Illinois

Five questions for Illinois & Bret Bielema to answer this offseason

Published

2 years ago

January 9, 2024

Five questions for Illinois & Bret Bielema to answer this offseason

The college football season ended Monday night. On to the 2024 season, and the big questions we have for Illinois this offseason.

5. Who replaces Johnny Newton and Keith Randolph?

Johnny Newton has the chance to become Illinois’ second top-10 draft pick in as many years. To no one’s surprise, Newton and Randolph affected opposing lines enough to change the game. We all know the impact an injury-riddled Randolph and the absence of Newton had on the defensive line in the Wisconsin game, so how does Illinois replace a key part of its 2023 defense.

Sure, there will be some growing pains, but Illinois has retooled quite well on the defensive side. Illinois added transfers Enyce Sledge from Auburn and Anthony Johnson from Youngstown State. Sledge didn’t see much playing time as a freshman at Auburn but was a top-50 recruit out of Louisiana in 2022. Johnson had 25 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks in 2022. Illinois also picked up 3 star edge Josiah Knight and Hutchinson C.C. Edge Daniel Brown. Brown was the highest ranked outside linebacker out of JUCO.

Knight has a high upside but will still be a development piece in 2024. It should be interesting how Sledge, Johnson, and Brown slot into the Illini front 7 and compete with the players currently on the roster.

4. Can Aaron Henry patch the holes on the defense?

The transition from Ryan Walters to Henry was all but rosy. The Illini lost their secondary after 2022 and will lose its most impactful players on its front seven in 2023. The players are one end of the spectrum but the other side is scheme. Illinois and Purdue were the worst performing defenses on most metrics in the Big Ten. It is possible that other teams have figured out the base Walters defense and after playing that same style of defense for 3 years something needs to change.

This is probably the biggest question of the off season, something that we really won’t be able to see until Illinois kicks off against an unnamed opponent on Aug. 31. We should see bits and pieces in the spring game and Illinois will have key players back in the secondary and hopefully a healthy Matthew Bailey.

3. Can Luke Altmyer bounce back?

Believe it or not, Altmyer had the fourth-highest yards per game in the Big Ten, eighth-most touchdowns, and fifth-highest passer rating. The hot hand was Paddock in the last four games of the season, but Altmyer’s first year was nothing but stellar for Illinois. Include Paddock and Illinois had the third-best passing attack in the Big Ten, and that should continue into 2024.

There are two things that would hinder Altmyer’s rise in the rankings in 2024: the wide receivers and a retooled offensive line. Pat Bryant would be the only returning receiver over 500 yards and will need to be more consistent in 2024. I need to dive a bit deeper into the offensive line (which can be a blog of its own) because outside of Josh Kreutz there are a lot of questions marks for guards and tackles. Luckily, the line looks deeper but lacks experience. More on that later.

2. How does Illinois compete in the new Big Ten?

Both teams from the national championship Monday night — Washington and Michigan — will be in the Big Ten in 2024. I think I will be the first to say it, but the Big Ten is now THE premier football conference, beating out the SEC. And rising tides raise all ships.

In the first year of this transition, Illinois should be able to compete with 50% of the new league. We are an incredibly average program and should be able to stay incredibly average. If you take out the premier teams — Washington, Michigan, Ohio State, and Oregon — Illinois has beaten almost every team in the last three years (Purdue and Michigan State stand out).

Illinois wasn’t the tough-smart-dependable team we all expected last year and that cannot continue into 2024. There also needs to be that gritty Illinois vs. The World mentality that this team needs to adopt. The days of controlling the clock and winning the Big Ten West are gone. Illinois will be competing with the big boys every week and need to act like it’s been there before.

1. The way-too-early-kool-aid-prediction for 2024.

Week 1 – Group of Five opponent – Win
Week 2 – vs. Kansas – Win
Week 3 – vs. Central Michigan (Homecoming) – Win
Week 4 – @ Nebraska – Win
Week 5 – @ Penn State – Loss
Week 6 – BYE
Week 7 – vs. Purdue – Win
Week 8 – vs. Michigan – Loss
Week 9 – @ Oregon – Loss
Week 10 – vs. Minnesota – Win
Week 12 – vs. Michigan State – Win
Week 13 – @ Rutgers – Loss
Week 14 – @ Northwestern – Win

Illinois 8-4 and back to the Reliaquest Bowl.

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Illinois

3 Big IL Lottery Prizes Set To Expire Soon, Remain Unclaimed

Published

2 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Press Room

3 Big IL Lottery Prizes Set To Expire Soon, Remain Unclaimed

Three lottery tickets purchased in the Chicago area are set to expire soon, meaning the unknown lucky winners could be out thousands of dollars if they do not step up to claim their prizes.

Among the cash prizes are two tickets valued at $100,000 each that will expire in March and another with a $200,000 payout, which will expire next week, according to Illinois Lottery officials. The $200,000 Powerball winner was purchased at a Citgo at 44 E. Sibley Avenue in Dolton on Nov. 30.

The other two tickets that have winners that have not claimed prizes include:

A $100,000 Powerball ticket bought on March 12 at the Speedway, 110 Arrowhead Drive, Hampshire
A $100,000 Powerball ticket bought on March 19 at the Shell, 4900 S. Cicero Avenue, Chicago.

Winners have one year from the draw date to claim their prize, according to the Illinois Lottery.

The Illinois Lottery is urging players to check their tickets as the deadline approaches to claim a $200,000 winning Powerball ticket purchased nearly a year ago in Dolton, Illinois. The ticket will expire in two weeks if not claimed.

The Illinois Lottery encourages the ticket holder to sign the back of their winning ticket immediately and store it in a safe place until they are ready to claim their prize.

A full list of unclaimed prizes can be found on the Illinois Lottery’s website.

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Illinois

Illinois vs. Alabama Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel

Published

20 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

Illinois vs. Alabama Prediction, How to Watch, Odds, Channel

The No. 8 Illinois Fighting Illini (4-0) will attempt to extend a four-game home win streak when they take on the No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide (2-1) on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at United Center. The matchup airs at 9 p.m. ET on FS1.

The Fighting Illini, who are favored by 2.5 points, are set to take on the Crimson Tide. The matchup’s over/under is set at 180.5.

Continue scrolling to get everything you need to know ahead of betting on the Illinois-Alabama contest.

Illinois vs. Alabama How to Watch & Odds

When: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: United Center in Chicago, Illinois
TV: FS1
Streaming: FOXSports.com, FOX Sports App and FOX One (Try free for 7 days)
Odds: Illinois is favored to win the game. Check out the latest odds.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

Illinois vs. Alabama Prediction

Take the Illini to take down Alabama tonight. Illinois is riding high on their 4-0 record and has shown impressive defensive prowess, limiting opponents to just 66.8 points per game. Their frontcourt, led by players like David Mirkovic, could prove to be a significant matchup advantage against Alabama.

Alabama, on the other hand, is coming off a tough loss to Purdue, where they were outrebounded by 24 and struggled from three-point range, going 16-for-43. However, they’ve shown they can score, averaging 91.3 points per game. Labaron Philon Jr. is having a standout season, averaging 19.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6 assists per game.

Pick ATS: Illinois (-2.5)
Pick OU: Under (180.5)
Prediction: Illinois 86, Alabama 83

Prediction provided by FOX Sports’ Sports AI. Download the FOX Sports App for free access to Sports AI.

Illinois vs. Alabama Betting Insights

Betting Line Implied Predictions

Per the spread and over/under, the implied score for the game is Fighting Illini 92, Crimson Tide 89.
The Fighting Illini have a 60.5% chance to collect the win in this matchup per the moneyline’s implied probability.
The Crimson Tide have a 43.9% implied probability to come out on top.

Key Spread Facts

Illinois won 18 games against the spread last season, while failing to cover 17 times.
Alabama covered 21 times in 37 games with a spread last year.
Illinois had an ATS record of 15-12 when playing as at least a 2.5-point favorite last season.
Alabama was an underdog by 2.5 points or more six times last year, and covered the spread in four of those matchups.

Key Total Facts

Four times last year, the Fighting Illini and their opponent combined to score more than 180.5 points.
Last year, 15 Crimson Tide games featured more than 180.5 points scored.
Last year’s combined scoring average for these two teams (174.3 points per game) is 6.2 fewer than the total for this contest.

Key Moneyline Facts

Illinois went 19-7 in games it was listed as the moneyline favorite last season (winning 73.1% of those games).
Last season, Alabama was the underdog nine times and won five of those games.
Illinois had a record of 19-6 in games it played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -153 or shorter last year (76%).
Alabama had a record of 2-3 when it was set as the underdog by +128 or more by sportsbooks last season.

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Illinois

Illinois transportation crews prepare for winter weather

Published

2 days ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

Illinois transportation crews prepare for winter weather

MILAN, Ill. (KWQC) – The Illinois Department of Transportation held a “Winter Weather, Get It Together” event Tuesday as crews prepare for the upcoming winter season.

Crews want drivers to pay extra attention to crews working to clear roads during winter weather events.

“Definitely just keep in mind, slow down when you see our trucks,” Devin McNeill, Illinois DOT lead worker at the Silvis yard said. “Our drivers are doing multiple things while they’re operating the trucks so they can’t see everywhere.”

He also said drivers should be patient.

Crews in District 2, which covers several counties in northwest Illinois, have nearly 4,100 miles of roads to plow.

Guidelines from the Illinois Department of Transportation:

Give yourself extra time for trips
Slow down and increase the distance between other vehicles
Prepare an emergency kits with jumper cable, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, an ice scraper, traction material, blankets, food and a first-aid kit
Keep a cellphone charger in your vehcile
Check your battery, tires, lights, charging system and belts
Look out for black ice and slippery conditions, even with no snow
Be careful at intersections, ramps, bridges and shady areas
Don’t travel in bad weather unless you have to. If you do, share your route and check the forecast
Give plows and other equipment treating the roads space