blog posts Illini football announces 2016 team captains Aug 31, 2016 8:00 am Fighting Illini head coach Lovie Smith announced after practice Tuesday that senior QB Wes Lunt, senior LB Hardy Nickerson, senior DE Dawuane Smoot and senior center Joe Spencer have been voted team captains for the 2016 season. Big Ten preseason honorees include three Fighting Illini Sep 1, 2016 10:00 am The women's golf preseason honorees were announced by the Big Ten Conference on Wednesday, and three Fighting Illini were recognized: Stephanie Miller,Chayanid Prapassarangkul and Bing Singhsumalee. Coach Lovie Smith previews Saturday's season-opening football game Sep 2, 2016 8:45 am Former Fighting Illini All-American offensive lineman Martin O'Donnell talks footballl in the debut episode of "Thursday Walkthrough with Lovie Smith." Lovie Smith press conference quotes follow the win over Murray State Sep 6, 2016 11:30 am And on the next challenge: "We're really excited about playing North Carolina this week; they're a storied program." Game day with Lovie Sep 7, 2016 6:15 am And on the next challenge: "We're really excited about playing North Carolina this week; they're a storied program." Spring, 2017 Illini Baseball schedule is out Sep 7, 2016 11:15 am The Fighting Illini will look for their second Big Ten title in the last three years with 21 players returning to the roster from 2016. Ready for Saturday? Get hyped with this video before Illini vs. Tar Heels Sep 9, 2016 1:00 pm After opening the 2016 season with a 52-3 victory over Murray State, the Fighting Illini (1-0) welcome the North Carolina Tar Heels to Memorial Stadium Saturday night in prime time Illini Soccer: Schafer lifts Illini over Evansville, 1-0 Sep 12, 2016 9:30 am The Illini closed nonconference play with a victory on Sunday. See photos from Illini Basketball Reunion Weekend Sep 13, 2016 9:00 am More than 100 former Fighting Illini basketball student-athletes, coaches and staff members were back on campus last weekend for the annual Varsity "I" reunion festivies. Nick Hardy named Big Ten Golfer of the Week Sep 15, 2016 10:30 am It's the second time the Junior golfer has won a Big Ten weekly award. Volleyball will close non-conference play at Billiken Invitational Sep 16, 2016 9:45 am Illinois will face Omaha, Murray State and Saint Louis University in two-day tournament in Saint Louis this weekend. Illini men's basketball walks for wishes Sep 19, 2016 10:45 am The Fighting Illini men's basketball team took part in the 2016 Walk & Run for Wishes event at Hessel Park in Champaign on Sept. 17. Orange & Blue World Series schedule announced Sep 20, 2016 9:15 am The Illinois baseball team will host its annual Orange & Blue World Series at Illinois Field next week. Men's golf wins second straight tournament title Sep 21, 2016 10:00 am Fighting Illini men's golf won its second tournament title of the season at the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational. The Illini have won the event three times in the eleven years of the tournament's history. Volleyball claims victory in Big Ten season opener Sep 22, 2016 10:00 am For the first time since 2009, the Fighting Illini volleyball team left West Lafayette, Ind., with a win over Purdue Watch: Illini volleyball defeats No. 10 Purdue Sep 23, 2016 10:00 am For the first time since 2009, the Fighting Illini volleyball team left West Lafayette, Ind., with a win over Purdue Orange & Blue series starts Sept. 26 Sep 26, 2016 10:00 am The Illinois baseball team's Orange & Blue World Series kicks off Monday at 4 p.m. at Illinois Field. Illini Football's first road game is at #15 Nebraska Sep 27, 2016 9:45 am Coming off their lone bye week of the season, the Fighting Illini (1-2) travel to Nebraska this Saturday to open Big Ten play against the 15th-ranked Huskers (2:30 p.m. CT). Illini Volleyball will be broadcast in Mandarin Sep 28, 2016 3:00 pm This new listening option to debut tonight on FIGHTINGILLINI.com Men's golf voted no. 1 in bushnell golfweek coaches poll Sep 30, 2016 2:15 pm The Illini have been voted the top team in the country by the nation's coaches. Illini Volleyball earns thrilling fifth-set win over Terps Oct 3, 2016 9:30 am Strizak leads Illini with 20 kills, Quade turns in career-high 18 in victory Illinois renaissance continues at Memorial Stadium Oct 4, 2016 9:30 am The University of Illinois announced today plans for extensive renovations to the Memorial Stadium south horseshoe and east side. Illini Soccer to host Michigan Thursday, Michigan State on Sunday Oct 5, 2016 10:00 am With a 9-1-1 record on the season, Michigan is riding a seven-game winning streak into Champaign. The Wolverines are undefeated in Big Ten play Altenberger to join Illini Basketball broadcast team Oct 6, 2016 10:15 am Illini great will split analyst duties with Deon Thomas Illini football vs. Purdue gameday timeline Oct 7, 2016 12:15 pm The Fighting Illini (1-3 overall, 0-1 B1G West) return home to host Purdue (2-2 overall, 0-1 B1G West) and battle for the Cannon rivalry trophy this Saturday at Memorial Stadium (2:30 pm CT on BTN). George carries Illini Soccer over Michigan State, 3-1 Oct 10, 2016 12:45 pm Fighting Illini Soccer earned its second win of the weekend on Sunday, with sophomore Patricia George netting two goals in the first half Follow Illini Men's Basketball at Big Ten Media Day Oct 13, 2016 11:30 am Head coach John Groce and seniors Tracy Abrams and Malcolm Hill are in the nation's capital on Thursday making the rounds at the annual Big Ten Media Day heading into the 2016-17 season. Post game quotes from Lovie Smith following win over Rutgers Oct 17, 2016 9:00 am "Whenever you take the ball away five times and have two fourth down stops, you should be talking about a win. Rutgers played hard throughout. Just some tough breaks for them." Illini Football's Patrick Nelson is Big Ten Freshman of the Week Oct 18, 2016 10:15 am Nelson moved into the starting lineup three games ago and is averaging 12.0 tackles/game since then, tied for the most in the Big Ten during conference play. Malcomb Hill named to 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year watch list Oct 19, 2016 11:30 am The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced the 20 watch list members for the 2017 Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award, including Illini senior guard Malcolm Hill. Super Bowl coaches set for Saturday matchup in Ann Arbor Oct 20, 2016 11:15 am Lovie Smith & Jim Harbaugh will be first former Super Bowl head coaches to match up head-to-head as college had coaches Women's Golf sits in fourth place at Cardinal Cup Oct 24, 2016 11:30 am At the conclusion of the first round of the Cardinal Cup, the Fighting Illini find themselves in fourth place with a 17-over-par score. Lovie Smith on #ILLINOIShomecoming Oct 25, 2016 10:00 am "For us, just knowing what goes into homecoming, what it means, a lot of our people coming back. We as a football team, it'll give us a chance to really see us play." Soccer set for regular season finale at Northwestern Oct 26, 2016 10:00 am The Illini will take on the Wildcats Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in Evanston. University of Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame announced Oct 27, 2016 9:30 am All-time great Dick Butkus named first member of inaugural class Gray Ghost uniforms returning for Homecoming Oct 28, 2016 9:45 am For the third straight year, the Fighting Illini football team will honor Harold "Red" Grange, the Galloping Ghost, by wearing special "Gray Ghost" alternate uniforms for Homecoming Illini Men's Basketball cruises past Wash U in Sunday exhibition Oct 31, 2016 9:45 am The Fighting Illini led by as many as 29 points and cruised to an 82-75 exhibition win against Washington University Sunday at State Farm Center. Illini Golf advances to East Lake Cup finals with win over Texas Nov 2, 2016 11:15 am Illinois will face 2016 NCAA Champion Oregon in the Championship match Fighting Illini Men's Basketball preview show debuts Nov. 5 Nov 3, 2016 12:45 pm features head coach John Groce mic'd up at a practice, an inside look at the renovated State Farm Center, and a feature on how super-senior Tracy Abrams has battled back from two devastating injuries, and more. Illini Football's Watson named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Nov 7, 2016 10:45 am Fighting Illini sophomore linebacker Tré Watson was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after he helped the Fighting Illini to a 31-27 win over Michigan State on Saturday. Wrestlers Martinez, Kennedy set for USA World Team trials Nov 9, 2016 10:30 am Current Illinois wrestler Isaiah Martinez and former Illini Jimmy Kennedy will compete for a spot on the USA World team this Friday, November 11, in the 70kg men's freestyle division. Illini welcome in Badgers, Gophers for Military Appreciation Weekend Nov 11, 2016 10:30 am Illinois volleyball to face No. 3 Wisconsin on Friday and No. 2 Minnesota on Saturday in the first of four final home matches of the season Highlights from Hill's historic night Nov 14, 2016 10:30 am Illini senior Malcolm Hill poured in a career-high 40 points in the win over Northern Kentucky, becoming only the seventh Illini to score 40+ points in a game and the first to score since Brandon Paul scored 43 against Ohio State on Jan. 10, 2012. Illini athletic programs earn perfect graduation success rates Nov 16, 2016 9:00 am Seven University of Illinois athletics programs earned perfect Graduation Success Rate (GSR) scores, as part of Tuesday's GSR and Federal Graduation Rate (FGR) reports released by the NCAA. Illini Football celebrates 24 seniors Nov 17, 2016 10:00 am The Illinois football willhonor 24 seniors with a special ceremony before Saturday's home finale against Iowa. Seniors will be announced on the field beginning at 10:36 a.m., with kickoff to follow at 11:01 a.m. Tilmon signs with Illinois, gives Illini a national top-10 class Nov 17, 2016 2:15 pm University of Illinois head coach John Groce announced Thursday the signing of five-star center Jeremiah Tilmon (East St. Louis, Ill.) to a national letter of intent. Illini Soccer: Senior Moments Nov 22, 2016 11:15 am The 2016 Illini Soccer seniors sat down to talk about their most embarrassing moments earlier this year. Coach Groce and players ready for ACC/Big Ten Challenge Nov 29, 2016 9:00 am The Fighting Illini host North Carolina State Tuesday in the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The game also will be the officially dedication game for the renovated State Farm Center. Illini pull away for ACC/Big Ten Challenge victory Nov 30, 2016 11:30 am Malcolm Hill scored 22 points to lead Illinois to an 88-74 victory over North Carolina State on Tuesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Illini women drop ACC/Big Ten Challenge to Wake Forest Dec 1, 2016 9:00 am Freshman guard Brandi Beasley put up a career-high 14 points and 11 rebounds to earn her first career double-double Wednesday night in Illinois' 79-70 loss to Wake Forest.