blog posts 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. 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. 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 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. '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. 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. 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 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. 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 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. 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. Atkins Group gives Stone Creek Golf Club to Illinois Athletics Jun 30, 2020 9:30 am The golf club will remain closed for the 2020 season while undergoing improvements, and re-open as a championship-caliber public course and the home of the Fighting Illini men's and women's golf programs. The gift value exceeds $15 million. Edwards named NCAA Woman of the Year nominee Jul 15, 2020 10:30 am Taylor Edwards, a standout pitcher for the Fighting Illini softball program for four seasons before joining the women's basketball team for her final year of eligibility in 2019-20, has been named as a nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year. 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. Don't miss a moment: Basketball season tickets now on sale Jun 28, 2019 11:00 am Fighting Illini Basketball season ticket renewals are underway, and new season tickets are on sale now to the general public as well. Illinois Volleyball unveils spring schedule Feb 7, 2024 8:00 am The Illini open the spring schedule with a match against DePaul on March 8. First serve from Huff Hall is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. CT. Admission is free. BigTen Basketball schedule starts a week earlier than previous seasons Aug 17, 2017 8:30 am Illinois opens at Northwestern (Dec. 1) in Rosemont because the Wildcats are playing their home games at Allstate Arena this season during the renovation of Welsh-Ryan Arena 2001 and 2002 Big Ten Champions to be honored Saturday Dec 14, 2021 10:15 am Illini Men's Basketball will hold an alumni reunion this weekend, in conjunction with Saturday's home game against St. Francis PA (12 p.m., BTN)., including special recognition to mark the 20-year anniversary of back-to-back Big Ten championships. Lovie Smith named Illini Football coach Mar 7, 2016 1:45 pm Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman took a major step in elevating Fighting Illini football in the national landscape with the hiring of longtime NFL coach Lovie Smith as head football coach. Fighting Illini Athletics set to host Spring Sports Fest Apr 9, 2024 9:00 am Fighting Illini Athletics is set to host Spring Sports Fest from April 12-14, featuring 11 home events across four sports - Track & Field, Softball, Baseball, and Women's Tennis. 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. Guide to football gameday traffic - amid campus construction Sep 20, 2017 8:45 am To insure that your game day experience is an enjoyable one, we have created this informational guide designed to provide you with Illinois Football game day information.