Illinois Fighting Illini News

Lucas Osada - Competing for kicking duties Osada is competing against Ethan Moczulski for kicking duties, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Prior to Illinois, North Carolina logged Osada's 2024 season, which includes an extra point made. For the 2025 Illini, he did not attempt any point-scoring kicks. But considering Moczulski is also relatively inexperienced, Osada can legitimately be Illinois' primary kicker during 2026.

10 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ethan Moczulski - In contention for kicking duties Moczulski is in a competition to be Illinois' placekicker against Lucas Osada, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Even though Moczulski has been with three Power Conference teams across his last three seasons, one of them with Illinois, he has attempted only two field goals and one extra point. Moczulski and Osada's battle will be between two relatively inexperienced kickers.

10 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

2026 College Football Odds: Can Indiana Repeat As Big Ten Champions?

Take a look at the 2026 Big Ten Championship odds as Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon headline the loaded title race.

22 HOURS AGO • FOX SPORTS

2026 College Football Odds: Can Indiana Repeat As Big Ten Champions?

College Football Rankings: Where All 138 FBS Teams Stand Ahead Of 2026 Kickoff

Ahead of the 2026 college football season, FOX Sports' RJ Young ranked every single FBS team — all 138 of 'em.

2 DAYS AGO • FOX SPORTS

College Football Rankings: Where All 138 FBS Teams Stand Ahead Of 2026 Kickoff

Nas Rankin - Full go for camp Rankin (leg) is healthy and participating in drills during fall camp, Joey Wagner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Rankin was seen taking kick return reps with other skill position players Saturday, marking his return to full participation after beginning camp as a limited participant. With injuries impacting the Illinois receiving corps, Rankin is now fully healthy and has an opportunity to earn snaps to begin the season.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Anderson - Limited session Saturday Anderson (undisclosed) was a limited participant during Illinois' practice Saturday, Joey Wagner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Anderson switched back to the running back position this past offseason and has primarily been used as Illinois' third-string back during fall practices. The tailback had limited involvement during practice on Saturday, though he was still able to participate in some drills.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Why Bret Bielema Was 'Pissed Off' by a Preseason Award Watch List Snub Bielema couldn't believe his eyes when they couldn't find Xavier Scott and Matthew Bailey on the Jim Thorpe Award preseason watch list

3 DAYS AGO • SI.COM

Hudson Clement - Should be full-go next week Clement (undisclosed) should be full-go next week, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Clement being full-go next week indicates that the wide receiver should become available for Illinois' regular-season opener Sept. 3 against UAB. Thus, his injury status has improved from questionable to probable. For the Illini, Clement's update is undoubtedly welcome news, especially considering recent injuries among their receivers.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Nas Rankin - Limited in fall camp Rankin (leg) has been limited during Illinois' fall camp, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact During the offseason, Rankin underwent leg surgery, which explains why he has been limited during Illinois' fall camp. The wide receiver wearing a green jersey points out that his health is not at 100 percent, but by going through at least some drills, he is recovering well. So with that in mind, Rankin's injury status is probable going into Week 1, when the Illini will open their regular season Sept. 3 against UAB.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Brayden Trimble - Slated for bigger role Head coach Bret Bielema noted that Trimble will have a bigger role in the Fighting Illini's offense due to Alex Perry's (shoulder) injury, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Trimble has impressed the coaching staff throughout fall camp and will now have the opportunity to showcase his skills even more with Alex Perry (shoulder) likely out for the season. The redshirt freshman is progressing toward potentially seeing snaps this year and has more practices ahead to secure a consistent role in the rotation.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Alex Perry - Expected to miss entire season Perry (shoulder) will undergo surgery and likely miss the 2026 season, Joey Wagner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Perry will miss his first season with the Fighting Illini after transferring from Florida International. Head coach Bret Bielema noted there is a chance he could return before the end of the year, but he will most likely remain sidelined. The wideout was expected to play a key role in the passing attack after a breakout 2025 campaign at Florida International, where he recorded 56 receptions for 840 yards and nine touchdowns.

6 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

How Experience And Talent Made USC's Gary Patterson A '1 Of 1' Addition

How Gary Patterson could elevate Lincoln Riley's USC Trojans in a possible make-or-break year.

AUGUST 12 • FOX SPORTS

How Experience And Talent Made USC's Gary Patterson A '1 Of 1' Addition

John Forster - Still not healthy Foster (knee) is not healthy for Illinois' fall camp, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Because of an injured knee, Foster did not play Illinois' 2025 season. As the Fighting Illini prepare for their 2026's regular-season opener, he is still recovering, hence his questionable status remaining before their scheduled game against UAB on Sept. 3.

AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE

Lake Bachar traveled an unlikely path from college football to MLB reliever MIAMI — Lake Bachar thought he was done with baseball. As a senior at Wheaton North High School in Illinois, Bachar was all-conference on th...

AUGUST 12 • MLB.COM

Brayden Trimble - Starting off strong Trimble has opened Illinois' training camp strongly, per The Champaign News-Gazette.

Impact Trimble looks to already be turning heads in fall camp, which is good traction for a redshirt freshman who has yet to see the field. He'll look to keep building on this momentum as the season approaches.

AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE

Jayshon Platt - Drawing buzz in camp Platt is drawing considerable attention with his performances in the fall camp, according to Joey Wagner of 247Sports.com.

Impact Platt was a standout performer for Illinois in the spring, and he continues to draw buzz in the fall. With the season starting in less than a month, all signs point to the senior wideout having a massive role in the Illini's passing attack when the season rolls around against UAB on Sep. 3.

AUGUST 11 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Perry - Once again non-contact Perry (undisclosed) is still non-contact for Illinois' fall practices, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Illinois' fall camp recently logged its first and second practices, the latter Tuesday. Werner's write-up indicates that Perry did not participate either time. In place of both him and Hudson Clement (undisclosed) on Tuesday, Illinois' first-team wideouts included Brayden Trimble, Collin Dixon and Jayshon Platt. Perry has just less than a month before the Illini's season opener Sept. 3 against UAB.

AUGUST 5 • ROTOWIRE

Hudson Clement - Still non-contact Hudson (undisclosed) is still non-contact for Illinois' fall practices, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact For 2026, Clement re-enrolled at Illinois to log his fourth season. The wide receiver still being a non-contact participant indicates that his unavailability has been for multiple days, which makes sense considering Illinois' fall camp recently logged its second day Tuesday. Thus, Clement's injury status is questionable before the Fighting Illini's season opener scheduled for Sept. 3 against UAB.

AUGUST 5 • ROTOWIRE

Tanner Hollinger - Out for entire season Hollinger is out for the entire 2026 season due to an undisclosed injury, according to Joey Wagner of 247Sports.com.

Impact Hollinger wasn't expected to make a big impact at the TE position, so this absence shouldn't carry a ton of impact from a fantasy perspective.

AUGUST 3 • ROTOWIRE

Big Ten believes its reputation as a top-heavy league is unfair as it claims conference supremacy

The Southeastern Conference argues its superior depth makes up for the Big Ten winning the last three titles in the debate over which college football conference is strongest

JULY 31 • Associated Press

Bret Bielema brought Illinois out of the college football basement and these stats prove it Ever since taking over the program in December of 2020, Illinois football has seen a steady incline in terms of success. While it took a few...

JULY 28 • WRITINGILLINI.COM

Big Ten: No league championship game if college football moves to a 24-team playoff

The Big Ten would do away with its championship game if college football adopts a 24-team playoff

JULY 28 • Associated Press

Bret Bielema shouldn't be feeling the pressure with latest Big Ten Preseason poll As the summer months pass, the smell of barbeques and the sound of fans cheering are getting closer as college football is almost upon us. W...

JULY 27 • WRITINGILLINI.COM

1 Big Ten Football Storyline To Watch For Each Team Ahead Of Media Days

From defending national champion Indiana to teams looking to bounce back, here's a very early look at Big Ten football.

JULY 27 • FOX SPORTS

1 Big Ten Football Storyline To Watch For Each Team Ahead Of Media Days

Bret Bielema strengthens Big Ten superiority, as Nick Saban moves SEC goalpost The debate has raged on for years now about which conference is better, the SEC or Big Ten. You could easily make the argument that the SEC...

JULY 25 • WRITINGILLINI.COM

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