blog posts Illini Men's Basketball opens Big Ten play tonight at Maryland Dec 2, 2022 9:30 am Illinois' next two games are away - and against undefeated teams. Following tonight's Big Ten opener at 7-0 Maryland, the Illini head back to the East Coast to face 5-0 Texas on Tuesday in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden. Stripe State Farm Center Tuesday vs. Syracuse Nov 28, 2022 8:45 am Illini Athletics is asking all fans to help stripe the arena orange and blue. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and will be televised nationally by ESPN. Illini Women’s Basketball climbs to 5-0 start for first time since 2014 Nov 22, 2022 9:00 am Fighting Illini women's basketball picked up an 84-55 victory over Oakland Monday night to secure a 5-0 start to the season for the first time since 2014. Illinois saw 11 different players score as all 13 Illini saw minutes in the win. Illini Men's Basketball falls to Virginia in Main Event Title Game Nov 21, 2022 8:00 am No. 19 Illinois fell in the Continental Tire Main Event championship game to No. 16 Virginia, 70-61, on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas. Jayden Epps led the Illini with 14 points off the bench. Coleman Hawkins had 10 points and three blocks. Volleyball closes home slate hosting Spartans and Hawkeyes this weekend Nov 18, 2022 10:15 am The Illini went 2-0 last week, sweeping Michigan State before topping Michigan 3-1 on the road. The straight-set victory at MSU marked the seventh sweep of the season and the third in league play. Men's Basketball: Illini face UCLA Friday in Las Vegas Nov 17, 2022 9:30 am No. 19 Illinois faces No. 8 UCLA on Friday night, marking the 21st game against a top-10 team under head coach Brad Underwood. The Illini set a single-season school record in 2020-21 with six wins over top-10 opponents. Illini Football's defensive coordinator named Broyles Award nominee Nov 16, 2022 11:30 am Ryan Walters has coached his way to become a Broyles Award front runner, as Illinois ranks in the top 10 in the nation in 20 defensive categories. Former Illini stars returning for B1G Champions pre-game ceremony tonight Nov 11, 2022 8:45 am Four former stars who stand among the most beloved players in Illini Basketball history will attend tonight's pregame ceremony, receiving their rings and helping raise a Big Ten banner in the State Farm Center for the second year in a row: No. 21 Illinois Football to cap off home slate against Purdue on Saturday Nov 9, 2022 9:45 am Saturday's game against Purdue will celebrate both Senior Day and Military Appreciation Day. Both teams are coming off home defeats, though the Fighting Illini hold a one-game lead atop the Big Ten West standings. #23 Illini Men's Basketball opens season Monday vs. EIU Nov 7, 2022 8:45 am Illinois is the winningest team in the Big Ten over the last three seasons. The Illini won the regular season championship in 2022, led the conference in wins and won the B1G Tournament in 2021, and finished one game back of the title in 2020. Illinois squares off with Michigan State Nov 4, 2022 4:15 pm Fighting Illini Football takes on Michigan State on Saturday at 2:30 CT for the first time since 2019. Heuser & Duong upset No. 1 doubles team to open ITA National Fall Championships Nov 3, 2022 8:00 am Illini Tennis stars Kate Duong and Megan Heuser upset the ITA's No. 1-ranked team to open play at the ITA National Fall Championships. With the 6-0, 6-2 win, the Illini tandem advance to the Round of 16 on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. CT. Illini Football ranked by College Football Playoff for the first time Nov 2, 2022 10:00 am The Illinois football team is ranked No. 16 in the initial College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings. It's the first time since the CFP rankings began in 2014 that Illinois has been in the top 25. Three Illini named national player of the year semifinalists Nov 1, 2022 9:15 am A trio of Fighting Illini standouts – Chase Brown, Devon Witherspoon, and Jer'Zhan Newton – were named semifinalists for the Maxwell Award for the Player of the Year and the Chuck Bednarik Award for Defensive Player of the Year. No. 17 Illini travel to Lincoln to take on Nebraska Oct 26, 2022 10:30 am Illinois returns from its second bye week and will travel to take on Nebraska in Lincoln on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT as the Fighting Illini look to extend their five-game winning streak. Duong, Heuser earn first Illini ITA Regional Doubles Finals berth since 2011 Oct 24, 2022 10:15 am Kate Duong and Megan Heuser have won their way into the ITA Midwest Regional doubles finals with four weekend wins from Ann Arbor, Mich. Illini Men's Basketball ranked 23rd in AP preseason poll Oct 18, 2022 8:45 am Illinois is one of just three Big Ten teams ranked in the preseason poll, along with Indiana (No. 13) and Michigan (No. 22). They'll face a challenging non-conference schedule against No. 8 UCLA, either No. 5 Baylor or No. 18 Virginia, and No. 12 Texas. Homecoming football preview Oct 14, 2022 2:45 pm Both Illinois and Minnesota come into Saturday's game with just one loss this season, and a win for either team would provide a big boost in the fight for a Big Ten West title. BTN's Tailgate show airs live from Memorial Stadium on Saturday Oct 13, 2022 9:15 am The set will be located in the southeast corner of Lot 31 (across the street from Grange Grove). Illini fans can make signs onsite or bring their own to show live on B1G Tailgate before Illinois hosts Minnesota in its 112th Homecoming game. Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Green's debut at B1G Media Day Oct 12, 2022 10:00 am The name of the game will be defense: It prevent opponents from scoring and allows the Illini to play fast. 'We want to play really, really fast, but...you can't run and play fast if you're playing off of a dead ball and a make, so gotta get stops.' See men's basketball coach Underwood's B1G Media Day comments Oct 12, 2022 8:45 am U of I head coach Brad Underwood comments on the aproaching season, the young players who'll try to fill big shoes at the guard positions, and more. Illinois takes on Iowa in Big Ten West showdown Oct 7, 2022 9:15 am Saturday marks the Illini's first Big Ten home game of the season, and they will look to snap an eight-game losing skid against the Hawkeyes dating back to 2008. Here are three storylines to watch. Illini Football returns home to take on Iowa Oct 5, 2022 9:30 am The Illini enter the contest on a three-game winning streak, most recently beating Wisconsin in Madison. The Illinois defense remains one of the best in the country, and it held Wisconsin to just two rushing yards in Saturday's 34-10 win. Illini Football carries momentum up to Madison Sep 30, 2022 12:00 pm The Fighting Illini sit at 3-1, and the Badgers enter with a 2-2 record, though both teams are looking to pick up their first Big Ten win of the year this weekend. Wrestler Lucas Byrd selected to NWCA All-Star Classic Sep 28, 2022 10:45 am Illinois wrestler Lucas Byrd has been selected to wrestle in the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star Classic on November 22 in Austin, Texas. 'This group is the elite of the elite in college wrestling,' said Illini head coach Mike Poeta. Coach Bielema press conference quotes ahead of contest at Wisconsin Sep 27, 2022 9:15 am 'I like where we're at from a health standpoint... Actually, we're going to see Jamal Woods back, he's been out the last two weeks...it's going to be a huge advantage in a tough game, obviously.' Women's Tennis earns singles and doubles championships at UTR College Circuit Sep 26, 2022 9:15 am Illinois women's tennis racked up 26 combined wins across two days of play in the UTR College Circuit hosted at the Atkins Tennis Center. Ashley Yeah and Josie Frazier earned the doubles title. In singles, all four semifinalists were Illini. Volleyball returns to Huff after spending non-conference slate on the road Sep 22, 2022 9:45 am Sitting at 5-5, the Fighting Illini will host its first home matches of the season against Big Ten opposition, starting with Maryland on Friday at 8 p.m. and Northwestern on Saturday at 7 p.m. Thursday night football: Illini close nonconference slate hosting Chattanooga Sep 19, 2022 11:45 am The Fighting Illini play their final nonconference opponent when the Chattanooga Mocs come to Memorial Stadium. Illinois is coming off its first bye week of the season and sits at 2-1 on the year. Chattanooga enters the contest with a 3-0 record. Fighting Illini Hall of Fame Class of 2022 induction set for Sept. 23 Sep 16, 2022 9:00 am Illinois Athletics will formally induct 15 new members to the Hall of Fame Class of 2022 on Friday, Sept. 23, 6 PM at State Farm Center. The ceremony is open to all and admission is free. Posters will be available to the first 500 fans. Wang earns top-15 finish at Cougar Classic Sep 14, 2022 10:15 am Graduate student Crystal Wang picked up right where she left off last season, finishing tied for 13th. Dating back to the end of the 2021-22 campaign, Wang has finished in the Top 15 in four-straight events. Saturday: Illini Football returns home to host Virginia Cavaliers Sep 9, 2022 11:00 am Looking to build some momentum heading into the first of two bye weeks, Illinois will need a strong all-around effort to take down Virginia, which enters the contest off a win in its season opener. Up next for Illini Soccer: Hosting Missouri on Thursday night Sep 7, 2022 10:30 am Illinois soccer continues its five-match homestand at Demirjian Park with matches against Missouri on Thursday, Sept. 8, at 7 p.m. CT and against in-state opponent Loyola on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 1 p.m. CT. Changes made to enhance fan experience on Fighting Illini Football gamedays Sep 6, 2022 9:00 am Changes will make it quicker to enter and leave the staduim, easier to get water, and fireworks are returning to the game-day experience at the Fighting Illini team entrance to the field and when the Illini score. 15 Former Illini Make Initial NFL 53-Man Rosters Sep 2, 2022 1:45 pm Fifteen former Fighting Illini football players have made initial 53-man rosters, including 14 on active rosters. Illini Athletics finds fundraising success in transparent approach Aug 30, 2022 8:15 am For the With Illinois campaign, the University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics surpassed its fundraising goal with a final total of more than $321 million raised. Illinois opens Big Ten play at Indiana on Friday night Aug 29, 2022 8:00 am The Illinois football team will open its conference slate against Indiana on Friday night at 7 p.m. CT in Bloomington, Indiana. Illini celebrate senior day victory Aug 22, 2022 11:15 am The Illinois soccer team celebrated senior day with a dominating performance against Toledo, earning a 4-1 victory on Sunday (Aug. 21) afternoon at Demirjian Park. Illinois kicks off 2022 football season this Saturday Aug 22, 2022 11:00 am The Illinois football team opens its 133rd season of football on Saturday at Memorial Stadium with a Week 0 matchup against Wyoming. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. Illini Soccer opens season this weekend hosting Illinois State, Toledo Aug 18, 2022 10:15 am The Illini kick off the action on Thursday (Aug. 18) with its season and home opener against Illinois State at 7 p.m. CT, before taking on Toledo for Senior Day on Sunday (Aug. 21). Grange Grove entertainment lineup set for football season Aug 17, 2022 10:45 am Illinois' premier pregame tailgating location will once again be open with a full slate of entertainment planned for the season. Fresh off exhibition wins, Illini Soccer primed for 2022 season Aug 15, 2022 10:00 am In the wilderness of northwestern Michigan, the Fighting Illini soccer team closed its preseason schedule with an exhibition game against Virginia, using the four-day trip to also go on a team retreat ahead of the regular season. Fill Memorial Stadium! Wyoming FamILLy 4 Packs on sale now Jul 29, 2022 4:30 pm Not only is Illinois' Aug. 27 'Week 0' game vs. Wyoming one of the first games of the college football calendar, it will also be the first time that the Illini defend their new turf at Memorial Stadium. Kyprianou named director of Illinois Track & Field, Cross Country Jul 27, 2022 9:45 am Petros Kyprianou was a three-time U.S. Track & Field Coaches Association National Coach of the Year. In six seasons as head coach at the University of Georgia, he led the Bulldogs to a pair of NCAA titles and a total of 16 top-ten NCAA finishes. Softball early years: Guiding the program off the runway and into the sky Jul 21, 2022 12:15 pm Two years after the Illini introduced soccer, softball became Illinois' 10th women's varsity program. 'Illinois is a great softball state,' said former Athletic Director Ron Guenther. 'It's in the city, in the suburbs, downstate ... it's everywhere.' Kirschsieper, Janas selected on final day of MLB draft Jul 20, 2022 1:00 pm Illinois had two players taken in this years MLB Draft. Left-handed pitcher Cole Kirschsieper (Illini pitching staff leader with 3.40 ERA), and first basemen Justin Janas (.368 career hitter at Illinois, .501 career on base percentage, .503 slugging). When courage moved the needle for Illini Women’s Athletics Jul 18, 2022 10:15 am The addition of seven varsity sports in 1974 was undoubtedly a milestone moment for U of I women's athletics, but a more significant moment occurred three years later when a pair of student-athletes filed a sexual discrimination lawsuit. Michael Massey called up to Kansas City Royals Jul 15, 2022 9:30 am Massey was the highest drafted infielder in Illinois history when he went in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft. His three-year Illini career included a national Gold Glove award, two All-Big Ten honors, and a .324 career batting average. Jackson, Wagoner receive B1G Outstanding Sportsmanship Award Jul 12, 2022 2:00 pm The Big Ten announced on Tuesday the 28 honorees named Outstanding Sportsmanship Award winners for the 2021-22 academic year. Illinois' Taylor Jackson (baseball) and Lakyn Wagoner (softball) are U of I's recipients. How the 1990s propelled Illini women’s athletics to national prominence Jul 8, 2022 4:15 pm The 1990s included individual NCAA championships and multiple Big Ten Athlete of the Year recognitions.