TERRY TOWERY
Northwestern running back Evan Hull (26) carries the ball past a block from offensive lineman Peter Skoronski during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Saturday, Nov. 27, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois rolls over Northwestern, keeps bowl hopes alive

By Terry Towery Nov. 27, 2021 06:59 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Brandon Peters threw for 242 yards and a touchdown and

Northwestern running back Andrew Clair (11) runs ahead of Purdue's Branson Deen (58) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Purdue won 32-14.(AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Illinois looks to keep bowl hopes alive against Northwestern

By Terry Towery Nov. 26, 2021 03:18 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois must beat a struggling, determined Northwestern

Rutgers wide receiver Bo Melton, right, catches a pass from quarterback Noah Vedral as Illinois defensive back Tony Adams defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Rutgers edges Illinois 20-14 for its first Big Ten win

By Terry Towery Oct. 30, 2021 03:38 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Noah Vedral threw for 138 yards and rushed for a

Penn State cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields (5) breaks up a pass intended for Illinois wide receiver Casey Washington (14) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa.on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Illinois defeated Penn State 20-18 in nine overtimes. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Illinois has chance to show growth against Rutgers

By Terry Towery Oct. 28, 2021 12:47 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — A week after outlasting Penn State on the road in an

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
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Chez Mellusi ran for 145 yards and a touchdown and

Wisconsin's Chase Wolf throws a pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Michigan Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
Struggling Wisconsin looks to bounce back against Illinois

By Terry Towery Oct. 07, 2021 03:23 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Wisconsin will try to get back on track against Illinois

Illinois quarterback Brandon Peters (18) hands the ball off to Illinois running back Chase Brown for an 80-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Charlotte Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 24-14. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Chase Brown's 257 yards, 2 TDs leads Illinois past Charlotte

By Terry Towery Oct. 02, 2021 03:32 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Chase Brown rushed for 257 yards and two touchdowns and

Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph (25) intercepts the ball in the end zone during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Purdue Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in West Lafayette, Ind. (Nikos Frazier/Journal & Courier via AP)
Illini look for first win since August vs Charlotte

By Terry Towery Sep. 30, 2021 03:10 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois has not won a game since August and hosts a

Maryland defensive lineman Sam Okuayinonu (97) reacts after he made a tackle during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Howard, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in College Park, Md. Maryland defensive linemen Ami Finau (55) and Lawtez Rogers, right, look on. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Reeling Illinois bracing for conference foe Maryland

By Terry Towery Sep. 16, 2021 03:00 AM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — After a season-opening win against Big Ten foe Nebraska,

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 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
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — New coach Bret Bielema took the first step last week

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
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Under a new coach, with fans packed into the stands for

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
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — For an opener matching teams that have mostly finished

Illinois linebacker Owen Carney talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Illini turn to Bret Bielema to keep building in Big Ten

By Terry Towery Aug. 16, 2021 04:31 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — With a new coaching staff and a host of new players,

University of 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. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette via AP)
New Illinois coach to make homegrown talent a priority

By Terry Towery Dec. 21, 2020 05:45 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — New Illinois coach Bret Bielema said Monday he hopes to

Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras is pressured by Illinois defensive lineman Roderick Perry II during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
No. 24 Iowa scores 35 straight to beat Illinois 35-21

Terry Towery Dec. 05, 2020 07:24 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Spencer Petras threw three touchdown passes and No. 24

Illinois linebacker Tarique Barnes (44) celebrates with teammates after he intercepted a pass by Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lincoln, Neb., Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)
No. 24 Iowa taking nothing for granted against Illinois

By Terry Towery Dec. 03, 2020 05:48 PM EST
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is taking nothing for granted

Illinois running back Mike Epstein (26) carries the ball as Purdue cornerback Cam Allen defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Gophers, Illini square off looking for first win of season

By Terry Towery Nov. 05, 2020 09:51 PM EST
Minnesota has a golden opportunity to notch its first win of the season on

Illinois running back Mike Epstein (26) carries the ball as Purdue cornerback Cam Allen defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Purdue beats quarterback-depleted Illinois 31-24

By Terry Towery Oct. 31, 2020 03:50 PM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Aiden O’Connell passed for two touchdowns and Purdue

Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell (16) is sacked by Iowa defensive linemen Jack Heflin (96) and Chauncey Golston (57) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Purdue wary of Illini as Boilermakers try to go 2-0

By Terry Towery Oct. 29, 2020 02:04 AM EDT
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Purdue is fresh off a minor upset over Iowa. Illinois is