blog posts Simpson shatters weight throw school record in Illini debut Jan 8, 2024 8:15 am The men's and women's track and field squads completed their first meet of the season on Saturday. 509 fans saw graduate student Amber Simpson shatter the weight throw program record with a 20.31m heave. Illini Women's Basketball back at home to host Wisconsin Jan 7, 2024 1:00 pm Illinois is 23-13 when hosting the Badgers. Head Coach Shauna Green is 2-0 all-time against Wisconsin. No. 9 Illini set for top-10 showdown at No. 1 Purdue Jan 5, 2024 9:00 am The Illini are in search of the program's fourth win all-time over a No. 1-ranked team, and first ever away from home. The Orange and Blue are 0-8 in road games at No. 1, and 3-20 overall against No. 1 opponents. No. 9 Illini host Northwestern tonight in return to B1G action Jan 2, 2024 8:45 am Illinois opens 2024 at the State Farm Center in a return to Big Ten play after dominating their final non-conference game against Fairleigh Dickinson on Friday. Tonight's game against Northwestern is scheduled for an 8 pm tip. Illini back in action tonight vs. Fairleigh Dickinson Dec 29, 2023 11:00 am The sold out game at State Farm Center is scheduled for an 8 pm start. The Illini won the two teams' single previous meeting. Illinois Football signs 19 on National Signing Day Dec 20, 2023 11:30 am Coach Bret Bielema continued Illinois' rise in recruiting by signing his third-straight top-50 recruiting class, a feat achieved at Illinois for the first time since the beginning of recruiting rankings, according to 247Sports. Illini Women's Basketball set for Wednesday, Thursday games at West Palm Beach Classic Dec 19, 2023 11:00 am Wednesday's 10am game marks the third all-time meeting against Arkansas; Illinois won on both teams' home courts in 1996 and 1997. Thursday's tilt against UTEP (12:15pm) will be the first meeting between the sides. Illini face ranked road test at Tennessee Dec 8, 2023 12:15 pm No. 20 Illinois wraps up a stretch of three straight games away from home over a one-week span, traveling to Knoxville, Tenn. for a Saturday showdown with No. 17 Tennessee (11 a.m. CT, CBS). Top 20 matchup tonight: Illini vs Florida Atlantic in Jimmy V Classic Dec 5, 2023 9:45 am No. 20 Illinois, fresh off its Big Ten-opening win Saturday at Rutgers, heads to New York City to take on No. 11 Florida Atlantic in the Jimmy V Classic Tuesday at Madison Square Garden (5:30 p.m. CT, ESPN). Illini Men's Basketball opens Big Ten play Saturday at Rutgers Dec 1, 2023 8:15 am No. 24 Illinois begins its 119th season of league play Saturday afternoon at Rutgers (3 p.m. CT, BTN). Illinois is opening B1G play on the road for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. Newton named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Nov 29, 2023 9:15 am Illinois defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year and the Defensive Lineman of the Year. He's just the fourth Illini in history to earn the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year award. Illini look to keep the hat, earn bowl berth against northwestern Nov 21, 2023 9:45 am Illinois returns to Memorial Stadium to battle for The Hat in its regular-season finale and Senior Day game against Northwestern. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. Illini Football travels to Iowa for final regular-season road trip Nov 15, 2023 8:45 am Winners of three of their last four games, the Fighting Illini football team hits the road for a matchup with the Big Ten West-leading Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday. Illinois and Iowa are set to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1. #23 Illini Men's Basketball hosts #4 Marquette tonight Nov 14, 2023 12:15 pm In game 3 of a six-game, season-opening homestand, the Illini welcome No. 4 Marquette to sold out State Farm Center (7 p.m. CT, FS1) for the final year of the Gavitt Tipoff Games series between the Big Ten and Big East. Men's Basketball hosts Oakland tonight Nov 10, 2023 10:30 am Illinois continues a six-game, season-opening homestand on Friday night, hosting Oakland at State Farm Center (7 p.m. CT, B1G+). Oakland is coming off of narrow defeat, 79-73, to Ohio State. Illinois Men’s Basketball signs top 20 class for 2024 Nov 9, 2023 9:00 am Head coach Brad Underwood announced Wednesday the signing of top-35 national recruit Morez Johnson Jr. and three-star prospects Jason Jakstys and Jase Butler to national letters of intent on the first day of the early signing period. Illinois Volleyball welcomes Northwestern for midweek clash at Huff Hall Nov 1, 2023 11:15 am Illinois volleyball goes for its sixth straight victory when the team hosts Northwestern at Huff Hall on Wednesday night. First serve on Big Ten Network is slated for 8 p.m. CT. Illinois Football travels to Minnesota on Saturday Oct 31, 2023 11:15 am Following its off weekend, the Illinois football team is back in action Saturday against Minnesota in Minneapolis. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. #23 Illini hosting Truman State for exhibition game tonight Oct 30, 2023 9:00 am The Orange and Blue will host 16 total games across the season, beginning with tonight's exhibition against Truman State. All kids 12 and under dressed in a Halloween costume will get in free. Illini close preseason slate with win over #1 Kansas in Maui Strong Relief Matchup Oct 30, 2023 9:45 am No. 25 Illinois never trailed in the second half en route to an 82-75 victory over No. 1 Kansas at State Farm Center on Sunday night. Terrence Shannon led the Illini with a game-high 28 points, a team-high five 3-pointers and two steals in the victory. Maui Strong Relief Matchup supports wildfire relief efforts Oct 25, 2023 3:00 pm U. of I. men’s basketball takes on No. 1 Kansas on Oct. 29 in the Maui Strong Relief Matchup. Newton picking up national awards Oct 23, 2023 11:00 am Jer'Zhan Newton has been named the Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week and the East-West Shrine Bowl Breakout Defensive Player of the Week. Illini Women's Basketball ranked 23rd in AP preseason poll Oct 18, 2023 10:15 am For the first time since the 1999-2000 campaign, Illinois women's basketball will be ranked in the Associated Press Preseason Poll, coming in at No. 23 to begin head coach Shauna Green's second season at the helm. Homecoming football Saturday against Wisconsin Oct 17, 2023 10:30 am Illinois returns to Memorial Stadium to take on Wisconsin on Saturday in its 113th Homecoming game. The Badgers are coming off a 15-6 home loss against Iowa, with a current record of 4-2 overall, 2-1 in Big Ten play. Matches against Ohio State, Rutgers up next for Illini Volleyball Oct 12, 2023 1:00 pm Illinois volleyball has a pair of Big Ten matches this weekend. They travel to Ohio State for a match against the Buckeyes on Friday night at 6 p.m., then hosts Rutgers at Huff Hall on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT. Both matches will be streamed on B1G+. Illinois, Maryland meet Saturday on NBC Oct 10, 2023 1:00 pm The Fighting Illini and Terrapins play on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT at SECU Stadium in a game broadcast on NBC. Illinois (2-4, 0-3 Big Ten) is looking for its first Big Ten win after dropping a 20-7 decision to Nebraska last Friday. Illinois' Homecoming game time announced Oct 9, 2023 9:45 am Illinois' Homecoming game against Wisconsin on Saturday, Oct. 21 will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT, the conference office announced on Monday. Television coverage for the game will be announced following games played on Oct. 14. Illinois, Nebraska battle for first Big Ten win on Friday night Oct 5, 2023 3:15 pm The Fighting Illini are back in Memorial Stadium this week for its first home Big Ten West game of the season. Illinois squares off with Nebraska as both teams look to get in the win column in conference play for the first time this year. Friday night football: Illinois hosts Nebraska Oct 3, 2023 4:00 pm Illinois and Nebraska meet on Friday night at Memorial Stadium with the Illini looking to extend their three-game winning streak in the series. Both teams enter the game at 2-3 overall, and both seek their first Big Ten wins of the season. Illini Volleyball takes on Penn State, Iowa this weekend Sep 29, 2023 11:30 am Illinois volleyball welcomes #15 Penn State and Iowa to Huff Hall. The Fighting Illini take on the ranked Nittany Lions tonight at 8 p.m., and the Iowa Hawkeyes on Saturday at 6 p.m. Illinois travels to Purdue for first Big Ten road game Sep 26, 2023 8:45 am Illinois will be on the road in Big Ten play for the first time this season when the Fighting Illini travel to West Lafayette to take on Purdue on Saturday. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Peacock. Big Ten's Men's basketball schedule released Sep 20, 2023 9:45 am Illinois is the Big Ten's most winning team in conference play over the last four years, with Head Coach Brad Underwood directing the program to a 55-25 record. Barnes Becomes Two-Time Captain, First in Family to Earn College Degree Sep 18, 2023 11:00 am Linebacker Tarique Barnes is competing in his fifth season at Illinois and working toward a master’s degree in strategic brand communication. Illinois takes on Penn State Sept. 16 Sep 11, 2023 1:45 pm Illinois welcomes #7 Penn State to Memorial Stadium on Sept. 16 Illinois on the road to take on Kansas tonight Sep 8, 2023 11:00 am For the first time this season, Illinois will hit the road, traveling to Lawrence, Kansas, to take on the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday night in the first meeting between the two programs in 55 years. Kickoff at 6:30 pm central time. Road tests at UIC and Notre Dame Tournament await Illini Volleyball Sep 5, 2023 8:00 am Illinois volleyball prepares for matches against UIC, Notre Dame and Oklahoma this week. The Fighting Illini face the Flames at Credit Union 1 Arena tonight at 5 p.m. Home matches against Wichita State and Illinois State await Illini Volleyball Sep 1, 2023 10:00 am Illinois volleyball hosts Wichita State and Illinois State at Huff Hall this weekend. The Fighting Illini battle the Shockers on Friday at 5 p.m. before facing the Redbirds on Sunday at 1 p.m. Illinois Football home opener Saturday against Toledo Aug 29, 2023 2:45 pm Illini football opens the 134th season in program history with a game against the reigning MAC champion Toledo Rockets on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. Opening kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. Altmyer named Fighting Illini starting quarterback Aug 23, 2023 11:45 am Altmyer was 28-for-54 passing (51.9%) for 317 yards and three touchdowns during his time at Ole Miss. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 10 transfer quarterback in the nation heading into 2023. Illini to host Kansas in charity exhibition game benefiting Maui wildfire relief Aug 21, 2023 10:00 am The men's basketball programs will partner in a charity exhibition game (5 p.m., Oct. 29) at State Farm Center and televised by BTN. All proceeds from this game will be donated to the Hawai'i Community Foundation Maui Strong Fund. U of I Golf coach Mike Small wins 14th Illinois PGA Professional Championship Aug 17, 2023 4:15 pm Coach Small's 14 Illinois PGA Professional titles extend his Illinois PGA record, and now make him the winningest PGA Professional at a section championship across all 41 sections nationwide. Illini blow past Catalonia All-Stars, 103-69 Aug 14, 2023 10:15 am Four players, including freshman Amani Hansberry and sophomore Ty Rodgers, scored in double figures as Illinois emphasized its transition game and offensive rebounding in a 103-69 victory Sunday over the Catalonia All-Stars. Entertainment lineup set for Grange Grove tailgating season Aug 8, 2023 10:30 am Grange Grove has live music, a kids' zone, the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network pregame radio show and more. Grange Grove opens each gameday at 7 a.m. CT, and pregame entertainment begins three hours prior to kickoff. Jim Leonhard named Illinois’ senior football analyst Jul 26, 2023 11:00 am Leonhard joins the Illini from Wisconsin, where he spent the last seven seasons on staff, including serving as interim head coach for seven games in 2022. Wenninger, Gowens selected on day two of MLB draft Jul 11, 2023 10:15 am The University of Illinois had two players taken in during day two of the 2023 MLB Draft, both right-handed pitchers. Jack Wenninger is heading to the New York Mets, and Riley Gowens will join the Atlanta Braves organization. Men's, women's basketball season tickets on sale today Jun 12, 2023 9:00 am Season tickets for 2023-24 Fighting Illini men's and women's basketball go on sale today at noon. Both programs are coming off successful campaigns with anticipation high for the upcoming season. Howell advances to third straight 1500m national finals Jun 9, 2023 9:30 am Junior Olivia Howell led the way by qualifying for her third straight 1500m national finals. She aims to become the first Illini in 21 years to win a NCAA title both indoors and outdoors (Perdita Felicien, 60mH and 100mH, 2002). Illinois’ Wang set for Arnold Palmer Cup Jun 8, 2023 9:15 am Wang enters the prestigious tournament after becoming the first Big Ten Champion in Illini program history since 1993, while also garnering Big Ten Player of the Year honors, and leading the program to its first-ever B1G Championship. Terrance Shannon Jr: 'I'm Back' Jun 1, 2023 8:00 am Shannon is a major addition to the 2023-24 Illini lineup. He averaged 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 steals in his inaugural season in Champaign, earning first-team All-Big Ten accolades. 'Here to Stay.' Hawkins returning to Illinois for senior season Jun 1, 2023 8:00 am Hawkins will provide great continuity for the 2023-24 Illini lineup after starting all 33 games last season and leading the team in minutes played (32.5 mpg).