Illinois

2024 Know Your Opponent: Illinois Fighting Illini

Published

1 year ago

August 24, 2024

2024 Know Your Opponent: Illinois Fighting Illini

With Week 0 of the College Football Season beginning today, we will take a look at Northwestern’s final regular season opponent: the Illinois Fighting Illini. Coming off a disappointing 5-7 season, the Illini are looking to bounce back. With a good showing in the transfer portal, the Wildcats’ rivals are looking for revenge from a season ago.

The Basics

Returning Production: 62% overall (58% offense, 65% defense); 65th in FBS

2023 Record: 5-7

Head Coach: Bret Bielema

Preseason AP Poll Ranking: Unranked

The Stats

The following metrics are courtesy of Bill Connelly and ESPN. You can read more about the rankings and theory behind them here.

2024 SP+ Overall: 66th

2024 SP+ Offense: 90th

2024 SP+ Defense: 44th

2024 SP+ Special Teams: 77th

2023 Capsule

The Illinois Fighting Illini had a forgettable season in 2023. Starting off the season 1-0 after a two-point win over Toledo, the Illini would lose four of their next five. After a 2-4 start, they finished the season going 3-3 in their final six games. The overall losing record doesn’t tell the whole story though.

All of Illinois’ first four losses were by double digits. However, their final three losses of the season were much closer. Their loss to Wisconsin was four points, and their losses to Iowa and Northwestern were both two points. Their wins the entire season were also always one score games, with their highest margin of victory being six.

Illinois only reached 30+ points in three of their games in 2023. Those games being the first of the season against Toledo, and then their overtime win against Indiana in their third-to-last game, along with their loss in the final regular season game to Northwestern. However, their quarterback in the last three games of the season, with two of them being games in which the Illini scored over 40 points, is no longer on the team.

For most of the season, Luke Altmyer was the starting quarterback for Illinois. However, it wasn’t just Altmyer at quarterback for the Illini last season. Ball State transfer John Paddock also had his fair share of game time and ended up being the more efficient player over the course of the season. Paddock however is now in the NFL, and Altmyer is going to be the starter for Illinois this upcoming season.

Offensive Overview

In their 2023 campaign, the Fighting Illini scored 24.5 points per game. The offense averaged 391 total yards per game, with 264.6 pass yards per game and 126.4 rush yards per game. Coming back on offense for Illinois is quarterback Luke Altmyer. Last season, Altmyer threw 13 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, had a completion percentage of 64.8%, and threw for 1,883 yards. He also carried the ball 94 times for 284 yards and three touchdowns.

The Illini’s third receiver from a season ago is also back. Senior Pat Bryant is coming off a 43-catch, 560-yard, and seven touchdown junior season. The top two receivers for Altmyer, though, Isaiah Williams and Casey Washington, are both no longer with the team. They do have a new face in the receiver room in transfer from Ole Miss, Zakhari Franklin. Franklin, who is entering his sixth year, was a 1,000-yard receiver in his fourth year at UTSA before transferring to Ole Miss for 2023. However, last season wasn’t good for Franklin, as an injury early in fall camp led to him falling out of the rotation and barely seeing the field. Franklin is now hoping to reemerge as a star and be the go-to target for this Illini offense. Illinois also sees running back Kaden Faegin returning for his sophomore season following a two touchdown, 438-yard freshman campaign.

Despite the familiar faces returning at the skill positions, the potential of this offense all comes down to the men up front. Last season, the Fighting Illini allowed 40 sacks, putting them in the bottom-20 in sacks allowed. The Illini are losing 64 starts from their starting tackles from 2023 heading to the NFL, but the future of this offensive line isn’t too bad. They have many returning pieces, including center Josh Kreutz who has continued to develop. They also have some good transfers in to help bolster the line thanks to coach Bielema; the main piece being former New Mexico offensive J.C. Davis. Lastly for this line, incoming freshman Andrew Dennis might make an impact right away as a big-time recruit for this program.

Defensive Overview

On the defensive side of the ball, Illinois gave up 29.4 points per game. They also had 24 sacks, putting them right in the middle of the pack in all of the FBS. Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois’ sack leader last season with 7.5, is on to the NFL. The second and third sack leaders for the Illini defense are still with the team: redshirt senior Seth Coleman who had six sacks last season and junior Gabe Jacas who had four.

The top defensive backs for Illinois in 2023 are also back. Miles Scott is bringing his two interceptions (both were pick-sixes) and his 63 total tackles with him into his redshirt junior season. Also returning is junior Xavier Scott, who had two interceptions as well to go along with 11 pass deflections and 57 total tackles. Tyler Strain also comes back for the Illini, and is expected to make a huge jump as he enters his redshirt junior year. This secondary also adds 2023 All-Big 12 honorable mention Terrance Brooks from Texas through the transfer portal.

The Illini also see their interior linebackers from a season ago returning. Dylan Rosiek, who led the team with 82 total tackles and four forced fumbles. The other inside linebacker, Kenenna Odeluga, had two forced fumbles of his own last season. With much of their defensive players coming back, the Illini are set up to have strong defensive showings week-to-week.

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Illinois

Illinois is newest state to allow medical assistance in dying after Pritzker signs bill

Published

5 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Illinois is newest state to allow medical assistance in dying after Pritzker signs bill

Updated on: December 12, 2025 / 11:49 AM CST
/ CBS Chicago

Gov. JB Pritzker signed a new law Friday making Illinois the newest state allowing medically assisted dying in terminally ill residents.

Known as “Deb’s Law,” it allows eligible terminally ill adults with a prognosis to live six months or less to request a prescription from their doctor that would allow them to die on their own terms.

The legislation was narrowly approved by the Illinois Senate in October after the Illinois House passed it in May.

People on both sides of the debate over the controversial legislation lobbied the governor up until the last minute. Medical aid in dying, also called assisted suicide or dying with dignity, is already legal in 12 states. Eight more are considering similar legislation.

“I have been deeply impacted by the stories of Illinoisans or their loved ones that have suffered from a devastating terminal illness, and I have been moved by their dedication to standing up for freedom and choice at the end of life in the midst of personal heartbreak,” Pritzker said in a news release after signing the bill.

Pritzker’s signature makes Illinois the first state in the Midwest to allow medically assisted death.

Advocates for the law say it allows adults to die on their own terms when survival is already not an option. Opponents say the bill legalizes “state-sanctioned suicide.”

The law requires two doctors to determine a patient has a terminal disease and will die within six months. The medication provided would need to be requested both orally and in written documentation, and will have to be self-administered. The law also requires all patients opting into medical assistance in dying to have been full informed about all end-of-life care options, including comfort care, hospice, palliative care and pain control.

The law is named for Deb Robertson, a former social worker from Lombard who had an aggressive case of neuroendocrine carcinoma. She began advocating for medical aid in dying in 2022 and has been a central figure in the movement.

Please note: The above video is from a previous report

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Illinois

Advocates, opponents seek to sway Gov. JB Pritzker on medical aid in dying legislation passed by Illinois General Assembly

Published

17 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Advocates, opponents seek to sway Gov. JB Pritzker on medical aid in dying legislation passed by Illinois General Assembly

Illinois could soon join a growing list of states where terminally ill patients would be allowed to take life-ending medication prescribed by a doctor.

The Illinois Senate narrowly approved the “medical aid in dying” legislation in October, after the Illinois House passed it in May, and the legislation is now sitting on Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk.

Pritzker has not said if he’ll sign it, and the controversial legislation has people on both sides trying to bend the governor’s ear.

Medical aid in dying, also called assisted suicide or dying with dignity, is legal in 12 states, with eight others considering similar legislation.

If Pritzker allows the “End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act” passed by the Illinois General Assembly to become law, Illinois could be the first state in the Midwest to allow medical aid in dying.

Suzy Flack, whose son Andrew died of cancer, is among the advocates urging the governor to sign the bill.

Diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2017 in his home state of Illinois, three years later Andrew moved to California, where medical aid in dying is legal, and chose to end his life in 2022.

“He died on his own terms, peacefully. We were all there to see it and embrace him at that moment, and it was really a beautiful thing,” Suzy said. “His last words were, ‘I’m happy. Please sign this. Allow people in Illinois this option.’”

Illinois is on the brink of joining a growing number of states that allow doctors to prescribe a mixture of lethal medication for terminally ill patients.

Outside the governor’s Chicago office on Thursday, many disability advocates, religious leaders, lawmakers, and doctors have called on Pritzker to veto the bill that would legalize what they call state-sanctioned suicide

“The question becomes where do you draw the line in the medical ethics dilemmas?” one physician who identified himself as Dr. Pete said. “We don’t need to go to this crossing of a red line of actually providing a means to directly end life.”

Republican Illinois state Sen. Chris Balkema said he “would really appreciate it if the governor would veto this bill.”

“My plea is that we veto this; come back with language that is constructive on both sides,” he said.

Pritzker has he is reviewing the legislation and is listening to advocates on both sides before deciding whether to sign it.

“It’s a hard issue, and I don’t want anybody to think making up your mind about this is very easy. It’s not. There’s a lot to consider, but most of all it’s about compassion,” he said. “There’s evidence and information on both sides that leads me to think seriously about what direction to go.”

The Illinois legislation would require two doctors to determine that a patient has a terminal disease and will die within six months. The medication provided to terminally ill patients would need to be requested both orally and in written form, and would have to be self-administered.

The bill was sent to Pritzker on Nov. 25, and he has 60 days from then to either sign it, amend it and send it back to lawmakers, veto it, or allow it to become law without his signature.

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Illinois

Two rounds of snow on the way to central Illinois – IPM Newsroom

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

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Two rounds of snow on the way to central Illinois – IPM Newsroom

Snow is making a comeback in Central Illinois.

IPM meteorologist Andrew Pritchard said A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for Champaign County and surrounding portions of east-central Illinois beginning Thursday at 3:00 p.m. to Friday at 6:00 a.m.

Snow will spread into Champaign-Urbana between 3-6 PM late this afternoon into the evening with periods of moderate to heavy snowfall continuing overnight. Snow should taper off around sunrise on Friday morning, with around 2-4″ of new snow accumulation expected across Champaign County.

Winds will blow out of the east around 5-10 mph, with minimal impacts from blowing & drifting snow. Still, snow accumulation on roadways could lead to hazardous travel conditions overnight into the Friday morning commute.

On Saturday, the National Weather Service in Central Illinois forecasted for snow to return on Saturday afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible. Temperatures will drop below zero across much of central Illinois both Saturday night and Sunday night with resulting wind chill values as cold as 15 to 30 below zero.

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