Artur Sitkowski
Nebraska red team quarterback Casey Thompson (11) signals the sideline between plays against the white team during the first half of Nebraska's NCAA college football annual red-white spring game at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, April 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz)
Big Ten's best defenses come out of spring in rebuild mode

By Eric Olson Apr. 25, 2022 05:44 PM EDT

Rutgers quarterback Noah Vedral is hit by Illinois defensive back Sydney Brown during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Vedral left the game for medical attention but returned later. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois State at Western Illinois 10/30/2021

Oct. 30, 2021 01:33 PM EDT

FILE - Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski looks to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against UTSA Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Sitkowski will miss the rest of the season after breaking his left arm against Penn State, and Brandon Peters will start the Illini's home game against Rutgers on Saturday. Coach Bret Bielema announced Monday, Oct. 25, that Sitkowski would have surgery on his arm Wednesday and have another operation in two to four weeks to correct a chronic problem in his right shoulder. Bielema said Sitkowski would miss spring practice and should be full strength next fall.(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)
Illini QB Artur Sitkowski out for season with broken arm

Oct. 26, 2021 10:57 AM EDT

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

Penn State quarterback Ta'Quan Roberson (2) looks to pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 23-20. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
No. 7 Penn State, Illinois unsure of QBs ahead of matchup

By Travis Johnson Oct. 21, 2021 10:03 AM EDT

Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph (25) intercepts a pass intended for Wisconsin wide receiver Kendric Pryor (3) as Devon Witherspoon also defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Wisconsin uses running game to roll over Illinois 24-0

Terry Towery Oct. 09, 2021 07:15 PM EDT

Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph (25) intercepts a pass intended for Wisconsin wide receiver Kendric Pryor (3) as Devon Witherspoon also defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Wisconsin at Illinois 10/9/2021

Oct. 09, 2021 05:01 PM EDT

Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebiketie (17) sacks Villanova quarterback Daniel Smith, right, during an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Michigan State, Penn State getting big boost from transfers

By Steve Megargee Oct. 05, 2021 05:47 PM EDT

Purdue quarterback Jack Plummer (13) throws as Purdue offensive lineman Greg Long (69) blocks Illinois outside linebacker Seth Coleman (49) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in West Lafayette, Ind. (Nikos Frazier/Journal & Courier via AP)
Shoddy quarterback play has Big Ten scrambling for answers

By Michael Marot Sep. 28, 2021 02:08 PM EDT

Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton (14) intercepts a pass in the end zone intended for Purdue tight end Payne Durham (87) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in South Bend, Ind., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. Notre Dame defeated Purdue 27-13. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Quarterback questions loom as Purdue, Illinois clash

By Michael Marot Sep. 23, 2021 03:00 AM EDT

Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski (9) throws a pass against Illinoisduring an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. (Andrew Shurtleff/The Daily Progress via AP)
Boilermakers top receiver enters concussion protocol

By Michael Marot Sep. 20, 2021 03:11 PM EDT

Virginia's Anthony Johnson (3) intercepts pass intended for Illinois wide receiver Donny Navarro III (86) during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Va. (Andrew Shurtleff/The Daily Progress via AP)
Armstrong throws for 5 TDs as Virginia eases by Illinois

Sep. 11, 2021 02:52 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

Illinois quarterback Artur Sitkowski tosses the ball to wide receiver Isaiah Williams in the backfield for a touchdown reception during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Nebraska Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 30-22. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois hosts dangerous UTSA, eager to go 2-0 under Bielema

By Terry Towery Sep. 02, 2021 01:32 PM EDT

Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez, left, congratulates Illinois head coach Bret Bielema after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Champaign , Ill. Illinois won 30-22. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois fends off Nebraska in 30-22 season-opening win

By Terry Towery Aug. 28, 2021 05:25 PM EDT

Nebraska running back Markese Stepp backs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Illinois Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Champaign , Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Nebraska at Illinois 8/28/2021

Aug. 28, 2021 02:53 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 22, 2021, file photo, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema speaks during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Illinois opens its season Aug. 28 against Nebraska. All eyes will be on new Illinois coach Bielema, who had a successful run at Wisconsin before leaving for a job at Arkansas. Now he is back in the Big Ten. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler, File)
Bielema makes Illini debut; Huskers' Frost faces key season

By Terry Towery Aug. 26, 2021 02:58 PM EDT