blog posts 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. Former Illini Basketball Assistant Coach Jimmy Collins passes away Dec 14, 2020 8:45 am The Fighting Illini basketball family is grieving the loss of revered, long-time assistant basketball coach Jimmy Collins, who passed away early Sunday morning, December 13, in Chicago. He was 74 years old. 2020 Fighting Illini football season opener vs. ISU Nov 25, 2019 2:30 pm The Big Ten Conference announced Monday that it has moved Illinois' 2020 football season opener against Illinois State to Friday night, Sept. 4. Women's Basketball welcomes Cydnee Kinslow for 2016 Jul 6, 2016 9:30 am A 6-foot-2 native of Oakley, California, Kinslow was a varsity captain all four years of her high school career and helped her club team, the Cal Stars, to a 56-1 record during her career. Illini Soccer to play first match at Demirjian Park on Sunday vs. Colorado College Sep 10, 2019 10:00 am Illini Soccer's first match at Demirjian Park is Sunday at 1 p.m. Currently in the process of construction, Demirjian Park is located at 606 St. Mary's Road. Illini take back the hat on Senior Day Nov 28, 2021 8:45 am Illini Football put up a dominant performance against Northwestern on Saturday evening, securing a 47-14 Senior Day victory. Illinois' win brings the Land of Lincoln Trophy back to Champaign after a six-year drought. 2017 Illinois Football season tickets are available now Feb 21, 2017 8:00 am Mark your calendar for these ticket sale dates. Right now 2017 season tickets are available to renew or purchase Illinois’ TailGREAT returns Sept. 21 after 30-year hiatus Aug 6, 2019 8:30 am TailGREAT, the popular 1980s tradition of competitive tailgating, returns Saturday, Sept. 21 when the Illini take on Nebraska. Fans will compete for the Best BBQ and Most Creative Tailgate. Watch the Illinois Homecoming welcome narrated by Dick Butkus Oct 18, 2019 11:00 am See the stirring video featuring Dick Butkus on the Homecoming tradition at Illinois. Illini Women's Basketball hosts No. 16 Ohio State on Thursday Jan 6, 2021 1:00 pm Tipoff between the Illini and the Buckeyes is set for 6 p.m. (BTN). The Illini are looking to snap a seven-game Buckeyes win streak. The last Illini win the series was Feb. 14, 2015, a 66-55 decision in Champaign. Illini Basketball attendance Once again in top 25 Aug 19, 2020 1:30 pm Illinois ranked 24th nationally in men's basketball home attendance during the 2019-20 season, averaging 13,041 fans across 18 games at State Farm Center, for a total of nearly a quarter million spectators. 2020 Illini Football schedule announced Aug 5, 2020 10:45 am The revised 2020 Illinois football schedule was released by the Big Ten Conference today, with the Fighting Illini opening the season September 3 with a Thursday Night Special against Ohio State at Memorial Stadium. NFL Experience: No one has more than Illini staff Aug 23, 2016 10:00 am The Illini staff's 56 seasons of combined NFL head and assistant coach experience is the most in college football in 2016. Watch seven Illini in the Rio Olympic games Aug 4, 2016 9:45 am One current and six former Fighting Illini student-athletes are set to represent their countries in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Opening Ceremonies are on Friday, Aug. 5. Grange Grove concert series for 2016 announced Aug 10, 2016 12:00 pm Fighting Illini Athletics is excited to announce the pregame concert series – including Jerrod Niemann and Parmalee – that will take place in Grange Grove, free of charge, before football games during the 2016 season. Swimming & Diving opens season with dual meet in West Lafayette Jan 14, 2021 4:45 pm Illini Swimming & Diving opens its abbreviated season this week with a double dual meet on Saturday, January 16. The team will take on Purdue and Michigan State starting at 1 p.m. (CT. ) No joke: $10 tickets to the 2016 llini Football opener if you act now Apr 1, 2016 11:15 am From Friday, April 1 at 12:01am until Sunday, April 3, at 11:59pm, fans who wish to be part of Lovie Smith's first game as head coach can order $10 tickets (min. four) for the home opener against Murray State on Sept. 3. Illinois has changed plans for a multimillion-dollar football facilities project Jun 21, 2017 11:45 am Chicago Tribune (June 20) Renovation of the south horseshoe of Memorial Stadium will be put on hold in favor of a new building attached to an indoor practice facility. Fighting Illini Football heading to Ireland in 2021 Oct 15, 2019 8:00 am The Illini will travel to Ireland for a Week Zero game (August 21, 2021) against Nebraska as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Series in Dublin. Dee Brown's open letter to Illini Nation Feb 9, 2016 9:45 am Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics and @Illini Basketball great Dee Brown has a message for Fighting Illini fans. Grange Grove: The place to be on Illinois Football gameday Aug 24, 2017 4:45 pm Grange Grove is a high-energy tailgating area directly west of Memorial Stadium. Check it out, beginning with the 2017 season opener on September 2 against Ball State Women's Basketball: Illini, Spartans set for Thursday tip Jan 13, 2021 11:00 am Sunday's matchup is the 73rd in the series between the Illini and the Spartans. Michigan State leads the all-time series, 44-28, including an 18-15 advantage in games played in Champaign. Illini Softball set to open Eichelberger Field with seven-game homestand Mar 19, 2019 8:30 am After five weeks on the road, Illini Softball returns to Eichelberger Field for a seven-game homestand, starting Tuesday against IUPUI, before facing off against Indiana State in a doubleheader on Wednesday. See current, former Illini golfers in the US Open Jun 16, 2015 11:45 am Fighting Illini Men's Golf will be represented well at this weekend's U.S. Open. Two former Illini, D.A. Points and recent graduate, Brian Campbell will join current Illini, Nick Hardy, in the Championship IHSA Boys State Basketball Tournament will return to Champaign Jun 16, 2020 9:15 am The Illinois High School Association announced that its Boys State Basketball Tournament will return to the State Farm Center in Champaign for three years, through 2023. Illini Football GameDay information Aug 26, 2021 12:30 pm Football fans at Memorial Stadium will notice several changes while attending games in 2021. Illinois opens Bret Bielema's first season as Fighting Illini head coach by hosting Nebraska on Aug. 28 with a 12:20 pm CT kickoff. Brooks Black's pin wins thriller for Illini Wrestling Feb 8, 2016 9:00 am With their backs against the wall two different times at Huff Hall, the Fighting Illini grapplers showed grit and determination to win a wild finish against Northwestern 'Gray Ghost' uniforms return for Homecoming Oct 25, 2017 12:15 pm For the fourth straight year, Illini football will honor Harold "Red" Grange by wearing special "Gray Ghost" alternate uniforms for Homecoming Illini Baseball heads to Iowa for three-game series May 14, 2021 11:00 am The Illinois baseball team will travel to Iowa City, Iowa, to take on the Hawkeyes this weekend. The Illini have two series remaining on the road this season. Former Illini tennis player Rajeev Ram won his second Hall of Fame Tennis Championships Sunday Jul 20, 2015 9:00 am Ram will move into the ATP top 100 and secured a spot in the US Open. Four-star center Kofi Cockburn joins Fighting Illini Basketball Apr 25, 2019 9:15 am The 7-foot, 290-pound Cockburn is one of the top-rated centers in the country, highest-ranked post player to join Illini Men's Basketball since current Portland Trail Blazer Meyers Leonard in 2010. All-time great Isaiah Martinez returns to Illini Wrestling staff Jun 13, 2022 2:30 pm University of Illinois wrestling coach Mike Poeta has added one of the most-storied wrestlers in Fighting Illini history to his coaching staff with the announcement that Isaiah Martinez is joining the staff as an assistant coach. Celebration of Title IX's 50th to culminate with Illini women's summit & reunion Jun 21, 2022 9:15 am The theme for the Sept. 9 event is 'How it Started … How it's Going.' Alumna Sheila Johnson is the keynote speaker. Taylor Rooks, also a UI graduate and nationally known sports journalist and broadcaster, will serve as emcee. Tour the Demirjian Indoor Golf Facility Dec 19, 2017 9:30 am Take a look inside the home of Illinois men's and women's golf. Head coaches Mike Smalland Renee Slone talk in detail about the Demirjian Indoor Golf Facility Ruth emerges as first Illini Big Ten champion since 2018 Mar 11, 2024 8:15 am '(Edmond) Ruth is really starting to cement himself as a national title threat. Him becoming the first Big Ten champion for us since (now-assistant coach for the Illini) Isaiah Martinez is truly incredible,' said head coach Mike Poeta. 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. Michelle Bartsch-Hackley: Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Jul 30, 2020 9:15 am The many accomplishments of former Fighting Illini volleyball standout and 2020 Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Michelle Bartsch-Hackley. Demirjian Park Grand opening: New home for U of I soccer, track and cross country Apr 8, 2021 10:00 am Demirjian Park allows Illinois to host Big Ten and NCAA championship competition in both soccer and track and field. It is expected to become a destination location for training and competition by elite and youth athletes. Illini Track alumna Ashley Kelly qualifies for Rio Olympics Apr 13, 2016 12:30 pm Former Fighting Illini sprinter Ashley Kelly qualified for this summer's Rio Olympic Games in the 200m. Illini Basketball alum Steve Lanter gives $2.5M to Ubben project Jul 8, 2021 9:15 am Expansion will add 40,000 square feet and remodel much of the existing building. New coaches' office spaces, a grand entry, two new half courts, new strength and conditioning space, bigger locker rooms and a state-of-the-art sports medicine area. Friday night is Illinoise Night at Huff Oct 5, 2017 9:30 am Fighting Illini volleyball will host the popular IlliNOISE Night on Friday, October 6 in a BTN-televised match against No. 18 Purdue at 7 p.m. CT in Huff Hall Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament moved to Indianapolis Feb 10, 2021 9:15 am Men's Basketball Tournament relocated from United Center in Chicago to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Hosting both the men's and women's tournaments in the same city allows for cohesive testing and medical protocols for both events. Illini Softball season kicks off with tournament at Florida International University Feb 12, 2016 10:30 am The Illinois softball is set to open the 2016 with its first of five tournaments this season: The JuiceBlendz FIU Invitational, hosted by Florida International on Feb. 12-14 at the FIU Softball Stadium. Former Illini star Kevin Anderson ousts Roger Federer at Wimbledon Jul 11, 2018 2:15 pm Chicago Tribune (July 11) Kevin Anderson, who played at the University of Illinois, knocked defending champion Roger Federer out of Wimbledon Wednesday Men's Basketball: Meet the newcomers Oct 23, 2019 10:00 am Head coach Brad Underwood, entering his third season at Illinois, welcomes five newcomers to the 2019-20 squad - three freshmen and two transfers. Big Ten conference schedule released for Men's Basketball Aug 25, 2016 2:45 pm Illinois will open conference play on the road, traveling to Maryland on Dec. 27. The Illini then welcome Ohio State to State Farm Center on New Year's Day. Illini Baseball's Cody Sedlock off to impressive start Feb 24, 2016 10:30 am Sedlock was the only opening day starter in the nation to strikeout 10 or more against a ranked opponent Louise Kwong named Big Ten Women's Tennis Athlete of the Week Mar 29, 2017 8:15 am The Illinois senior Kwong won all five of the matches she finished last weekend, highlighted by the No. 1 singles match that clinched the 5-2 Illini victory over Maryland. Illini Volleyball recruiting class ranked No. 7 in nation May 31, 2017 4:15 pm The 2017 Illinois volleyball recruiting class has been ranked as the seventh-best class in the country as rated by PrepVolleyball.com's John Tawa. Ayo Dosunmu returns Jan. 6 for Honored Jersey unveiling Dec 9, 2021 10:00 am Fighting Illini all-time great and current Chicago Bulls rookie guard Ayo Dosunmu will return to the U of I campus on Thursday, Jan. 6, participating in a ceremony as he joins the Illinois Basketball Honored Jerseys program.