Illinois Fighting Illini: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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.

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

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

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

Illinois Basketball Targets Dynamic Five-Star Guard Cayden Daughtry

Brad Underwood has made his personnel desires abundantly clear over the past few seasons: positional size and shooting. Seeking those traits in every target – be it a high school recruit, overseas prospect or transfer addition – Illinois has carefully tailored its roster in recent years.

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 25

Illinois Football Brings in Division II All-American Ean Rhea: What It Means

After a 2026 season in which Illinois football took advantage of one of the most experienced rosters in FBS college football, coach Bret Bielema is dealing with the hangover of many of his top players departing after exhausting their eligibility – not to mention the brisk outgoing traffic of transfers that have compounded the Illini's losses.

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.

College Football 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.

Illinois Fighting Illini 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.

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