Illinois

FILE - Michigan wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (6) rushes after making a catch to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State in Ann Arbor, Mich., in this Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, file photo. Johnson had 16 receptions for 254 yards and a team-high three touchdowns last year and has a shot to at least double his production in each category this season. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)

14 Big Ten players poised to break out in 2021

By Eric Olson Apr. 26, 2021 04:30 PM EDT

FILE - Ohio State quarterback Jack Miller throws on the sideline during an NCAA college spring football game in Columbus, Ohio, in this Saturday, April 17, 2021, file photo. With two-time Big Ten player of the year Justin Fields departing for the NFL, returning backups C.J. Stroud and Jack Miller III and five-star January enrollee Kyle McCord took the snaps in spring practice.
Stroud was believed to be the front-runner entering the spring, but coach Ryan Day said a starter might not be determined until the week of the Sept. 2 opener at Minnesota.(AP Photo/Paul Vernon, File)

Ohio State among 5 Big Ten teams auditioning quarterbacks

By Eric Olson Apr. 26, 2021 03:46 PM EDT

Spring chickens? Hawks' hot start catches eye of rival Bison

By Dave Kolpack Mar. 18, 2021 02:18 PM EDT
FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A hot start by the University of North Dakota in the strange spring football season precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic has given the...

FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2020, file photo, Illinois' new football coach Bret Bielema and his family were introduced to the media outside the Smith Center on UI campus in Champaign, Ill. on Sunday, Dec. 20 , 2020. Bielema saw a unique opportunity to accelerate a turnaround at Illinois when he returned to college football as head coach of the Illini in December. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette via AP, File)

College football super seniors could change fortunes in 2021

By Ralph D. Russo Feb. 28, 2021 12:03 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2017, file photo, Illinois offensive lineman Doug Kramer (65) blocks during an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in Champaign, Ill. For a program that has not had a winning record since 2011 and has reached the postseason just twice in that time, the hope is that Alex Palczewski, fellow linemen Kramer and Vederian Lowe and the super class will power a long awaited breakthrough in Champaign. (AP Photo/Bradley Leeb, File)

Rutgers at Illinois 10/14/2017

Feb. 28, 2021 08:01 AM EST

FILE - Ohio State head coach Ryan Day watches during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against Clemson in Glendale, Ariz., in this Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, file photo. The National signing day period begins Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)

Terps' hope top-20 recruit class brings improvement on field

By Eric Olson Feb. 03, 2021 06:28 PM EST

SMU names veteran coach Leavitt as new defensive coordinator

Jan. 27, 2021 05:33 PM EST
DALLAS (AP) — Veteran coach Jim Leavitt has been named defensive coordinator at SMU. It is the fourth college for Leavitt as a defensive...

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

FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2018, file photo, Shane Beamer, then-assistant football coach at Oklahoma, speaks during a news conference in Norman, Okla. South Carolina's Shane Beamer hasn't had the smooth start every first-time football coach dreams about after getting the job. (Steve Sisney/The Oklahoman via AP, File)

New coach Beamer completes his South Carolina football staff

Jan. 22, 2021 04:38 PM EST

Quarterback Peters to return for 3rd season at Illinois

Dec. 29, 2020 02:45 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters will return for a third season with the Illini and play for new coach Bret Bielema, the team...