James McCourt
Northwestern running back Evan Hull (26) carries the ball past a block from offensive lineman Peter Skoronski during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois rolls over Northwestern, keeps bowl hopes alive

By Terry Towery Nov. 27, 2021 06:59 PM EST

Illinois wide receiver Casey Washington (14) catches a pass ahead of Iowa defensive back Jermari Harris, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Jones' kick return lifts No. 18 Iowa past Illinois 33-23

By John Bohnenkamp Nov. 20, 2021 05:58 PM EST

Illinois wide receiver Casey Washington (14) celebrates after catching a pass for a 2-point conversion in the ninth overtime to defeat Penn State 20-18 in an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa.on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Illinois stuns No. 7 Penn State 20-18 in NCAA's 1st 9OT game

By Travis Johnson Oct. 23, 2021 04:58 PM EDT

Penn State wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith (13) celebrates with Jahan Dotson (5) after catching a first quarter touchdown pass against Illinois during an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Illinois at Penn State 10/23/2021

Oct. 23, 2021 02:01 PM EDT

Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters (18) hands the ball off to Illinois running back Chase Brown for an 80-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Charlotte Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 24-14. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chase Brown's 257 yards, 2 TDs leads Illinois past Charlotte

By Terry Towery Oct. 02, 2021 03:32 PM EDT

Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa looks to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois, Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Maryland at Illinois 9/17/2021

Sep. 17, 2021 09:29 PM EDT

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, center, walks off the field after his team's loss to UTSA in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Virginia, Illinois hoping early kickoff not a problem

By Hank Kurz Jr. Sep. 09, 2021 03:04 PM EDT

UTSA gets first win over a Big Ten foe, tops Illinois 37-30

By Terry Towery Sep. 04, 2021 11:45 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — As impressive as UTSA was on Saturday in beating Illinois 37-30, you’d never guess the Roadrunners’ football program is only a decade...

UTSA running back Brendon Brady, left, scores as Illinois linebacker Jake Hansen (35) defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
UTSA at Illinois 9/4/2021

Sep. 04, 2021 09:23 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 file photo, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema gets choked up as the senior players are introduced before the start of an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark. It's going on 40 days since Bret Bielema was announced as Illinois' football coach, and since then he's assembled a staff, met returning players, recruited new ones, convinced a top player to pull his name out of the transfer portal and made the rounds getting to know administrators and alumni. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)
New Illini coach Bielema says he doesn't want to wait to win

Jan. 27, 2021 05:02 PM EST

Illinois running back Chase Brown (2) runs with the ball against Northwestern during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Illinois State Redbirds at Western Illinois Leathernecks 12/13/2020

Dec. 12, 2020 03:33 PM EST

Illinois running back Mike Epstein (26) scores a touchdown past Rutgers linebacker Tyshon Fogg (8) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
McCourt's late field goal sends Illinois past Rutgers 23-20

By Matt Sugam Nov. 14, 2020 05:31 PM EST

A general view as Illinois takes on Rutgers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Illinois at Rutgers 11/14/2020

Nov. 14, 2020 02:45 PM EST

Illinois running back Mike Epstein (26) celebrates after scoring during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Rutgers tries to end 2-game skid against winless Illinois

Nov. 13, 2020 01:01 PM EST

Illinois running back Mike Epstein (26) carries the ball as Purdue cornerback Cam Allen defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Gophers, Illini square off looking for first win of season

By Terry Towery Nov. 05, 2020 09:51 PM EST

Illinois running back Mike Epstein (26) carries the ball as Purdue cornerback Cam Allen defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Purdue beats quarterback-depleted Illinois 31-24

By Terry Towery Oct. 31, 2020 03:50 PM EDT

Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters runs during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Friday, Oct. 23, 2020, in Madison, Wis. Wisconsin won 45-7. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Column: Lawrence just wanted to play, now he must watch

By Paul Newberry Oct. 31, 2020 12:24 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2019, file photo, Illinois' Josh Imatorbhebhe, second from right, celebrates with teammates including Donny Navarro (86) after scoring a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, in Champaign, Ill. Even after beating a Wisconsin team that was favored by 30 ½ points last year, Illinois heads into Madison as a 19 ½-point underdog as the two West Division rivals prepare to open the pandemic-delayed Big Ten season Friday night. (AP Photo/Holly Hart, File)
Illinois seeking to surprise No. 14 Wisconsin one more time

By Steve Megargee Oct. 22, 2020 12:20 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013 file photo, a Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets player chooses a helmet in the second half of their NCAA college football game against the Pittsburgh Panthers on in Atlanta. Georgia Tech won 21-10. David Shanahan took an unusual path for an Irish teenager but landed a full scholarship to become a punter for Georgia Tech. (AP Photo/David Tulis, File)
Irish punter moving from dairy farm to Georgia Tech

By Ken Maguire Jun. 26, 2020 10:51 AM EDT

California quarterback Chase Garbers (7) hands off to running back DeShawn Collins (26) against Illinois during the second half of the Redbox Bowl NCAA college football game Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
Garbers big day leads Cal past Illinois in Redbox Bowl

By Michael Wagaman Dec. 30, 2019 07:52 PM EST