blog navigation

Illinois Featured Content
Victory, Illinois, Varsity!

blog posts

  • two Illini players celebrate

    Illini Football handles Virginia, 24-3

    The Illini scored 24 unanswered points, while the defense held the Cavaliers to 1-for-16 on third down, 1-for-4 on fourth down, and racked up five sacks on the day.

  • five Illini players look weary as they walk up the floor during overtime at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night

    Illini take down No. 2 Texas in overtime

    Illinois fought back from a double-digit second-half deficit to force overtime and take down No. 2 Texas, 85-78. Freshman guard Jayden Epps scored the Illini's final five points of the second half to send the game to overtime.

  • Sophomore William Mroz stands at the net awaiting a serve during his doubles match against Georgia.

    Illinois Men's Tennis takes down No. 13 Georgia

    The Illinois men's tennis team defeated No. 13 Georgia on Wednesday night at the XS Tennis Village in Chicago, Ill. 'The theme of the day was focus,' head coach Brad Dancer said. 'It was a great way to start off Chicago.'

  • Coleman Hawkins elevates for a three-point jump shot in the Illini victory over Syracuse on November 29, 2022

    Hawkins' triple-double leads Fighting Illini past Syracuse

    Coleman Hawkins registered the first Illinois triple-double in two seasons, recording 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Fighting Illini's 73-44 win over Syracuse. Terrence Shannon Jr. led all scorers with 17 points.

  • happy Illini football players along the sidelines in Madison

    Illini overpower Wisconsin for Big Ten West road win

    Illinois picked up its first Big Ten win of the season on Saturday, taking down Wisconsin, 34-10, in Madison for the first time since 2002. The Illini scored 17 points on three takeaways to move to 1-1 in conference play and 4-1 overall.

  • Illini Baseball Head Coach Dan Hartleb

    Hartleb: Winningest coach in Illini Baseball history with victory over Michigan

    Dan Hartleb is now Illinois baseball's winningest coach in program history. With Sunday's victory over Michigan, Hartleb overtook Lee Eilbracht, who finished his Illini career with 518 wins. 

  • Terrence Shannon Jr. shoots a layup in Monday night's game against Monmouth

    Shannon Jr., Epps shine as Illini cruise to win over Monmouth

    Terrence Shannon Jr. had a game-high and career-best 30 points, while Jayden Epps had 21 in their third regular-season contest with the Illini. Dain Dainja had 15 points off the bench, his third straight game in double figures.

  • Olivia Howell poses with championship trophy

    Olivia Howell: NCAA National Champion in Indoor Mile

    Olivia Howell closed out the 2023 indoor track season on top of the mile podium. She crossed first with a 4:34.00 to earn her first NCAA Indoor Championship Title and claim her second-straight Indoor First Team All-American nod.

  • junior guard Makira Cook handles the ball against the Alcorn defense

    Strong guard play propels Illini Women in win over Alcorn State

    Makira Cook led all scorers with 21, while Adalia McKenzie, Genesis Bryant, and Jada Peebles all finished in double figures. The Illini had an efficient day from deep, shooting 52.2% from beyond the arc.

  • Redshirt senior Danielle Davis swings at a pitch

    Davis grand slam powers Illini to upset over Wisconsin at B1G tournament

    With the win, [12] Illinois Softball advances to the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament, with the Illini set to take on [4] Nebraska at Eichelberger Field on Thursday night at 7 p.m. 

  • Terrence Shannon Jr. wades into a group of fans hoisting the Braggin' Rights trophy

    Illini earn Braggin' Rights with 97-73 romp over Missouri

    The Fighting Illini (9-2) had four players score in double figures, led by Terrence Shannon Jr., who secured a double-double with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Quincy Guerrier tacked on 28 points and eight rebounds. 

  • Illini batter at the plate with Nebraska players standing on dugout steps in the background

    Hartleb matches Eilbracht's 518 wins with 10-7 victory over Nebraska

    The Fighting Illini will be back in action on Tuesday, where they will take on the Missouri Tigers in the Braggin' Rights Game at GSC Credit Union Ballpark in Sauget, Ill. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. 

  • orange and blue confettie falls as Josh McCray is named the game MVP following the Illini Citrus Bowl victory.

    Citrus Bowl Champions: #20 Illinois Defeats #15 South Carolina

    Illini Football picked up their 10th win of the 2024 season, equaling the program single-season record and securing 10 victories for the first time since 2001. Josh McCray was named game MVP with two rushing touchdowns.

  • Men's Golf team poses with championship trophy

    Men's Golf closes regular season with impressive tournament win

    The win at the Robert Kepler Intercollegiate at Columbus Country Club secures the Illini's third team title for the 2021-22 season. They now turn their attention to the championship season - starting with the B1G championship this weekend.

  • Marcus Domask looks ferocious after scoring.

    Career nights for Domask, Shannon Jr. lift Illini past Florida Atlantic

    Marcus Domask and Terrence Shannon Jr. put on a show in the Big Apple, combining for 66 points in No. 20 Illinois' 98-89 win over No. 11 Florida Atlantic on Tuesday night. 

  • Coaches and players on the sideline celebrate a three point shot in the new year's day victory over 12th ranked Iowa

    Women's Basketball receiving AP Top 25 votes after upset of Iowa

    Now out to a 13-2 start under Shauna Green, the Illini are coming off their biggest win yet - a New Year's Day upset of Iowa. The last time the Illini appeared in the Top 25 was Nov. 27, 2000, when the team was ranked 24th in the AP poll. 

  • Image Taken At Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Oregon Ducks Men’s Basketball Game, Matthew Knight Arena, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, Thursday, January 2, 2024. Courtney Bay/Illinois Athletics

    Illinois soars past #9 Oregon in emphatic 109-77 road win

    The victory marked the Fighting Illini's first road win over a top-10 team since 2021, surpassing the 100-point scoring mark away from home for the first time since 2016.

  • Kendall Bostic flexes and screams after a tough scoring play

    Bostic, Bryant lead Illini to road win over Northwestern

    No. 21/23 Illinois fought off a late comeback attempt and returned to winning ways with a narrow 67-64 road victory against Northwestern on Sunday afternoon. The Illini move to 16-4 overall and 6-3 in conference play.

  • close up image of a slam dunk by Kofi Cockburn

    Cockburn's return fuels Illini win at Northwestern

    A slow offensive started plagued both teams on Saturday. In the second half both offenses came alive, battling until the last second. But with Kofi Cockburn back and clutch shots from a pair of freshmen, the Illini beat the Wildcats 59-56.

  • Illini Women’s Track and Field wins Big Ten Indoor Championships

    The Illinois men's and women's track and field teams completed the Big Ten Indoor Championships on Saturday (Feb. 24), with the Illini women's program racking up 104 points to claim the title for the first time since 2013. 

  • Coleman Hawkins

    Fighting Illini Are Big Ten Tournament Champions

    Champions. Closing the game on an 8-2 run over the final two minutes, [2] Illinois secured its fourth Big Ten Tournament title in program history, taking down [5] Wisconsin, 93-87, at the Target Center in Minneapolis. 

  • Illini wide receiver Pat Bryant celebrates a touchdown

    Illini dominate Chattanooga in 31-0 shutout

    Illinois closed non-conference play with a resounding 31-0 win against Chattanooga in the first Thursday night fame at Memorial Stadium, moving the Fighting Illini to 3-1 on the season.

  • Terence Shannon, Jr. and Coleman Hawkins high five on State Farm Center court

    Illini down Ohio State, 69-60

    Illinois brought the energy from start to finish in a bounce-back 69-60 win against Ohio State at State Farm Center on Tuesday night.

  • Marcus Domask holds the ball high as he is surrounded by Maryland defenders

    Fighting Illini battle to 85-80 road win at Maryland

    Four Illini scorers reached double figures as No. 14 Illinois secured an 85-80 road win over Maryland at XFINITY Center on Saturday, marking the Illini's first away victory over the Terrapins since 2011. 

  • sophomore forward Erika Porter puts up a short shot inside against Wisconsin

    Illini Women advance with B1G tourney win over Wisconsin

    All five starters tallied double-figures scoring and the team set a tournament record by shooting 75% from beyond the arc, allowing the Illini to dispatch the Badgers for the second consecutive season and advance to today's second round.  

  • Adalia McKenzie moves around a Missouri State defender with the help of a screen by Camille Hobby

    Illini complete comeback in WBIT opener against Missouri State

    Illinois overcame a double-digit second-half deficit to take down Missouri State, 74-69, in the first round of the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament at State Farm Center on Thursday night. 

  • Illini team holds banner reading B1G 2023 Women's Golf Champions

    Women's Golf wins first Big Ten title in program history

    Wang got off to a blistering start, collecting birdies on the first four holes and in five of the first seven, and she didn't slow down on the back, picking up five birdies on holes 10-15 to give her a total of nine birdies on the day. 

  • senior right-handed pitcher Tommy Green delivers a pitch

    Illini Baseball wins Tuesday night battle with Indiana State

    The Fighting Illini won the second game of the season against Indiana State on Tuesday night, 6-3. Jacob Campbell and Cam McDonald led the Illini at the plate, driving in a combined three runs while both tallied hits in the win.

  • men's golf team and coaches pose with the regional trophy

    Illini, Herendeen claim NCAA Stanford Regional titles

    With three top-10 finishers, highlighted by a medalist performance from freshman Max Herendeen, the Illini men's golf team captured the title at the Stanford Regional and punched its ticket through to the 2024 NCAA Championship.   

  • Kate Duong and Megan Heuser pose with Tennis Head Coach Evan Clark

    Fighting Illini close ITA Regionals with doubles championship

    Kate Duong and Megan Heuser concluded Illinois' action at the ITA Midwest Regionals on Monday with a win in the doubles finals. The duo racked up five of Illinois' 15 wins across regional play. 

  • Outside hitter Raina Terry winds up for a kill in Wednesday's match against Penn State

    Illini Volleyball stuns No. 11 Penn State

    In front of a rowdy crowd at Huff Hall, the Illinois volleyball team upset No. 11 Penn State in a four set battle on Wednesday night. The Illini victory was the team's first triumph over a nationally ranked opponent this season. 

  • Kennedy Collins had 12 kills in Wednesday's match against Indiana

    Fighting Illini Volleyball powers past Indiana in five-set thriller

    With the victory, the Fighting Illini own a 11-10 on the year with a 6-5 mark in Big Ten play. The Orange and Blue tallied 55 kills and 66 digs in the match. The team added 49 assists and 10 strikes from the service line.

  • Raina Terry way over the net on a kill against Iowa

    Terry earns all-time points record in triumph at Iowa

    In Sunday's victory over Iowa, Raina Terry paced the Illini with 18 kills. Her 22.5 points in the match gave her 2,311.5 for her career, a new program record. She also became the third B1G player to achieve 200 aces in the rally scoring era. 

  • Redshirt senior, setter Diana Brown, reacts after winning a volley

    Fighting Illini Volleyball earns senior day sweep against Iowa

    On a sentimental Senior Day at Huff Hall on Sunday, Illini Volleyball triumphed over Iowa in straight sets to record the Illini's eighth sweep this season. Their fourth-straight victory helped the team improve to 15-13 overall, 11-8 in Big Ten play.

  • wrestlers face off in a meet held in a parking lot tent

    No. 12 Illinois Wrestling upsets No. 6 Missouri, improves to 4-0

    The No. 12 Illinois wrestling team won their home opening dual over No. 6 Missouri, 23-14, on Thursday, improving to 4-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 season. 

  • junior forward Coleman Hawkins looks at a shot against a Badger defender

    Illini Men's Basketball downs Wisconsin at State Farm Center, 79-69

    The win halted a three-game skid in conference play for the Illini (10-5, 1-3 B1G), while the league-leading Badgers (11-3, 3-1) suffered their first loss since Nov. 29, snapping a string of six consecutive wins.

  • game action image of Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins

    Illini cruise past Nebraska on the road, 76-50

    Five different Illini finished in double figures, and Illinois took advantage of a big second half, outscoring the Cornhuskers, 42-27, in the final 20 minutes of play, to cruise to victory in Lincoln.

  • Adalia McKenzie rises for a layup over Minnesota defenders

    Balanced attack powers Illini to road win over Minnesota

    No. 24 Illinois (15-3, 5-2) went on the road Sunday to beat Minnesota, 70-57, for the Illini's fourth double-digit road win of the season.  Four players finished in double figures in the 13-point victory.

  • Kofi Cockburn dunks against two Wisconsin defenders

    Illini down Badgers for top spot in Big Ten

    In a battle of top-ranked teams with first place in the Big Ten on the line, the No. 18 Fighting Illini took down the No. 11 Wisconsin Badgers 80-67 Wednesday evening, with Kofi Cockburn erupting for 37 points and 12 rebounds.

  • Genesis Bryant controls the ball one-on-one against a Maryland defender

    Bryant's late free throws secure Illinois' last-minute road win over #14 Maryland

    With three lead changes in the final 60 seconds, Genesis Bryant knocked down two free throws with six seconds remaining to give the  Illini their first-ever win against the Terrapins and third win against a ranked team this season. 

  • Adalia McKenzie in the air for an inside shot facing three Northwestern defenders

    Illini complete season sweep over Northwestern in 82-71 home win

    Adalia McKenzie and Makira Cook both scored in double figures, and Kendall Bostic grabbed 13 rebounds with a steal and a block to boot. It was Bostic's fourth game in the last five that she has reached double-digit boards.

  • a chilly Illini baseball team huddles to celebrate their victory Sunday at Abilene Christian

    Illini Baseball earns series win over Abilene Christian

    The Fighting Illini used a six-run eighth inning to rally past Abilene Christian  on Sunday to win their first series of spring baseball. The Illini return to Texas Friday for a three-game set with Texas State in San Marcos. 

  • tomislav ivisic claps his hands in celebration of a scoring play against Iowa.

    Illini return to winning ways with dominant home victory over Iowa

    A balanced scoring night saw Illinois return to the win column with an 81-61 home victory over Iowa at State Farm Center on Tuesday night. Tomislav Ivisic led the scoring with 22 points.

  • senior guard Jada Peebles shoots a jump shot

    Four starters finish in double figures in 75-53 road win over Rutgers

    No. 25 Illinois Women's Basketball set the tone early and dominated from start to finish en route to a 75-53 road win over Rutgers in the team's final game of the regular season.

  • posed shot of Illini Men's Golf team at Southern Highlands

    Illini Men's Golf rallies for big win at Southern Highlands tournament

    The No. 7-ranked Illini men's golf team rallied from 10 shots down during Tuesday's final round to secure an incredible, come-from-behind win against one of collegiate golf's premier fields at the Southern Highlands Collegiate. 

  • Illini catcher Jacob Campbell at bat

    Illini Baseball dominant in win over Butler

    The Fighting Illini took down Butler at Illinois Field Tuesday afternoon for their first home win of the season, 13-4. The Illini have now won three of the last four games and have scored 36 runs during that span.

  • Illini infielders huddle on the pitching mound

    Illini defeat Purdue, split weekend series

    The Illini jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first three innings and never looked back, beating Purdue 9-4. Up next: Illinois takes on Indiana State Wednesday evening, Mar. 30 at 5 p.m. CT at Eichelberger Field.

  • WBIT Inaugural Champions!

    Behind a big second-half surge, Illinois clinched the inaugural WBIT title in a 71-57 victory over Villanova at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Wednesday night. The victory marked the program's first-ever postseason title. 

  • Jacob Schroeder blasts a pitch over the wall in center for a two-run walk-off home run

    Schroeder's walk-off blast caps dramatic sweep of Minnesota

    Fighting Illini baseball (18-18, 7-8) completed a series sweep of Minnesota (10-27, 4-8) with a dramatic 6-5 walk-off victory at Illinois Field on Sunday. 

  • Illini baseball players mob Justin Janas after his game-winning hit

    Illini walk-off Nebraska on Senior Day in wild finish

    The Illini came back from a four-run deficit to take the final game of the series against Nebraska, 5-4. Justin Janas singled home Branden Comia in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Illinois the series win.