Illinois Fighting Illini: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

3 Key Takeaways From Illinois Basketball's Summer Highlights

On Wednesday, Illinois released a two-minute clip of “summer pickup” highlights. There are obvious caveats anytime we try to draw conclusions from footage

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What If Tom Brady Would Have Played Football at Illinois Instead?

By now we all know the story of Tom Brady. An underdog kid goes to Michigan as the seventh-string quarterback, works his way up the depth chart overtime, leads the Wolverines to an impressive run before becoming the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft, and from there became the greatest and most accomplished to ever play the game.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 15

3 Intriguing Illinois Lineups for 2026-27 – and What Makes Each So Dangerous

For a second straight season in 2026-27, Illinois will be overflowing with talent and production. The only question: How will coach Brad Underwood find minutes and touches enough for everyone?

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 15

5 Bold Predictions for Illinois Football in 2026

The 2025 college football preseason injected a level of optimism into Illinois’ fan base that the city of Champaign didn’t even know existed (at least not for the Illini on the gridiron).

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 15

Projecting Illinois Basketball's Best Case-Scenario for the 2026-27 Season

Returners? Check. Transfer portal star? Check. And how about a loaded freshman class, just for good measure? That's a big check. The Illini have all the

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 12

3 Big Concerns for Illinois Basketball Entering the 2026-27 Season

Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but it certainly feels that way in Champaign – at least when it comes to Illinois hoops. With Illini Nation still riding the euphoric high of a Final Four run, it’s also looking ahead to a 2026-27 campaign for which it can rightfully hope for even more.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 11

Illinois Basketball Extends Offer to Under-the-Radar 2027 Forward Ed Stasys

Time and again, Brad Underwood and the Illini coaching staff have separated themselves as one of the premier talent-evaluation units in the country. The story isn’t a new one: Illinois extends the first high-major offer to a recruit, then the offers come rolling in. Just weeks ago, that was the case for 2027 wing Jayon Connor .

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 11

Is Illinois' College Football Playoff Window Still Cracked Open?

Around Champaign, buzz and excitement are two words almost solely associated with Illinois basketball. Rarely has Illini football injected life into the Central Illinois area (and beyond) over the past few decades.

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

Illinois Gets Commitment From Defensive Back Darryl Flemister: What It Means

Bret Bielema received 10 verbal commitments from the class of 2027 in June alone, and on Sunday, the Illinois coach landed his first player in July when three-star defensive back Darryl Flemister committed to the Orange and Blue.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 8

What Illinois Learned From Stefan Vaaks' Strong FIBA Performance With Estonia

Incoming transfer wing Stefan Vaaks hasn’t been with the Illinois program recently, as he has been competing with Estonia , his national team, in the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 2

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.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / July 2

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 / 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.

Brad Underwood News / Yardbarker / May 14