Sorry guys, I’m sick again.

I haven’t been out sick in years, and now I’ve had the flu twice. I was sick for nearly a month after returning from Florida.

Started to feel bad again yesterday and nearly passed out at Kohl Center.

No game story until later. I still have to drive home from Madison then I’ll need some rest.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Nate McNeal rejoined the Illinois football staff as Executive Director of Player Evaluations and Acquisitions, head coach Bret Bielema announced. McNeal returns to Illinois after spending the 2024 season as the General Manager at Syracuse.

"I am excited to bring Nate back to our personnel staff," said Bielema. "Nate is a talented recruiter and evaluator who has built strong connections throughout the state of Illinois and nationwide that helped shape our current roster. He has an established trust and understanding within our building with coaches and staff. We look forward to his return to Champaign."

"I am excited to reunite with Nate," said General Manager Patrick Embleton. "Nate was here from the start with Coach Bielema and embodies everything we look for in our program: tough, smart, dependable. He will be a huge addition in the retention and recruitment of our players and will continue to uphold the value and standards of Illinois."

"Thank you to Coach Bielema, Patrick Embleton, Josh Whitman, and Roger Denny for the opportunity to return to Illinois," said McNeal. "It is a blessing to return to a place that I consider home and be back with the Illini famILLy. The future is bright for this program and I'm excited to be a part of it."

McNeal helped Syracuse to a 10-3 season in 2024 while leading the personnel staff for the Orange. Syracuse brought in the No. 24 transfer class in the nation according to 247Sports, a group that helped the Orange to a 52-35 win over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl to cap the program's first 10-win season since 2018.

McNeal previously served as the Fighting Illini's Director of Player Personnel (2022-23), Director of Recruiting (2021), and Director of High School Relations (2016-18) over the course of six seasons and two stints in Champaign.

A Chicago native and product of Thornwood High School, McNeal has deep ties to the state of Illinois. In addition to his six seasons at Illinois, McNeal spent three years on staff at his alma mater, Northern Illinois, from 2014-16 following a three-year playing career with the Huskies during one of the best eras in NIU history from 2011-13.

McNeal returned to Illinois for a second stint with the Fighting Illini in 2021 to reunite with Embleton during Bielema's first season as head coach. McNeal was instrumental in Illinois' improvements, as the Illini's two-year stretch of recruiting from 2022-23 was Illinois' best since 2008-09 according to 247Sports and Rivals. The 2023 class was Illinois' highest-ranked class since 2009 according to Rivals and highest-ranked since 2011 according to 247Sports, as Illinois had back-to-back top-50 recruiting classes for the first time since 2008-09 according to 247Sports. The Illini also signed back-to-back Illinois Gatorade Players of the Year (WR Hank Beatty, RB Kaden Feagin) for the first time in program history in 2022 and 2023.

Between his first two stints in Champaign, McNeal spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons at Temple as Director of Player Personnel. He oversaw all recruiting efforts for the Owls.

McNeal got his start working in college football at Northern Illinois. He served two seasons on staff at NIU as a graduate assistant for football operations, video, and special teams before being promoted to director of player personnel from January-July 2016.

McNeal was a safety at Northern Illinois from 2011-13. He played in 16 games during his NIU career, including all 14 games as a redshirt senior in 2013. McNeal helped the Huskies win the 2012 MAC Championship Game and become the first MAC team to make a BCS bowl when they played in the Orange Bowl. During McNeal's senior year, he helped the Huskies to an undefeated regular season and berths in the 2013 MAC Championship Game and the 2013 Poinsettia Bowl.

McNeal graduated from Northern Illinois with a degree in communications in 2013 and completed a master's in sports management in 2015.

Turning a negative into a positive:

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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Alex Panos was promoted to co-outside linebackers coach, head coach Bret Bielema announced. Panos will work alongside Trent Harris in leading the outside linebackers room for the Fighting Illini.

"I am excited for the opportunity to promote Alex from within our program after he has showed tremendous growth working with Coach Jamison, Coach Henry, and a number of our assistant coaches over the last three seasons," Bielema said. "Alex's ability to see the game is special. Having Alex and Trent lead our outside linebackers for the final four games last season made a huge impact on our defense. We are looking forward to continuing to have them lead the outside linebackers room."

"I am grateful to Coach Bielema, the staff, and the University of Illinois for this opportunity," said Panos. "It is exciting to continue our program's climb to new heights by building our outside linebackers into better players and people. The best is yet to come!"

Panos finished his third season on the Fighting Illini staff and first as an assistant defensive line coach in 2024. After helping co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Terrance Jamison reload the Illinois defensive line over the first nine games of 2024, Panos moved to the outside linebackers room for the final three regular season games and the Citrus Bowl. The move helped Illinois finish the season with four straight wins to tie the program's single-season wins record (10) and come in at #16 in the final AP Top 25 poll.

The season was capped by a 21-17 victory over #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in one of the biggest bowl wins in program history, as the Illini held the Gamecocks to 14 points under their season scoring average and South Carolina's second-lowest scoring output of the season. Outside linebacker Gabe Jacas, who was named a Phil Steele All-American, had one of the best games of his career in the Citrus Bowl win with eight tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss.

Panos spent the 2023 season as a defensive graduate assistant after serving in a defensive quality control role for the Illini during the 2022 season. In his first three seasons in Champaign, Illinois won 23 games to tie the program's most wins in a three-year span in over 30 years (24 wins, 1988-90).

Panos played college football at St. Thomas (Minn.), where he was a defensive lineman. He was a member of the prestigious NFF Hampshire Honor Society as a senior in 2021 and graduated with a degree in communication and journalism.

Panos is a native of Hartland, Wisconsin, where he helped Arrowhead High School to three state title game appearances.

Panos' father, Joe, was an all-American at the University of Wisconsin, captain of the Badgers' 1993-94 Rose Bowl team, and is now an accomplished sports agent. Panos' brother, George, played college football at Wisconsin and is now a scout for the Houston Texans.

Final: Wisconsin 95 Illinois 74. Blowout.

I'm not coming here to make excuses for BU or this year's team - he's responsible for putting together the roster and for the results as they stand YTD. With a whole new roster with the exception of DGL (a non-starter in previous seasons) I don't think any Illini fan knew what to expect. After a few games we could all see the talent and potential and our expectations rose. These last 3-4 weeks have been extremely frustrating and disappointing. But here is the point I am making: how many fan bases in the B1G conference are happy with their MBB HC? Certainly not IU, and pretty certain not PSU, UW, MN. What about Rutgers? - Pikiell has two Top 5 draft picks and they're NIT bound unless they win the B1G tournament. Think IA fans are pleased with McCaffery? USC is 6-8 in conference, OR 7-8, and NE is 7-8. How much more patience are NE fans going to have with Hoiberg? Altmann and Musselman might get passes this year due to past performance but I doubt their fan bases are giddy with excitement. Collins probably gets a pass from the NW fans due to injuries to key players. So we're not alone in questioning our HC.

I would guess there are only two fanbases truly pleased with their results YTD: Michigan and Wisconsin. Maybe Maryland. Izzo, Painter, and Cronin aren't feeling any heat because of their past track records but I'm guessing a good portion of their fanbases had higher expectations earlier this year.

Outside of the B1G, how do you think ND fans feel about Shrewsbury who was a boy wonder at PSU just 2 years ago? How about Arkansas, North Carolina? What if Kansas or Duke don't reach the E8, or even the FF with the expectations those fanbases have on an annual basis including this season? How about UConn and Hurley this year? Look at the records at Syracuse, Villanova, Virginia, Miami, NC State, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, and LSU. Those are not slouch programs if you look at the last 15-20 years. Bad years happen. BU will need to prove (again) next season that he has the coaching chops to keep the Illini at/near the top of the conference and as a viable S16 tournament team. HIs past track record says he is capable - time will tell.

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Tomislav Ivisic is listed at QUESTIONABLE for tonight on the Big Ten availability report.

Morez Johnson is obviously OUT.

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You have questions? Post them here.

Any idea as to why he’s not playing?

Per Brad Underwood today, Johnson is out indefinitely.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Trent Harris was promoted to outside linebackers coach, head coach Bret Bielema announced. Harris will work alongside Alex Panos in leading the outside linebackers room for the Fighting Illini.

"Since I first coached Trent when he was a player for the New England Patriots and then for the New York Giants, he has impressed me with his knowledge of the game, attention to detail, and commitment," said Bielema. "I could not be more excited about what I saw from both Trent and Alex last season, especially with the way they handled preparations for the final three regular season games and the Citrus Bowl. Trent's experiences as a college and NFL player and his unique ability to connect with people will be a major asset in our building and also on the road in recruiting."

"My wife and I are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the staff at the University of Illinois," said Harris. "I can't thank Coach Bielema enough for all of the support from New England to New York and now to Champaign. I am honored to continue working and developing our outstanding outside linebacker room, both as players and people. It is an exciting time for Illini football under Coach Bielema's leadership and I know the best is yet to come."

Harris spent the 2024 season as the Illini's assistant outside linebackers coach, helping Illinois to one of its best seasons in program history. The Fighting Illini finished the season 10-3, tying the program's wins record, and earned a final ranking of #16 in the AP Top 25. The season was capped by a 21-17 victory over #14 South Carolina in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in one of the biggest bowl wins in program history, as the Illini held the Gamecocks to 14 points under their season scoring average and South Carolina's second-lowest scoring output of the season.

Harris, who took over leadership of the outside linebackers room for the final four games of 2024, helped guide one of the most productive outside linebacker groups in the Big Ten. The room included Phil Steele All-American Gabe Jacas, who finished the regular season in the top 25 nationally in forced fumbles (10th, 3) and sacks (23rd, 8.0), team captain Seth Coleman (53 tackles, 7.0 TFLs), and veteran Alec Bryant (22 tackles, 2.0 TFLs). One of the most impressive games of Jacas' career came under Harris' guidance in the Citrus Bowl, as Jacas consistently disrupted the highly-touted Gamecocks offense and totaled eight tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss in the win.

Harris, a former defensive end at the University of Miami, came to Illinois following a seven-year professional career that included stints in the NFL (2018-22), XFL (2023), and UFL (2024).

During his playing career at Miami from 2014-17, Harris helped lead the Hurricanes to an improved win total and a bowl game each season, culminating in a 10-3 campaign and a berth in the Orange Bowl as a senior in 2017. That season, he was named to the All-ACC Third Team after recording 37 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and a team-high 8.5 sacks. Harris finished his collegiate career with 126 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, three passes defended, three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.

Following his collegiate career, Harris signed a free agent contract with the New England Patriots and played on the team's practice squad during the organization's Super Bowl LIII winning season in 2018 when Illinois head coach Bret Bielema served on the staff under head coach Bill Belichick.

In 2019, Harris returned to South Florida where he played 11 games with three starts for the Miami Dolphins. He spent the next two seasons in New York, reuniting with Bielema for his first season with Giants in 2020 when Bielema was the team's outside linebackers coach and senior assistant. Harris played in four games each in 2020 and 2021, making two starts in that initial campaign. He then spent parts of the 2022 season with the Baltimore Ravens during training camp, and on the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad.

In 2023, Harris earned All-XFL honors for the Houston Roughnecks after leading the league with 9.5 sacks, while tallying 30 total tackles and 12.0 tackles for loss. In 2024, Harris was drafted by the UFL's DC Defenders where he played his final professional season before announcing his retirement in June.

Harris graduated from Miami in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in public relations. He and his wife, Abriana, married in 2021.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois women's basketball has re-entered the national rankings, coming in at No. 25 in the Week 16 Associated Press Top-25 Poll. On an eight-game winning streak, the Fighting Illini hold a 21-5 record overall and an 11-4 mark in Big Ten play.

Holding the longest active winning streak in the Big Ten, the Orange and Blue are ranked in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll for the fifth time this season, the most weeks in the AP rankings since the 1999-2000 campaign when Illinois was included in 13 polls.

The Illini have been ranked in 10 combined AP polls under head coach Shauna Green. In 2022-23, the Orange and Blue appeared in four Top-25 polls, followed by the preseason rankings in 2023-24, the Week 2-5 polls in 2024-25, and this week's poll.

After receiving votes in each of the previous two AP polls, the Illini have now entered the rankings as one of six Big Ten teams in the Week 16 list.

Illinois has now appeared in 73 AP polls all-time across 11 different seasons.

Green joins Naismith Hall of Famer Theresa Grentz as the only coaches in program history to lead their teams to AP Top-25 ranking appearances in three straight seasons. The last time Illinois was ranked in three straight seasons was a five-season span from 1996-97 through 2000-01.

Illinois has now registered a win over a ranked opponent for the third consecutive season, the longest streak since the 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08 campaigns. The Orange and Blue have earned ranked wins over No. 19 Florida State (Nov. 7), No. 23 Iowa (Jan. 9), and No. 14 Maryland (Feb. 2) during their 2024-25 slate.

No. 25 Illinois heads to Los Angeles later this week for ranked road games against No. 3 UCLA (Thursday, 8:30 p.m. CT, Big Ten Network) and No. 4 USC (Sunday, 3 p.m. CT, FS1).

I'm at State Farm Center for Illinois vs. Nebraska. 4 pm tipoff on BTN.

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That was awful.

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