News - Illinois Fighting Illini On SI - Sports Illustrated

News

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema walks across the field as the team arrives prior to the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Oct. 11, 2025.

James, an inside linebacker from La Marque (Texas), didn't waste any time after his visit to Champaign to sign with the Illini

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema walks across the field as the team arrives prior to the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Oct. 11, 2025.

Football

James, an inside linebacker from La Marque (Texas), didn't waste any time after his visit to Champaign to sign with the Illini

Recent Articles

Mar 8, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood walks down the court during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Illini are one of the early contenders for Betts – a huge, fluid big man who should make an instant impact wherever he lands

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

Football

Paulsen, from Central Dewitt (Iowa), chose the Illini over a handful of other suitors, including four Big Ten rivals

Dec 13, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood before the first half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Basketball

Santos isn’t the typical Illini target, but Brad Underwood must have liked what he saw from the athletic, high-motor wing

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

Projecting who will lead the Illini in points, rebounds, assists and more in the 2026-27 campaign

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is shown after their game Saturday, October 1, 2022 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis. Illinois beat Wisconsin 34-10.

MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

Football

Shack became the eighth member of the Illinois 2027 recruiting class when he committed to the Illini on Tuesday

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood motions to his team during the first half of the NCAA men's basketball game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus on Dec. 9, 2025.

Basketball

The Illini will matchup against high-level players in non-conference and Big Ten action. Who are the top five players?

Jul 22, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Illinois head coach Bret Bielema speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Football

Ericson-Staton flipped his commitment from Iowa State to Illinois on Sunday, bolstering the Illini's blocking talent

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

We offer a superlative for each of the Illini's six incoming freshmen for 2026-27 – including recent commit Williams

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

Football

The Illini landed their first tight end in the 2027 recruiting class when they signed Cade Newman on Saturday

Feb 27, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood greets the crowd before the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Illini made a late addition to their 2026-27 roster in Lincoln Williams, a long and bouncy guard from Kankakee

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

Quentin Coleman didn't have a fantastic showing in the most prominent categories through Team USA's pool play – but he did elsewhere

Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini forward Jake Davis (15) 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

Basketball

Davis was an unlikely starter for the Illini's Final Four squad last season, but is there a path for him to stay in the lineup in 2026-27?

Illinois coach Bret Bielema disputes a call in the first quarter of the Music City Bowl against Tennessee in an NCAA football game on Dec. 30, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Football

The Illini signed their seventh junior college transfer on Monday, landing defensive lineman Deon Williams

Feb 27, 2026; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood greets the crowd before the first half against the Michigan Wolverines at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Basketball

Does Illinois' successful offseason equate to top-squad status in the Big Ten – or is Michigan still the team to beat?

Dec 13, 2025; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini center Tomislav Ivisic (13) reacts after scoring during the second half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Illini were initially ranked far too low in the preseason projection, but now they're back where they belong

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

Quentin Coleman comes to Champaign as part of a large freshman class, but can he stand apart and prove himself to be an NBA caliber talent after a single season?

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

After the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline, here is where top pundits – including those of us at Illinois on SI – rank the Illini nationally

Jan 2, 2026; Mesa, AZ, USA; Arizona Compass Prep forward DeMarcus Henry (15) against Spire Institute (OH) during the HoopHall West Tournament at Skyline High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Illini recently joined the race for Henry, who is the latest top recruit being targeted by Brad Underwood and his staff

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 recently extended an offer to 2027 prospect Cayden Daughtry, who breaks the mold of the prototype Brad Underwood guard

Mar 21, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; VCU Rams guard Brandon Jennings (0) defends against Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) during the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Basketball

Stojakovic has loads of talent, but can he sharpen the one tool that has eluded him until now to make the final leap next season?

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Shauna Green calls out to her team Friday, March 6, 2026, during a Big Ten women's basketball tournament game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

News

Like her counterparts in the Illini men's hoops program, Shauna Green and her staff are tapping into the international women's talent pipeline

Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) warms up before a semifinal of the Final Four of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the UConn Huskies at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Basketball

Stojakovic, who committed to a return to Illinois next season, is all but guaranteed to start – but who will join him in the lineup?

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

Coleman will spend early June with Team USA, giving Illinois fans another reason to believe in their freshmen pipeline

Mar 28, 2026; Houston, TX, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood and guard Andrej Stojakovic (2) celebrate after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in an Elite Eight game of the South Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Basketball

After testing the NBA waters, Stojakovic decided to officially return to Champaign for one more ride – and social media was over the moon about it