Illinois Featured Content

November calendar example of Illini desktop wallpaper

Need Fighting Illini wallpaper for your desktop or phone?

Nov 1, 2017 9:30 am

Represent! Download Fighting Illini wallpapers here

Eleven Illini to compete in U.S. Paralympics Track and Field World Championships

Oct 14, 2015 11:30 am

Eleven of the 84 athletes on Team USA are from our campus: Chelsea McClammer, Ray Martin, Hannah McFadden, Aaron Pike, Kelsey LeFevour, Jill Moore, Brian Siemann, James Senbeta, Susannah Scaroni, Jessica Rogers and Yen Hoang.

The text "Hail to the Orange" over a football player

Fighting Illini wallpapers and posters released

Jul 3, 2017 1:45 pm

2017 football and Illinois Athletics walpapers are available for free download for desktops, tablets, Android and iOS phones as well as imagery for Facebook and Twitter.

What you need to know about the Grange Grove tailgating area for football gamedays

Aug 18, 2016 9:45 am

Grange Grove is a free, high-energy tailgating area directly west of Memorial Stadium on Fighting Illini football game days, starting with the 2016 season opener against Murray State on Sept. 3.

Two weeks until Illini Football

Aug 21, 2015 2:45 pm

Friday marks two weeks until @IlliniFootball season. The Fighting Illini open in primetime on Friday, Sept. 4, with Kent State coming to Memorial Stadium for an 8 p.m. kick on BTN.

Memorial Stadium of a beautiful, pre-COVID gameday

Illini's 2021 football schedule changed

Feb 8, 2021 9:45 am

The Big Ten announces revised 2021 football schedule with changes to the Wisconsin and Penn State dates for Illinois.

Memorial Stadium, Home of Fighting Illini Football

Football season opener moved from Dublin to Champaign

Feb 18, 2021 9:00 am

The 2021 season opening football game between the Fighting Illini and Cornhuskers will not be played in Dublin, Ireland, due to COVID-19. The game will still be played on Aug. 28, but now it will be held at Memorial Stadium.

compsite of four images of Illini athletes competing

Illini athletes dominate Team USA roster for Tokyo Paralympics

Jun 28, 2021 9:45 am

18 Illini have been chosen to represent Team USA in the Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, and that number could rise as the women's wheelchair basketball team has not yet been selected.

Illini Pride pass now available for Fighting Illini students

Jun 5, 2017 11:45 am

For $99, Illinois students get a ticket to all home football and men's basketball games (except over holiday break), access to Block I (football) and Orange Krush (men's basketball) sections

Graphic shows Fighting Illini Men's Basketball schedule for 2021-22

Big Ten Men's Basketball schedule released

Sep 9, 2021 9:00 am

The Big Ten announced the conference basketball schedule on Wednesday afternoon, completing the 2021-22 Illinois schedule. Illinois opens league play on a Friday night, hosting Rutgers on Dec. 3.

simple map of Europe with destination countries colored orange

Illini Softball to tour Europe in August

Jun 13, 2019 8:30 am

The Illinois softball team will take an 11-day European tour in the fall, traveling to the Netherlands, Belgium, France and England from August 6-16.

Men's Basketball signs Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk

Jun 12, 2019 9:00 am

Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk is a 6-foot-7, 220-pound forward from Lommel, Belgium.

Dick Butkus recalls the 1964 Rose Bowl victory

Aug 7, 2017 9:45 am

Fighting Illini football legend and hall of famer Dick Butkus looks back on Illinois' 1964 Rose Bowl victory over UCLA.

Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame: George Halas

Jun 19, 2017 9:15 am

Before he helped create profressional football and started the Chicago Bears, George Halas played football, baseball and basketball at Illinois.

2019 team photo of the Illini Volleyball team

Illini Volleyball opens 2019 season against Tennessee tonight

Aug 30, 2019 9:15 am

The Illini travel to Knoxville to take on the Vols in their season opener on Friday (7 p.m.) before returning to Huff Hall for the 2019 home opener on Sunday (1 p.m.).

Free student tickets for Illinois vs. Nebraska

Sep 16, 2019 3:30 pm

Illinois students can receive free tickets for the Fighting Illini football game vs. Nebraska.

graphic reads "Fighting Illini Football 2022 Schedule"

Big Ten changes 2022 football schedule

Jan 13, 2022 9:15 am

Illinois' crossover games with the Big Ten East Division now include Indiana, Michigan State, and Michigan. The trip to Indiana has been added to the 2022 schedule and a trip to Penn State has been removed.

Illini basketball signee Brandon Lieb. Photo provided.

Brandon Lieb signs with Fighting Illini Basketball

Jun 29, 2020 9:00 am

Lieb is a 7-0, 210-pound center from Deerfield, Illinois. 'Brandon's skill level and shooting ability stand out right away; he can really space the floor at the 5,' said Illini Head Coach Brad Underwood.

Three Illini football players wearing the new uniforms in blue, orange and white

Fighting Illini Football unveils new uniform designs

Apr 6, 2018 11:00 am

Lovie Smith’s squad will wear Nike Vapor Untouchable uniforms in 2018. Check out the new look

Football student season ticket holders to get priority access to men’s basketball tickets

May 24, 2023 11:15 am

Illinois students who purchase Fighting Illini football season tickets will receive priority access to men's basketball season tickets.

aerial view of Grange Grove during pre-game tailgating

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.

exterior of Madison Square Garden in New York

Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament bracket set

Feb 27, 2018 8:45 am

The bracket is set for the 2018 Big Ten Tournament, scheduled for Feb. 28-March 4 at Madison Square Garden in New York

graphic of the Illini Men's Basketball schedule for 2024-2025

Men's Basketball times & TV announced

Oct 10, 2024 9:15 am

Start times and television designations have been assigned for the majority of games on the 2024-25 Illinois Men's Basketball Schedule.

images of Kofi Cockburn in graphic with text, 'King Kofi'

Kofi Cockburn, Ayo Dosunmu returning for 2020-21

Aug 3, 2020 9:15 am

Center Kofi Cockburn and guard Ayo Dosunmu have both announced their return to Illinois for the 2020-21 season. 'My dream is to play in the NBA. But first I need that national championship,' Dosunmu said.

crowd at Memorial Stadium holding a huge 'Illini shield' banner

Free student tickets for Illini Football vs. Murray State, September 3

Aug 12, 2016 11:45 am

The Fighting Illini and Deloitte LLP are pleased to announce that all students, including student season ticket holders in Block I, will be able to access two complimentary tickets for the Fighting Illini football season opener against Murray State on Sept. 3

orange graphic reads: Olympians MADE HERE

Follow the Fighting Illini in the Paris Olympics

Jul 25, 2024 9:15 am

Five former Fighting Illini, one current student-athlete, and one current assistant coach will represent the Orange and Blue at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.

Fighting Illini Basketball's Peoria pipeline

Dec 15, 2016 11:00 am

When Jerry Hester started his Illini career in '93-94, it started a 20 year run of Peoria players representing the Fighting Illini – including Sergio McClain, Marcus Griffin, Frank Williams, Jerrance Howard, and more

xenior Da'Monte Williams featured on graphic promoting Illinois vs. Nebraska on Feb. 25

Senior Night at State Farm Center: #5 Illini vs. Nebraska

Feb 25, 2021 8:00 am

It will be Senior Night in Champaign, with Trent Frazier, Da'Monte Williams and Zach Griffith set for their final game at State Farm Center. Tonight's game is Illinois' only home appearance over its final six Big Ten games.

graphic image for the 'white out' promotion

Athletics asks you to wear white for Saturday's football game against WIU

Sep 9, 2015 11:30 am

Fighting Illini football encourages fans to help create a WHITE OUT at Memorial Stadium by wearing a white shirt to the game.

Bielema stands midfield in memorial stadium

Head Football Coach Bret Bielema arrives in Champaign

Dec 21, 2020 10:15 am

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, his wife Jen, and daughters Briella and Brexli arrived in Champaign on Sunday. Bielema was hired on Saturday and began his duties as head coach immediately.

Illini fans use placards to spell 'home'

Why do Illini Football players wear 'Grey Ghost' uniforms for Homecoming?

Oct 11, 2018 9:45 am

Facts and history from the Illini Football Homecoming games

a crowd, nearly all dressed in orange, watch an Illini football game pre-COVID

How to watch Illini Football on ACC Network at Virginia

Sep 8, 2021 11:45 am

The ACC Network is not available on Comcast Xfinity. How can I watch if my provider does not carry ACC Network?

the identical twin Braunagel brothers, Zac and Danny. Or Danny and Zac?

Wrestling’s Braunagel brothers: Born to be captains

Jan 26, 2021 1:00 pm

Illini wrestling features a pair of feisty identical twins from southern Illinois: Danny and Zac Braunagel. Early in the Fall of 2019, Coach Jim Heffernan confidently bestowed the title of co-captains to his then redshirt freshman phenoms.

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.

men's basketball game tips off at State Farm Center

Men's Basketball season tickets on sale now

Jun 19, 2018 10:45 am

Fighting Illini Basketball season ticket renewals are available at this time and are being emailed to season ticket holders. New season tickets also are on sale now to the public

image of the interior of the State Farm Center

Welcome back to the State Farm Center for Illinois vs. Notre Dame

Dec 2, 2015 9:30 am

Check out the visitor's guide for the refurbished State Farm Center

Kofi Cockburn faces the camera as the team huddles during a game

Illini Men's Basketball schedule updates

Feb 9, 2021 9:45 am

Rescheduled games are being added to the calendar - at Nebraska, at Michigan State, and hosting Nebraska at the State Farm Center.

graphic showing acceptable and unacceptable conveyances under the new policy

Illinois Football adopts clear bag policy for 2018

Aug 15, 2018 11:45 am

A clear bag policy for entrance into Memorial Stadium is being initiated for the 2018 football season. Illinois joins the other 13 Big Ten schools with either a clear bag or no bag policy

football player Kendrick Green stands beside graphic of football schedule

2020 Illinois Football schedule announced

Sep 18, 2020 2:15 pm

The Fighting Illini are slated to start the abbreviated season at Wisconsin on October 24. Home game opponents for the Illini are Purdue, Minnesota, Ohio State and Iowa. The team will travel to Wisconsin, Rutgers, Nebraska and Northwestern.

Parking changes for Friday night football against Penn State

Sep 19, 2018 9:45 am

The unusual Friday night game comes with some changes to some parking lots and to street closure times

orange-clad students in the Block I cheering section

Free student tickets for Illini Football vs. Ball State

Aug 22, 2017 9:00 am

The Fighting Illini and Deloitte LLP are providing all students two complimentary tickets for the Fighting Illini football season opener against Ball State on September 2.

composite photo of recruits Jayden Epps and Sencire Harris wearing Illini uniforms

Two four-star guards sign with Illinois Men's Basketball

Nov 11, 2021 9:15 am

Head coach Brad Underwood announced Wednesday the signing of four-star recruits Jayden Epps and Sencire Harris to national letters of intent on the first day of the early signing period.

graphic - Block I symbol with green bandana draped over it

Illinois Athletics joins Green Bandana Project

Jul 28, 2020 9:30 am

The program offers student-athletes training that focuses on recognizing and learning how to respond when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis. This peer to peer response can help to encourage those in need to get help.

faces of 12 boundary-breaking Black athletes at UIUC

Illinois Athletics’ African American Pioneers

Feb 1, 2021 9:00 am

As we begin Black History Month, Illini fans should know the names of Hiram Hannibal Wheeler and Roy Mercer Young - two of the men who were instrumental in changing the course of intercollegiate athletics at Illinois.

recent photo of Dion Thomas being recognized on-court during a basketball game

All-time leading scorer Deon Thomas joins Fighting Illini development team

Jul 24, 2019 10:15 am

Thomas will cultivate and solicit Chicago area donors, communicate DIA fundraising efforts and help expand the Illini network in the Chicagoland area.

Josh Whitman reclines with baby on his chest

Thoughts at 40: A letter from Illini AD Josh Whitman

Jul 26, 2018 9:30 am

We will bring people together. We will motivate them toward greatness. We will instill pride and encourage them toward action. And we will win, in every sense of the word

student seating section at an Illini Football game

Free Illini Football student tickets for Western Illinois game

Aug 24, 2018 3:15 pm

The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will offer free tickets to all students, including student season ticket holders, for the football game vs. the Western Illinois Leathernecks on September 8

Braggin' Rights graphic provided by Division of Intercollegiate Athletics

Braggin’ Rights basketball scheduled for Dec. 12

Nov 12, 2020 9:30 am

The two programs will play on campus at either Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo., or State Farm Center in Champaign, Ill. A coin flip will determine the location.

Cockburn named Big Ten Freshman of the Week

Nov 12, 2019 10:00 am

Illinois' Kofi Cockburn had an impressive debut with the Fighting Illini, averaging a double-double on the week while helping lead the team to a 2-1 record.

side-by-side images of Kameno Bell in football gear and in full PPE as an emergency room doctor

Kameno Bell: Illini hero, American hero

Apr 27, 2020 10:00 am

Since 2007, Kameno Bell has served as an emergency medicine physician at New Jersey's Hackensack University Medical Center, just 10 miles from the world's COVID-19 epicenter in New York City.

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