Illinois Fighting Illini: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Illinois Returnees Are 'Hungry' as Team Builds a New Identity for 2026-27

Back in April, for the first time in 21 long years, Illinois earned a Final Four berth . A tradition-rich program always on the precipice of powerhouse status, the Illini inched closer to earning that label and, in the process, Brad Underwood cemented himself as one of the premier head coaches in the program's history.

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Illinois' Loaded Frontcourt Isn't a Finished Product: 'We Got to Get Better'

Consider Illinois’ frontcourt rotation from a season ago: David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic and Ben Humrichous were one of the most uniquely gifted and complementary big-man units in the nation.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 1

Is Freshman Guard Ethan Brown Illinois Basketball's Next Big Surprise?

The initial scouting report on incoming Illinois freshman Ethan Brown: positional size and shooting. A 6-foot-4 backcourt player with lead-guard ability.

Brad Underwood News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 30

Brad Underwood Provides Injury and Availability Updates for Multiple Illini

It has been almost three months since Illinois’ 2025-26 season concluded. After the Illini’s run through the NCAA Tournament was halted in the Final Four against UConn, Illinois coach Brad Underwood and his staff quickly turned the page and shifted into preparation mode for the 2026-27 season.

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

Illinois Basketball Offers Emerging 2027 Wing Jayon Connor

Deep into the summer of 2026, the vast majority of high-major prospects from the class of 2027 have already made themselves known. Illinois has its recruiting targets , but for the most part Brad Underwood and his competitors from the rest of college basketball's high-profie programs are all chasing more or less the same talent at the top.

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

Illinois Basketball's Top 2027 Recruiting Targets by Position

After making a late addition to the 2026-27 roster in early June (in-state 2026 recruit Lincoln Williams ), Illinois has seemingly turned its full summer recruiting attention to the 2027 and 2028 classes.

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

EA Sports' 'College Football 27' Ratings Released: Who Is Illinois' Top-Rated Player?

EA Sports' "College Football 2027" video game ratings were released Thursday, and to no one's surprise, fans were eager to know how high their favorite teams and players were ranked.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 25

Illinois Gets Commitment From Three-Star Safety Tyrone Howard Jr.: What It Means

Illinois football landed a pair of three-star recruits over the past few days in kicker Ulysses Morales and wide receiver Brody Knowles, but coach Bret Bielema and his staff weren't done there.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 22

Illinois Football Receive Commitment From 2027 Kicker Ulysses Morales

While Illinois basketball has spent much of its offseason to this point touting #TheRetention, its counterpart on the gridiron has had less success bringing

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 16

Illinois Football Gets Commitment From Linebacker Anthony James: What It Means

If you thought Illinois coach Bret Bielema and his staff were going to take a little break on the recruiting front over the summer, you thought wrong. The Illini have eight commits in the 2027 class, including five already this month after three-star linebacker Anthony James, from La Marque (Texas), committed to Illinois on Saturday.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 16

Illinois Basketball Offers Five-Star 2028 Center Dylan Betts

Illinois continues to remain quite active in the high school recruiting ranks – and across all positions. Over the course of the past month, coach Brad Underwood and his staff have extended offers to a variety of recruits, ranging from a 6-foot lead guard to a 7-foot-3 center – and everything in between.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 16

Illinois Football Receives Commitment From Edge Ryan Paulsen: What It Means

Last week Illinois landed its first out-of-state recruit in the class of 2027 in three-star tight end Cade Newman , and only two days later, the Illini added a second prospect from the Hawkeye State in edge Ryan Paulsen.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 16

Illinois Basketball Offers Explosive 2027 Four-Star Forward Isaiah Santos

With summer hoops in full gear at the high school level, college coaches from around the country – including, evidently, Illinois’ staff – are pouring themselves into recruiting.

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

Who Will Lead Illinois in 2026-27? Predicting the Illini's Top Statistical Performers

In 2025-26, Keaton Wagler was indisputably the head of the snake for Illinois, but the Illini were by no means a one-man show. They had five players average double-figures scoring, along with six players who grabbed at least 4.0 rebounds per game.

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

Illinois Football Gets Commitment From Quarterback Sladen Shack: What It Means

If you thought Illinois' Bret Bielema wouldn't find a quarterback for his recruiting 2027 class after Kamden Lopati flipped from Illinois to Michigan nearly two months ago, guess again.

College Basketball News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 14

Top Five Players Illinois Basketball Will Face in 2026-27

In recent years, Illinois basketball has gone out of its way to seek out the toughest matchups. As a member of the Big Ten, which has cemented itself as the premier league in the country, the Illini already get their fair share of grueling battles after the New Year.

Bret Bielema News / CFB-HQ on SI / June 13

Illinois Coach Bret Bielema Sounds Alarm on NIL’s Long-Term Impact on College Football

The name, image, and likeness (NIL) era is here. This new era allows boosters to legally pay players to play for them. In some cases, a lot of good has come from the NIL era.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 9

Illinois Basketball Class of 2026 Superlatives: Is Lincoln Williams the Best Athlete?

All the buzz in Champaign has been about "The Retention" – and understandably so, as Illinois brings back five of its eight rotation players from last season's Final Four run.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Total Pro Sports / June 5

What Is Keaton Wagler’s GPA? A Look at the Illinois Guard’s Academic Record

They do not talk about college basketball enough in the pro league circle, which should not be the case for Keaton Wagler. Moving closer to the 2026 NBA

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / June 3

Does Jake Davis Have a Chance to Start For Illinois in 2026-27?

After Jake Davis averaged 9.0 points and 4.5 rebounds for a sub-.500 Mercer squad as a freshman in 2023-24, he made the leap to high-major hoops, landing at Illinois.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Softball On SI / June 2

Illinois Softball All-American Named Head Coach of Program

A former Fighting Illini All-American is back in a new role with the program. University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced the hiring of Jenna Hall as the third head coach in program history on Tuesday.

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

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.