Illinois Fighting Illini News

Ty Robinson - Moving to Illinois Robinson is transferring to Illinois ahead of the 2026 season, UI Zone reports.

Impact Robinson will move on from Ball State after three years with the Cardinals' program. The redshirt junior receiver recorded 11 catches for 113 yards and zero touchdowns across 10 games during the 2025 campaign. He'll use his final year of eligibility with the Fighting Illini.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Alex Perry - Heading to Champaign Perry has committed to play for Illinois for the 2026 season, per Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com.

Impact Perry will join the Fighting Illini following a single year with Florida International. The 6-foot-5 receiver had a breakout season with the Golden Panthers in 2025, catching 56 passes for 840 yards and nine touchdowns across 13 contests. The former Hawaii transfer will retain a single year of eligibility with Illinois.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jayshon Platt - Joining Illinois Platt will transfer to Illinois, per Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com.

Impact Platt did next to nothing during his first three years at Florida Atlantic. In 2025, he broke out onto the scene, reeling in 46 catches for 720 yards and five touchdowns. With a single season of eligibility remaining, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver will take his talents to Champaign, where he'll look to earn a starting role for the Illini this offseason.

JANUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Bret Bielema nails big Illinois QB pledge by landing 43-TD Luke Altmyer successor from ECU | Sporting News The Illinois Fighting Illini football program remains in good shape thanks to Bret Bielema's idea of sustained success. Sunday night proved...

JANUARY 5 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Katin Houser - Finds new home Houser has committed to Illinois, On3.com reports.

Impact Houser will return to the Big Ten after two seasons at East Carolina. The senior began his career at Michigan State. Houser completed 65.9 percent of his passes in 2025, having thrown for 3,300 yards with a 19:6 TD:INT during 2025. Houser added 193 rushing yards and nine rushing TDs. He's entering his final collegiate season.

JANUARY 4 • ROTOWIRE

Justin Bowick - Hits pay dirt in bowl game Bowick had three receptions (on five targets) for 31 yards and one touchdown during Tuesday's 30-28 victory against Tennessee.

Impact Bowick started off Illinois' scoring with a late-first-quarter touchdown on an 18-yard pass from quarterback Luke Altmyer. While he didn't put together a ton after that, he contributed enough to help the Illini come out on top. The junior finished out 2025 with 22 catches for 265 yards and five touchdowns and still has one year of eligibility in tow.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Hank Beatty - Racks up six grabs in bowl game Beatty caught six of seven targets for 38 yards during Tuesday's 30-28 win versus Tennessee.

Impact Beatty's fantasy campaign fizzled out a little toward the end of the year, but the senior still put together his best campaign by far in 2025, amassing career-high marks across the board with 70 catches for 864 yards and three touchdowns while adding four carries for 46 yards and a score as a rusher and even throwing a touchdown pass. His next step will likely be taking a look at the pro level.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Ca'Lil Valentine - Efficient showing in bowl game Valentine logged eight rushes for 65 yards and reeled in 3 of 4 targets for 28 yards during Tuesday's 30-28 win over Tennessee.

Impact Valentine came into his own over the last couple of games of the season, amassing a combined 22 carries for 139 yards and a touchdown in addition to three catches for 28 yards. He closes out his sophomore campaign with 131 totes for 614 yards and four touchdowns overall as part of a three-headed backfield alongside Aidan Laughery and Kaden Feagin, and all three backs are eligible to return next season. It will be interesting to see if they all decide to stick around in Champaign or if any decide to explore options via the transfer portal.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Kaden Feagin - Minimal usage in bowl game Feagin notched three carries for eight yards during Tuesday's 30-28 win over Tennessee.

Impact Feagin played third fiddle behind Aidan Laughery (13 carries) and Ca"lil Valentine (eight carries, three catches) in the bowl game, but the junior pieced together a solid season overall for the Illini, racking up 122 carries for 507 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 16 receptions for 188 yards and another two scores as a receiver. The 255-pound junior has one more season of eligibility remaining, whether that be in Champaign or elsewhere.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Luke Altmyer - Dual threat in Music City Bowl Altmyer was 20-for-33 passing for 196 yards and one touchdown during Tuesday's 30-28 victory against Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. He also had 10 rushes for 54 yards with one t...

Impact Altmyer capped off what could prove to be his final collegiate season with a strong effort in the bowl game and led a game-winning drive to kick a field goal as time expired, albeit a drive in which he threw just two passes. Altmyer finishes 2025 with a career-best 67.4 completion percentage, throwing for a career-high 3,007 passing yards along with 22 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He also rushed 100 times for 242 yards and five touchdowns. While Altmyer has appeared in four different seasons, he played in just four games in 2022, so it's not impossible he could apply for another year of eligibility.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

This list proves just how well Bret Bielema has turned Illinois football around Bret Bielema has turned the Illinois Fighting Illini into a dominant Power Conference football program, and this stat proves it.

DECEMBER 31, 2025 • WRITINGILLINI.COM

Game-Winning FG Lifts Illinois Over Tennessee in Music City Bowl

Illinois kicks a game-winning field goal to beat Tennessee in the Liberty Mutual Music City Bowl on Tuesday.

DECEMBER 31, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Game-Winning FG Lifts Illinois Over Tennessee in Music City Bowl

Illinois beats Tennessee in the Music City Bowl to keep Big Ten undefeated this bowl season

David Olano kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired, and Illinois beat Tennessee 30-28 in the Music City Bowl

DECEMBER 31, 2025 • Associated Press

How to Watch Illinois vs. Tennessee: Music City Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 30, 2025

Learn which TV channel or how to live stream the Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Tennessee Volunteers Music City Bowl game, Tuesday, Dec. 30.

DECEMBER 30, 2025 • Data Skrive

How to Watch Illinois vs. Tennessee: Music City Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 30, 2025

Tennessee and Illinois set for Music City Bowl with each team missing starters

Playing the Music City Bowl isn’t exactly what the Tennessee Volunteers once targeted in a season that featured four losses to teams inside the top 15 of the final College Football...

DECEMBER 29, 2025 • Associated Press

Tennessee vs. Illinois Prediction, Odds, Picks - December 30, 2025

Preview the Dec. 30 matchup between the Tennessee Volunteers and Illinois Fighting Illini with predictions, odds, over/under, spread, bettin...

DECEMBER 28, 2025 • Data Skrive

Tennessee vs. Illinois Prediction, Odds, Picks - December 30, 2025

Illinois' Luke Altmyer replacement predicted as Ivy League transfer with 19-5 record | Sporting News The Fighting Illini need their next leader.

DECEMBER 27, 2025 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Bret Bielema dismisses potential biggest fear entering 2026 Illinois football season | Sporting News With a little under two weeks until the Liberty Mutual Music City bowl game between the Illinois Fighting Illini and Tennessee Volunteers, I...

DECEMBER 17, 2025 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Nebraska Hits Game-Winner vs. Illinois, Improves to 11-0 For 1st Time In History

Jamarques Lawrence's last-second 3-point shot lifted Nebraska over Illinois and continued the Huskers' undefeated season.

DECEMBER 14, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

Nebraska Hits Game-Winner vs. Illinois, Improves to 11-0 For 1st Time In History

Fernando Mendoza wins the Heisman Trophy as college football's top player

Fernando Mendoza, the enthusiastic quarterback of No. 1 Indiana, won the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, becoming the first Hoosier to win college football’s most prestigious awa...

DECEMBER 13, 2025 • Associated Press

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel hires Jim Knowles as new defensive coordinator

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has hired Jim Knowles as the Volunteers’ new defensive coordinator

DECEMBER 11, 2025 • Associated Press

Fernando Mendoza is AP player of the year after leading Indiana to 13-0 record and top seed in CFP

Fernando Mendoza was named Associated Press player of the year after leading unbeaten and top-ranked Indiana to its first Big Ten championship since 1967 and the No. 1 seed in the...

DECEMBER 11, 2025 • Associated Press

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel fires defensive coordinator Tim Banks after 8-4 record

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has fired defensive coordinator Tim Banks, a year after the assistant was a finalist for the Broyles Award

DECEMBER 8, 2025 • Associated Press

Cal hires Tosh Lupoi as head coach, bringing former player back to lead the Bears

California has hired Tosh Lupoi as the new head coach, bringing back the former Golden Bears player and assistant

DECEMBER 5, 2025 • Associated Press

4 Takeaways From the 1st Day of CFB's Early Signing Period

College football's early signing period opened on Wednesday. Here are Michael Cohen's four takeaways from the first day of the window.

DECEMBER 3, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

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Game-Winning FG Lifts Illinois Over Tennessee in Music City Bowl

Illinois beats Tennessee in the Music City Bowl to keep Big Ten undefeated this bowl season

How to Watch Illinois vs. Tennessee: Music City Bowl Time, TV Channel, Live Stream – December 30, 2025

Tennessee and Illinois set for Music City Bowl with each team missing starters

Tennessee vs. Illinois Prediction, Odds, Picks - December 30, 2025

Nebraska Hits Game-Winner vs. Illinois, Improves to 11-0 For 1st Time In History

Fernando Mendoza wins the Heisman Trophy as college football's top player

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel hires Jim Knowles as new defensive coordinator

Fernando Mendoza is AP player of the year after leading Indiana to 13-0 record and top seed in CFP

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel fires defensive coordinator Tim Banks after 8-4 record

Cal hires Tosh Lupoi as head coach, bringing former player back to lead the Bears

4 Takeaways From the 1st Day of CFB's Early Signing Period