Alex Palczewski
FILE - Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (31) plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Anderson was selected to The Associated Press All-America team released Monday, Dec. 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
USC's Williams, Alabama's Anderson lead AP All-America team

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 12, 2022 12:02 PM EST

Illinois running back Chase Brown carries the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Brown's 180 yards, defense carry No. 24 Illini past Gophers

By Gavin Good Oct. 15, 2022 03:51 PM EDT

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is hugged by friends after his team's 9-6 win over Iowa after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Bielema boost: No. 24 Illini ahead of schedule in year two

By Gavin Good Oct. 12, 2022 09:19 PM EDT

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema walks off the field following a 34-10 win over Wisconsin in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Iowa visits Illinois in battle of Big Ten West contenders

By The Associated Press Oct. 06, 2022 05:36 PM EDT

FILE - Oregon head coach Dan Lanning speaks during Pac-12 Conference men's NCAA college football media day Friday, July 29, 2022, in Los Angeles. Oregon first-year coach Lanning isn't dropping any clues about his starting quarterback this season. Fall camp has been a battle behind closed doors between transfer Bo Nix, redshirt freshmen Ty Thompson and Jay Butterfield. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
Week 1 preview: Irish-Buckeyes matchup tops juicy slate

By Eric Olson Sep. 01, 2022 02:18 AM EDT

Illinois quarterback Tommy DeVito is hugged by a teammate after their win over Wyoming in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Brown, DeVito lead Illinois past Wyoming 38-6 in opener

By Gavin Good Aug. 27, 2022 07:57 PM EDT

Illinois' Isaiah Williams talks to reporters during an NCAA college football news conference at the Big Ten Conference media days, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Wednesday, July 27, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
New-look Illini look to build in Bielema’s second year

By Gavin Good Aug. 15, 2022 05:45 PM EDT

FILE - Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) passes against Indiana in the first half of their NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., in this Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, file photo. The key matchup in fourth-ranked Penn State's showdown with No. 3 Iowa pits the Nittany Lions' passing combo of Sean Clifford and Jahan Dotson against a defense that leads the nation with 12 interceptions.(AP Photo/Barry Reeger, File)
No. 7 Penn State, Illinois deal with QB injuries

By The Associated Press Oct. 21, 2021 02:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2020, file photo, 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. Bielema saw a unique opportunity to accelerate a turnaround at Illinois when he returned to college football as head coach of the Illini in December. (Robin Scholz/The News-Gazette via AP, File)
College football super seniors could change fortunes in 2021

By Ralph D. Russo Feb. 28, 2021 12:03 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2017, file photo, Illinois offensive lineman Doug Kramer (65) blocks during an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in Champaign, Ill. For a program that has not had a winning record since 2011 and has reached the postseason just twice in that time, the hope is that Alex Palczewski, fellow linemen Kramer and Vederian Lowe and the super class will power a long awaited breakthrough in Champaign. (AP Photo/Bradley Leeb, File)
Rutgers at Illinois 10/14/2017

Feb. 28, 2021 08:01 AM EST

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 file photo, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema gets choked up as the senior players are introduced before the start of an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark. It's going on 40 days since Bret Bielema was announced as Illinois' football coach, and since then he's assembled a staff, met returning players, recruited new ones, convinced a top player to pull his name out of the transfer portal and made the rounds getting to know administrators and alumni. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)
New Illini coach Bielema says he doesn't want to wait to win

Jan. 27, 2021 05:02 PM EST

Illinois running back Mike Epstein (26) scores a touchdown past Rutgers linebacker Tyshon Fogg (8) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Piscataway, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
McCourt's late field goal sends Illinois past Rutgers 23-20

By Matt Sugam Nov. 14, 2020 05:31 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 19, 2019, file photo, Illinois' Josh Imatorbhebhe, second from right, celebrates with teammates including Donny Navarro (86) after scoring a touchdown in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin, in Champaign, Ill. Even after beating a Wisconsin team that was favored by 30 ½ points last year, Illinois heads into Madison as a 19 ½-point underdog as the two West Division rivals prepare to open the pandemic-delayed Big Ten season Friday night. (AP Photo/Holly Hart, File)
Illinois seeking to surprise No. 14 Wisconsin one more time

By Steve Megargee Oct. 22, 2020 12:20 PM EDT