Illinois Fighting Illini: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Illinois Climbs to Rightful Spot in Updated Bart Torvik 2026-27 Preseason Rankings

Back in early May, initial Bart Torvik projections for the 2026-27 campaign were released. And the results, at least for Illinois, were unforeseen – to put it mildly.

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Where College Basketball Experts Rank Illinois Heading Into 2026-27

The way-too-early rankings for the 2026-27 campaign all got rolling back in early April, just days (or even a day, in some cases) after the national title game.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 31

Illinois Basketball Offers 2027 Consensus Five-Star Wing DeMarcus Henry

Illinois hasn’t been shy about doling out offers over the past few weeks, and the Illini seemingly know exactly what they want. Aside from a pair of (quite

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 29

Can Illinois' Andrej Stojakovic Become an All-American in 2026-27?

When Illinois initially signed Andrej Stojakovic in the 2025 offseason, there was one very lofty goal: a national title. And after the Illini made a run to the 2026 Final Four, they made it clear that wasn’t an objective outside of striking distance for Stojakovic and his teammates.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 29

Illinois Women's Basketball Signs International Forward Lana Brenjo: What It Means

Doesn't matter if it's the men or women: If you can hoop, regardless of where you're from, Illinois basketball will recruit you. Brad Underwood currently has four international players on his roster, and now Shauna Green has added a fifth to her women's club after landing forward Lana Brenjo on Wednesday.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 28

Social Media Reacts to Andrej Stojakovic Announcing His Return to Illinois – Again

For the second time this offseason, Andrej Stojakovic has announced he is returning to Illinois.Yes, the second time. Because apparently one commitment announcement was not dramatic enough for Illini fans, who were briefly allowed to feel peace before being launched directly back into offseason panic mode .

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Athlon Sports / May 27

Illinois Reacts to Andrej Stojakovic’s Career Decision on Wednesday

The Illinois Fighting Illini entered Wednesday anxiously waiting for one of the biggest roster decisions of the college basketball offseason. After testing the NBA Draft process and participating in the NBA Combine earlier this month, Andrej Stojakovic officially made his long-awaited decision just before the withdrawal deadline.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 24

Illinois Football Flips Wide Receiver Nathan Cichy: What It Means

Before Friday morning, Bret Bielema had four wide receivers committed to the program for the fall, but that number is now up to five after wide receiver Nathan Cichy decommitted from Harvard and picked Illinois on Friday.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 21

Illinois Pursuing a Different Type of Target in 2027 Four-Star Lewis Uvwo

We say it in this space time and again: If Brad Underwood and Illinois offer a high school prospect, that recruit is, among other things, almost surely a gifted shooter (one recent offer certainly fits into that category ).

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 20

Illinois Basketball Enters Race for 2027 Five-Star Prospect Moussa Kamissoko

Brad Underwood and his staff are known to have an eye for talent. Keaton Wagler , who ranked outside the nation's top 250 in his high school class (per 247Sports’ composite rankings), is the prime example.

Bret Bielema News / The Spun / May 20

Bret Bielema Makes Absurd Suggestion For College Football Playoff

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema has resurrected his coaching career across several very successful years with the Illini. But he might have made some brand new enemies with his support of College Football Playoff expansion.

Kylan Boswell News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 19

What is Illinois Guard Kylan Boswell's NBA Draft Ceiling – and His Floor?

A five-star recruit coming out of high school, Kylan Boswell has long been viewed as an NBA prospect. But after two seasons at Arizona, there was work to be done (even after Boswell shot 38.2 percent from long distance over those two years).

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 18

Do the 2026-27 Big Ten Basketball Matchups Favor or Hurt Illinois?

Illinois basketball last season played a rough-and-tumble non-conference schedule, and its NCAA Tournament draw wasn't exactly a walk through the quad.

Bret Bielema News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 18

Illinois Football Adds Another JUCO Recruit in Joshua Davis: What It Means

Bret Bielema signed his fifth junior college recruit for the 2026 class on Wednesday in tight end Benjamin Thurman , and as expected, the Illinois coach added his sixth JUCO recruit two days later when three-star defensive lineman Joshua Davis announced his decision Friday.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 17

Illinois Football Lands Three-Star Offensive Lineman Soren Fifer – What It Means

Earlier this week, Illinois football saw Cameron Wagner – a four-star in-state offensive lineman from St. Joseph-Ogden – slip through its grasp and instead sign with Big Ten rival Oregon.

Kylan Boswell News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 16

How Illinois' Kylan Boswell Performed in 2026 NBA Draft Combine Scrimmages

After an underwhelming performance in shooting drills at the NBA draft combine ( but plus measurements and solid athletic testing ), Illinois guard Kylan

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 14

Projecting Illinois' Preseason Ranking With – and Without – Andrej Stojakovic

Once college basketball rosters are finalized, a fairly vivid picture will be painted for the upcoming season. There will be whispers and buzz (as there was with Illinois’ Keaton Wagler in the 2025-26 preseason, but once the main characters are settled, there are rarely seismic changes that drop or boost a club’s stock in a drastic manner.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Yardbarker / May 14

Brad Underwood could stick with Illinois through 2036 because of new extension

The Illinois Fighting Illini like head basketball coach Brad Underwood, and they have plenty of reason to.

Illinois' Brad Underwood gets contract extension through 2032

UConn's Dan Hurley puts a price on being a college basketball contender in NIL era

NCAA Tournament expansion a sacrifice mid-majors forced to make in rev-share era

Kylan Boswell News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 14

Kylan Boswell Shows Athleticism – But a Shaky Shot – at 2026 NBA Draft Combine

Illinois’ least-discussed NBA Draft prospect: senior guard Kylan Boswell. With freshman standout Keaton Wagler being projected in the top five and Andrej Stojakovic’s every move being closely monitored, as his Illini future appears to hinge on the NBA Draft Combine, Boswell has slid into the background.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 10

Andy Katz Projects Illinois as Top Seed in 2027 NCAAs – Is That the Expectation?

Illinois hasn’t been to the Final Four in all of … one month . Naturally, though, the Illini are seeking to make the final weekend of college hoops a common occurrence for the program rather than an anomaly (2026 was Illinois' first Final Four appearance since 2005).

Ty Rodgers News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 9

Ty Rodgers Makes Transfer From Illinois Official – Who Wins, Who Loses?

At some point over the past six months or so, too many factors were pushing Ty Rodgers toward the State Farm Center doors for him to resist the idea of

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Softball On SI / May 7

4 Candidates Illinois Softball Should Consider for Head Coach

The Illinois Fighting Illini parted ways with softball head coach Tyra Perry on Monday. Now, a national search for a new leader by Chief Sports Officer

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Softball On SI / May 4

Illinois Softball Parts Ways with Head Coach Tyra Perry

The University of Illinois announced on Monday that it was parting ways with the softball program's head coach, Tyra Perry. Perry spent 11 years at the helm of the Fighting Illini and signed a contract in 2023 that extended her through the 2027 season.