Illinois Fighting Illini: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

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 / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 6

Illinois Ranked Surprisingly Low in Key Early 2026-27 Preseason Projection

The general consensus ahead of the 2026-27 season: Illinois, which returns the majority of its core from last year’s Final Four squad, is a top five preseason squad .

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.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / May 4

Illinois Commit Quentin Coleman Wins Iverson Classic MVP – Is He a 2026-27 Starter?

The general consensus heading into the 2026 offseason: Illinois needed a Keaton Wagler replacement. Of course, there isn’t a single player who can replicate

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

Illinois Basketball Transfers Still Searching for New Teams in 2026

Here’s a shocker: The 2026 offseason – for which Illinois has all but copyrighted the term "The Retention" – has seen an identical number of transfers exit the Illini program as left in the 2025 offseason.

Watch: Illinois at Iowa | HIGHLIGHTS | Big Ten Baseball | 05/01/2026

Watch: Illinois at Indiana | HIGHLIGHTS | Big Ten Softball | 05/01/2026

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

Grading Every Illinois Basketball Addition for the 2026-2027 Season

For once during the Brad Underwood era at Illinois, the offseason has been characterized not by what the program lost but by what it retained. Transfer portal chaos can be exciting.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Big Ten Network / April 28

Watch: Roosevelt at Illinois | HIGHLIGHTS | Big Ten Baseball | 04/28/2026

Watch: Nebraska at Illinois | HIGHLIGHTS | Big Ten Baseball | 04/24/2026

Watch: Penn State at Illinois | HIGHLIGHTS | Big Ten Softball | 04/24/2026

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

Where Illinois Ranks in Joe Lunardi's Early 2027 Bracketology for ESPN

After years of seeking that ever-elusive Final Four berth, Illinois got its first one in 21 years during the 2026 campaign. But the Illini’s bid for a national title came up short when they fell to UConn in the semifinal contest.

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

Illinois Loses Brandon Lee to the Transfer Portal – Here's What It Means

Nearly a week into the transfer portal window, Illinois hadn’t been dinged by a single portal exit – a relatively rare occurrence for a Brad Underwood-led club, even considering the Illini are on the heels of a Final Four run.

Brad Underwood News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / April 18

Illinois 2026 Recruiting Class Ranking, Breakdown, Takeaways

Brad Underwood moved the needle on his status as a game-manager and silenced the critics en route to a Final Four run for his Illinois squad in the 2025-26 season.

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

Social Media Reacts to Andrej Stojakovic Returning to Illinois Basketball

It has been an elite offseason for Illinois so far, and Andrej Stojakovic made it even better.Sure, the Illini have only landed one transfer so far, which in today’s college basketball world might not exactly scream “offseason champ” at first glance, but the truth is, Illinois may still be one of the biggest winners of the offseason anyway.

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

Three-Star Forward Zavier Zens Signs With Illinois – How He Fits With the Illini

In one of the biggest offseason weeks in Illinois basketball history, the players who are set to return from this past season's Final Four squad have mostly outshined the new additions.

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

Andrej Stojakovic Announces Return to Illinois – What It Means for 2026-27

All things considered, Brad Underwood couldn't have expected anything more.Underwood knew his Illinois roster would need some remodeling after this past season's Final Four run, with Kylan Boswell, Ben Humrichous and AJ Redd all out of eligibility, and with the Keaton Wagler mahic carpet ride flying out of Champaign to some faraway NBA city.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Athlon Sports / April 17

Illinois Pushing for $1.5 Million Guard in College Basketball Transfer Portal

The Illinois Fighting Illini fell just short of their first national championship appearance since the 2004-05 season. Entering this year's NCAA Tournament as the South Region's No.

Ty Rodgers News / Illinois Fighting Illini on SI / April 16

3 Best Transfer Destinations for Illinois Basketball's Ty Rodgers

The Ty Rodgers -Illinois parting is the breakup no one ever wanted: tear-streaked, gut-wrenching and undoubtedly heartbreaking for each side – but both know it’s for the best.

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

Did Keaton Wagler Nearly Return to Illinois for the 2026-27 Season?

Projected top-10 NBA Draft picks don’t return to college basketball. It’s just not a thing. Millions of dollars in guaranteed money is enough to ensure that everyone takes the leap.

College Football News / Yardbarker / April 13

Michigan trending after 4-star QB Kamden Lopati decommits from Illinois

Kamden Lopati had been committed to the Illinois Fighting Illini since July of 2025. Now, almost a year later, that's a commitment that doesn't hold.

Five QBs set to generate the most buzz for 2027 NFL Draft

Dusty May, Michigan reach agreement on new contract

Why Fernando Mendoza may, may not be NFL's next Joe Burrow

The 'College nicknames that don't end in s' quiz

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Ball Exclusives / April 11

Illinois star Keaton Wagler declares for 2026 NBA Draft

Illinois star guard Keaton Wagler has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Wagler is coming off of a historic freshman season for Illinois.

Illinois Fighting Illini News / Hoops Rumors / April 11

Keaton Wagler Declares For NBA Draft

Illinois guard Keaton Wagler is entering the NBA draft, ProMondo Sports tells Shams Charania and Jeremy Woo of ESPN (Twitter link). Wagler, 19, is coming off a sensational freshman season that saw him lead the Fighting Illini to a 28-9 record and their first Final Four appearance since 2005.