Katin Houser (4) rolls out of the pocket against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane during the first half at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Football

Illini offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. kept returning to one word in his evaluation of Katin Houser – and it bodes well for Illinois

Aug 29, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema before a game with the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Football

Jershaun Newton and Will Holmes are getting reps in new roles with the Illini this summer

Football

Bielema clarified the health status of a handful of players, including wide receiver Hudson Clement and linebacker Daniel Brown

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) is defended by Connecticut Huskies forward Alex Karaban (11) in the first 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

Early reports have indicated a quick road to recovery for Mirkovic, so how might he and the Illini be affected by a short absence?

Nov 11, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) reacts during the first half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Basketball

With David Mirkovic having undergone surgery on his left foot Tuesday, how do the Illini move forward without him?

Sep 20, 2025; Bloomington, Indiana, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema walks onto the field prior to the game against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images

Football

See where Illinois football and every 2026 opponent landed in the preseason Coaches Poll as the Illini prepare for another demanding schedule.

Dec 6, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic (13) reacts after a made three point basket against the Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Basketball

Illinois' Ivisic may have taken a slight step backwards in 2025-26, but could he still be the conference's best center?

Nov 14, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood greets the crowd before the tip of the game with the Colgate Raiders at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Illini appear to have an absolute star in Quentin Coleman, who displayed his diverse skill set in recently-released highlight clips

Dec 29, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the second half against the Southern University Jaguars at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Illini are expected to coast through the majority of their Big Ten slate, but there are a few games that could trip them up

Nov 19, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward David Mirkovic (0) looks to pass the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Basketball

Mirkovic enters 2026-27 as one of the best players in college basketball, but is there anyone who can challenge him as the Big Ten's top power forward?

Football

Bielema has overseen one of the best turnarounds in the league over the past few seasons, but does that earn him a spot in the top five?

Michigan State's Divine Ugochukwu, right, meets with Illinois' head coach Brad Underwood before the game on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing.

Basketball

The Illini are seeking their first Big Ten title since 2022, but these three games may stand in their way

Football

The Illini struggled to get opponents off the field the past two years, so they overhauled the defense with specific goals in mind

Nov 1, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema before an NCAA game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Football

The Illini head man doubled down on his recent targeting of the SEC, but what exactly was the implication?

Football

The Illini are replacing four of five starters up front, and on Tuesday Bielema discussed why he's optimistic about the position group

Dec 13, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) drives the ball around Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Pryce Sandfort (21) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Big Ten has a deep position group at small forward, with a combination of elite freshmen and proven returners

Football

The Illini have a relatively favorable schedule in 2026, but there are a few landmines that can make or break their season

July 19, 2025; North Augusta, South Carolina, USA; Brad Beal Elite Quentin Coleman (1) gestures to a teammate as Team Durant Evans Barning Jr. (7) defends during the Brad Beal Elite and Team Durant game at the Nike EYBL Peach Jam at Riverview Park Activity Center. Brad Beal Elite won 91-59. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale - Augusta Chronicle/USA TODAY NETWORK

Basketball

Illinois freshman Quentin Coleman is expected to be a valuable contributor from Day 1 – but is he already in the top tier of Big Ten shooting guards?

Football

Illinois' Bielema countered former Alabama coach Nick Saban's depth argument in the ongoing SEC vs. Big Ten clash

Mar 23, 2025; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts during the second half in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against the Kentucky Wildcats at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Illini appear to be firmly in the mix for 2028 prospect Dylan Betts, a 7-foot-3 big man with incredible upside

Nov 11, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood walks to the court before the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Illini appear to be in the thick of the race for Bowman, a high-scoring guard from California

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts 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

The Illini threw their hat in the ring for top-ranked 2028 recruit Williams, an ultra-dynamic player on both ends of the floor

Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) and guard Keaton Wagler (23) react 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

Basketball

Some former Illinois players excelled in the 2026 NBA Summer League, others played their role to perfection and one struggled