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May 8, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu (13) against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half during game three of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

Dosunmu's postseason performance pays off, Jakucionis is on the move and Ty Rodgers suffers a setback

Basketball

Dosunmu's postseason performance pays off, Jakucionis is on the move and Ty Rodgers suffers a setback

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Dec 21, 2025; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; University of Michigan head coach Dusty May looks on from the sidelines during the first half against the La Salle Explorers at Crisler Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald-Imagn Images

Basketball

Has May's exit at Michigan catapulted the Illini into their own tier in the Big Ten race heading into 2026-27?

Mar 8, 2026; College Park, Maryland, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Keaton Wagler (23) reacts after shooting a three point basket during the first half against the Maryland Terrapins at Xfinity Center. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Basketball

The 2026 NBA Draft takes place Tuesday and Wednesday, when at least one Illini is expected to be plucked off the board

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

Morales, who committed to Illinois on Sunday, could enter a wide-open race to be the Illini's placekicker of the future

Feb 14, 2026; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Providence College Friars guard Stefan Vaaks (7) dribbles during the first half of the game against the St. John’s University Red Storm at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Natalie Reid-Imagn Images

Basketball

Signs point towards Stefan Vaaks emerging as a star in 2026-27, but history also tells a more discouraging story

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

Basketball

The Illini big man took a slight step back last season, but here's how he can take a big one forward in 2026-27

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

Konkey, a speedy class of 2027 receiver from in-state Geneva, committed to the Illini on Tuesday

Football

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

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

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

Basketball

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

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?

Football

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

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