CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football team will enter back-to-back home games at Memorial Stadium as the #23 team in the AP Top 25 the Coaches Poll. The #23 Fighting Illini host Purdue on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT.

#23 Illinois is ranked in the AP poll for the fourth straight week. The Illini are off to a 4-1 start including two AP Top 25 ranked wins.

The Illini defense ranks 12th in the nation in scoring defense (14.2) through five games. The defense has forced 10 turnovers, ranking 15th in the nation, and features the 20th-ranked passing efficiency defense (110.7). Xavier Scott is tied for the Big Ten lead with three interceptions, which is tied for third in the nation, and Gabe Jacas has 3.0 sacks to help Illinois rank 24th in the nation in sacks (2.6 per game).

Offensively, QB Luke Altmyer has been one of the top quarterbacks in the nation, ranking 14th nationally in completion percentage (70%) and fourth in the Big Ten in passing touchdowns (11). Altmyer has found WR Pat Bryant on six touchdown passes, ranking Bryant fifth in the nation in receiving TDs.

After taking on Purdue on Oct. 12 at 2:30 p.m. CT, the #23 Fighting Illini return to Memorial Stadium for the Memorial Stadium Rededication Game against #24 Michigan on Oct. 19.

Tickets for the Purdue and Michigan games are available at FightingIllini.com. Fewer than 1,500 tickets remain for the Oct. 19 matchup against Michigan.

I've seen he's been putting up some pretty impressive numbers in his 4-0 start to the season. Also read that the coaches went and looked at another QB that was a UCLA commit so the wouldn't be caught "Flat Footed"......

Can we get some color on the QB situation for next year?

How firm is Carson Boyd? Hear he's a good recruiter on our behalf. Will he get a 4th star? Can you share a comp for what we can expect? Are the big dogs trying to swoop in and steal him?

What is the story with Newton? Thought we landed him by committing to giving him a shot at QB. Is that a legit position for him? If not, what is his natural position?

Are our current younger guys a possibilty?

Any opining or gossip on life after Altmeyer would be appreciated.....

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Just heard from the UCLA QB commit who tells me that Coach Bielema was at his practice yesterday. Illinois is one of a few teams checking in on him.

I’m told the team still likes Carson Boyd but wants to make sure it’s not caught flat-footed just in case.

Big man from Canada who is blowing up. He has only been playing basketball for five years.

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URBANA, Ill. – For the first time in program history, the University of Illinois men's golf team will host an NCAA postseason tournament. The Fighting Illini have been selected as hosts of one of six NCAA Regional sites this spring and will welcome some of the top teams in the country to Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois, May 12-14, in the first step on the road back to the NCAA Championship.

"We are thrilled to be selected to bring an NCAA Regional to the Urbana-Champaign community this spring," head coach Mike Small said. "It is a tremendous honor to host, and we are grateful to be in a position to welcome peers from around the country to our home at Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois.

"This is an incredible opportunity to not only share our world-class facilities, but to showcase the unmatched passion and support of the Fighting Illini fanbase. Our program prides itself on our tradition of excellence in the postseason, and we can't wait for the opportunity to compete on that stage, in front of the best fans in college golf."

Illinois (Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois; Urbana, Illinois) and Auburn (Auburn University Club; Auburn, Alabama) were added to a list of regional hosts, replacing Arkansas and Oklahoma State. The remaining four previously announced regional hosts for 2025 are Florida State (Seminole Legacy Golf Club; Tallahassee, Florida), Liberty (Poplar Grove Golf Course; Amherst, Virginia), Nevada (Montreux Golf Club; Reno, Nevada), and Washington (Gold Mountain Golf Club; Bremerton, Washington).

Each regional will feature 13 or 14 teams and five or 10 individual qualifiers. The top five squads and the low individual not on an advancing team, will move on to compete at the NCAA Championship on the North Course at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California, May 23-28.

The Fighting Illini have made 22 NCAA Regional appearances since 1989, with 19 of those coming under Small's guidance, including each of the last 16 dating back to 2008. Small's teams have won six NCAA Regional Championships since 2013, including last spring at Stanford. Small's six regional championships rank tied for fourth among all head coaches in NCAA history and third among active head coaches.

In addition, Small's Illini squads have advanced past regionals to the NCAA Championship 17 times overall and in 15 of the last 16 years. The Illini have also made nine NCAA match play appearances, tied for the most in the nation since the current format was adopted in 2009.

Originally known as Stone Creek Golf Club, the course opened in 1999, and in 2020 ownership shifted as The Atkins Family made an incredible gift of over 300 acres of real estate to the University of Illinois and the University of Illinois Foundation, including the $15 million golf course which was renamed Atkins Golf Club at the University of Illinois.

Illinois Athletics partnered with architect Drew Rogers to enhance the already strong golf course by rebuilding all greens, relocating many and rebuilding all bunkers using the Better Billy Bunker system, and adding length to allow the teams to stretch the course over 7500 yards. The renovation has resulted in a championship venue that provides a challenging golf experience.

Since reopening the course in 2022, the Illini men's golf program hosted the Fighting Illini Spring Collegiate at the venue in both 2023 and 2024.

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Sophomore WR Ashton Hollins will have season-ending surgery on his shoulder. He will likely petition the NCAA for a medical redshirt.

OLB Daniel Brown has been out with an injured back since week 2. They are starting to work him into practice. Bielema said they may play him in four games then decide if they want to redshirt him.

CB Kaleb Patterson went through concussion protocol but should be cleared for practice next week.

Four committed prospects Illinois checked on this week.

Projected Big Ten basketball 2024-25 standings​

(first-places votes in parenthesis):

1. Purdue, 572 (20)

2. Indiana, 549 (7)

3. UCLA, 510 (2)

4. Illinois, 458 (2)

5. Michigan State, 448 (1)

6. Oregon, 412

7. Rutgers, 391

8. Ohio State, 369 (1)

9. Michigan, 342

10. Maryland, 263

11. Iowa, 249

T-12 Wisconsin, 212

T-12 Nebraska, 212

14. USC, 196

15. Washington, 158

16. Northwestern, 153

17. Penn State, 87

18. Minnesota, 62

Bielema spoke to the media today via Zoom.

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ROSEMONT, Ill. (Oct. 1, 2024) – Purdue junior guard Braden Smith has been named the 2024-25 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year, as chosen by a select media panel, the conference office announced on Tuesday.

Smith is coming off a record-breaking season for the Boilermakers, setting school and Big Ten records with 292 assists, while leading the Boilermakers to their first NCAA championship game appearance since 1969. Smith was the only player in the country to average at least 12.0 points, 7.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game and became just the second player in NCAA history to amass at least 450 points, 275 assists and 225 rebounds in a season.

The media panel also selected a 10-member Preseason All-Big Ten Team. Nine of the Big Ten’s 18 teams are represented on the team, with Smith the lone unanimous selection.

The Purdue guard is joined by Indiana’s Oumar Ballo, Iowa’s Payton Sandfort, Minnesota’s Dawson Garcia, Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton, Northwestern’s Brooks Barnhizer, Oregon’s Jackson Shelstad, Penn State’s Ace Baldwin Jr., Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, and Washington’s Great Osobor.

Six members of the 2024-25 Preseason All-Big Ten Team garnered All-Big Ten honors last season. The league’s coaches named Smith to the First Team, while Baldwin, Barnhizer, Garcia, and Sandfort earned Third Team honors. Thornton received Honorable Mention.

The 2024-25 preseason All-Big Ten team can be found below.

2024-25 Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Oumar Ballo, R-Sr.+, C, Indiana
Payton Sandfort, Sr., F, Iowa
Dawson Garcia, Sr., F, Minnesota
Brooks Barnhizer, Sr., G, Northwestern
Bruce Thornton, Jr., G, Ohio State
Jackson Shelstad, So., G, Oregon
Ace Baldwin Jr., Sr+, G, Penn State
BRADEN SMITH, Jr., G, Purdue*
Dylan Harper, Fr., G, Rutgers
Great Osobor, Sr., F, Washington

2024-25 Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Braden Smith, Purdue

Unanimous selection listed in ALL CAPS

* First, I think James Franklin is too married to his quirky (and supposedly creative) offense. Penn State play-calling kept Illinois in the game at times. They could bulldoze Illinois with the running game, but often got too cute. Why are they playing two quarterbacks? Seems like it's just to be different. With the way they have recruited, Penn State should be better. They are good, but not as good as they are on paper.

* We saw what happens when Illinois 1. can't run the ball consistently and 2. are in obvious passing situations. The interior of the offensive line isn't athletic enough (recruiting issue) to handle high level defensive linemen like Penn State recruits or pick up blitzes. They didn't just get beat physically either. They botched several pass pro schemes and left guys unblocked. Snaps for Hunter Whitenack and Kevin Wigenton at guard. Will there be a change in the staring lineup? Altmyer was a sitting duck on passing downs. Bret Bielema commented in the post game that Luke has to get rid of the ball quicker, but I'm not buying it.

* I'm starting to not like the running back by committee approach To me, it should be Mr. Inside Kaden Feagin and Mr. Outside Cal'il Valentine. That's it. McCray has his moments and is a good pass blocker, but he just doesn't have enough acceleration. He's pretty good on screens, though. Just has a knack for them. Laughery should be a slot receiver, IMO. He's not a natural runner. He's going nowhere on inside handoffs. Just not physical enough, and not very good vision. If he had the instincts to jump cut and bounce runs outside, it might be different.

* Dylan Rosiek and Ryan Meed both played middle linebacker, and were not in the same league as Nicholas Singleton. Mismatch. They are try-hard types and team players. I appreciate that. But not enough speed and quickness. That stats are misleading. The pair combined for 13 tackles, but they were often 6-8 yards downfield. For some reason, Illinois hasn't targeted linebackers with more length and range on the recruiting trail. Short guys who can't run. I would probably play James Kreutz more. In this 3-4 and often 3-3-5 scheme, linebackers have to be able to run and make plays in space.

* The Illini secondary keeps them in games. They're very aggressive in coverage without being handsy, which is hard to do. And all of them are solid, wrap-up tacklers. DB coach Corey Parker marches to the beat of his own drummer but he has had a very positive impact. Matthew Bailey 9 tackles. Miles Scott 7 tackles including 6 solo tackles.

* I didn't think Illinois had a chance in this game if they weren't at last +2 in turnover margin. They were instead -2 (Essentially -1. The last fumble by Almyer didn't have any impact on the outcome of the game).

* There are four games left on the schedule in which Illinois should be favored (Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Northwestern), two in which they will be underdogs (Oregon, Michigan) and one toss up (Rutgers). I think Rutgers will fall off. I see them losing to Nebraska, Wisconsin, and USC.

* Good time for the bye week. Lick your wounds, re-group, then go curb stomp Purdue and Ryan Walters. (Will he last the season?).

Final: Penn State 21 Illinois 7

Nittany Lions limited Illinois to 59 yards of total offense in the second half.

Illinois opens practice on Monday, September 30.

Nothing new yet on the eligibility of Tomislav Isivic.

Still expecting Brandon Lee to commit this week. I think Seton Hall is still working on him, but I'd expect it to be Illinois barring a last minute surprise.

With the addition of Lee, they will be full up for 2025-26, but there will be attrition, whether it's the NBA Draft or the portal.

Illinois is trying to lock in visits with top 25 prospects Mikel Brown Jr. and Shon Abaev. Both are long shots, IMO. No. 84 ranked Treyvon Maddox will visit the weekend of October 18.

Australian guard Jacob Furphy is set to visit the weekend of October 4. I don't think Illinois is real serious about him, at least not yet. Seems to be Plan B / C.

Illinois will play Butler in a closed scrimmage in the preseason.

Purdue fired Graham Harrell. No interim has been named and no one on the current staff has called plays at the college level. Have a feeling Walters seat is gonna get hot.