Illinois Fighting Illini News

2026 College Basketball Odds: Who Will Win Power Conferences?

Check out the odds for the regular-season conference title races, as the college hoops year winds down.

1 DAY AGO • FOX SPORTS

2026 College Basketball Odds: Who Will Win Power Conferences?

Kaden Feagin - Converting to tight end Feagin (undisclosed) will switch positions to tight end ahead of the 2026 season, per Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com.

Impact Feagin is coming off a career year as a tailback for the Illini in 2025, in which he ran for 507 yards and seven touchdowns on 122 handoffs (4.2 yards per carry). He also caught 16 passes for 188 yards and two scores, and that receiving prowess will serve him well at his next position. At 6-foot-3, 255 pounds, Feagin already sports the frame of a tight end, and he'll look to make an impact in that room as a senior.

FEBRUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Anderson - Moving back to running back Anderson will switch positions back to running back, per Scott Richey of The Champaign News-Gazette.

Impact Anderson converted to tight end ahead of the 2025 season after beginning his career as a tailback. Now, it'll come full circle, as he's back in the Illini' running back room. Despite playing tight end, Anderson had more carries than receptions last season, rushing for 41 yards and a score on nine handoffs while catching three passes for 12 yards.

FEBRUARY 12 • ROTOWIRE

Former Montana coach Bobby Hauck ends brief retirement to become defensive coordinator at Illinois

Former Montana coach Bobby Hauck has ended his brief retirement to become defensive coordinator at Illinois

FEBRUARY 10 • Associated Press

Bret Bielema could bring former Wisconsin Badgers defensive coordinator to Illinois Wisconsin Badgers fans could see another familiar face join the sidelines of the rival Illinois Fighting Illini under Bret Bielema.

FEBRUARY 5 • SI.COM

Joel Klatt's 3 Biggest Winners, Losers of Big Ten's 2026 Schedule Draw

Joel Klatt believes Penn State has a 10-win schedule, while Ohio State has the Big Ten's most "daunting" slate.

FEBRUARY 2 • FOX SPORTS

Joel Klatt's 3 Biggest Winners, Losers of Big Ten's 2026 Schedule Draw

Illinois QB Luke Altmyer Talks About What He's Learned at the Senior Bowl Illinois Fighting Illinis QB Luke Altmyer chats about his Senior Bowl experience Wednesday.

JANUARY 29 • NEWYORKJETS.COM

Oklahoma hires Roger Denny as athletic director to replace the retiring Joe Castiglione

Oklahoma has hired Roger Denny as its athletic director

JANUARY 23 • Associated Press

Ethan Moczulski - Returning to Illinois Moczulski has announced his decision to join Illinois ahead of the 2026 season, Pete Nakos of On3.com reports.

Impact Moczulski will rejoin Illinois after spending one season with Washington. The 5-foot-11 junior, who started his collegiate career with Texas A&M, has connected on 1-of-2 FGAs and 1-of-1 XPAs across three seasons.

JANUARY 14 • ROTOWIRE

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.

JANUARY 8 • 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.

JANUARY 8 • 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

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2026 College Basketball Odds: Who Will Win Power Conferences?

Former Montana coach Bobby Hauck ends brief retirement to become defensive coordinator at Illinois

Joel Klatt's 3 Biggest Winners, Losers of Big Ten's 2026 Schedule Draw

Oklahoma hires Roger Denny as athletic director to replace the retiring Joe Castiglione

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