The Champaign Room
A Fighting Illini community since 2012
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Illinois earns fourth straight victory behind Mirkovic’s 20-20 night
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — It certainly wasn’t the prettiest showing from Illinois, but the Illini still managed to add another tally to the win column, thanks mostly to David Mirkovic’s absurd stat line. After an inspiring 81-77 win over No. 11 Texas Tech on Tuesday, No. 14 Illinois didn’t look as polished in their 84-65 win […]
Five Illini who can improve NFL Draft stock down the stretch
Illinois football is bowl eligible for the third time in five years under Bret Bielema. As has been stated here previously, Bielema’s tenure has been an overall success. The results on the field have translated to a higher level of Illinois players entering the NFL. And on this senior-laden roster, there are plenty of NFL […]
How high is Illinois’ ceiling in 2026?
There is plenty of reason for optimism with this team after a 3-0 start. After a hard-fought matchup with Texas Tech, the Illini woke up Wednesday morning with a 3-0 record and a win over a borderline top-10 team. There are many positive signs for a team that has so many new players taking on […]
Illinois lost big after its last bye week. Why this time will be different
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The beginning of the 2025 season for Illinois was long. The Illini did not have a chance to catch their breath until week eight — the latest first bye week in the NCAA. The result after their week off? Not good. Illinois was throttled at Washington, losing 42-25. But off a rebound […]
Illinois basketball delivered an early season statement. What next?
On this episode of “Oskee Talk” I recognize women’s soccer’s first NCAA Tournament berth since 2013 (2:47) before revisiting Illinois’ thrilling victory over Texas Tech in Champaign (5:46), including a milestone win for Brad Underwood (9:05). I also spotlight standout performances from Tech’s JT Toppin (13:38) and Illinois’ Andrej Stojakovic (18:40) as well as the […]
Illinois football announces 2026 home opener
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illini will be getting their season started against the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers on Sept. 5, 2026, per a recent press release from the team. UAB, a member of the American Athletic Conference, is a team that will likely look a lot different by the time it comes to […]
Illinois looks at Maryland as the start to a strong finish
The Illini face the Maryland Terrapins this Saturday in Champaign at Geis Memorial Stadium. This Saturday at 2:30 p.m., the game will be broadcast on FS1. The Turtles come in with a 4-5 record, 1-5 in the Big Ten, and have lost their last five games. They average 25.3 points per game, and their defense […]
How to Watch Illinois vs. Maryland: Game Time, TV Channel, Online Streaming and Odds
How to Watch Illinois vs. Maryland Game Time: 2:30 p.m. Saturday TV Channel: FS1 Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: ILL -14.5, O/U 53.5 Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (6-3, 3-3 Big Ten) Head Coach: Bret Bielema (5th season) Last Game: 35-13 win over Rutgers Gameday Reading: Maryland Terrapins (4-5, 1-5 Big Ten) Head coach: Mike Locksley (7th season) Last game: […]
How to Watch Illinois vs. Colgate: Game Time, TV Channel, Online Streaming and Odds
How to Watch Illinois vs. Colgate Game Time: 8 p.m. Friday TV Channel: N/A Online Streaming: BTN+ Odds: N/A (Illinois 98.6% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (3-0, 0-0 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season, 168-101) Last Game: Illinois 81, Texas Tech 77 Gameday Reading: Colgate Raiders (1-2, 0-0 Patriot) Head […]
Andrej Stojaković shines in Illinois’ first true non-conference test
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Andrej Stojaković couldn’t help but grin at the podium when teammate Kylan Boswell recalled his role in Stojaković‘s recruitment over the summer. When Boswell found out head coach Brad Underwood and the rest of the Illinois staff were interested in pursuing him in the portal, he immediately started “harassing” him. “That’s not […]
Andrej Stojaković shines in Illinois’ first true non-conference test
CHAMPAIGN — Andrej Stojaković couldn’t help but grin at the podium when teammate Kylan Boswell recalled his role in Stojaković‘s recruitment over the summer. When Boswell found out head coach Brad Underwood and the rest of the Illinois staff were interested in pursuing him in the portal, he immediately started “harassing” him. “That’s not even […]
Stojaković leads Illinois to statement win over No. 11 Texas Tech
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois narrowly passed its first major test of the season Tuesday night, outlasting No. 11 Texas Tech in a back-and-forth 81-77 battle at State Farm Center that marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Tuesday night’s matchup at State Farm Center in Champaign marked the Illini’s first true test of the […]
Stojaković leads Illinois to statement win over No. 11 Texas Tech
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois narrowly passed its first major test of the season Tuesday night, outlasting No. 11 Texas Tech in a back-and-forth battle at State Farm Center that marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Tuesday night’s matchup at State Farm Center in Champaign marked the Illini’s first true test of the 2025-26 […]
Illinois’ first “deep water” game is here
On this episode of “Oskee Talk” I look back on men’s basketball’s blowout win over Florida Gulf Coast (3:30), including impressive starts from freshmen David Mirkovic and Keaton Wagler (10:37) as well as Zvonimir Ivisic claiming a spot in Illini history (16:52). I also preview the matchup with #11 Texas Tech (21:06), examine the value […]
Kylan Boswell vs. Christian Anderson headlines Illinois vs. Texas Tech
Illinois will host Texas Tech on Tuesday night for one of the most highly anticipated non-conference games of the season. Both teams remain undefeated and will look to secure a massive win in the second week of play. The matchup to watch Tuesday night will be at the guard position, as Illinois guard Kylan Boswell […]
Tomislav Ivisic ruled out for Illinois vs. Texas Tech
Tomi won’t be available again when Illinois has its first ranked matchup of the season on Tuesday night against Texas Tech. Head coach Brad Underwood announced Monday that Ivisic will miss his second straight game since suffering a knee injury last week in practice. Underwood, however, didn’t rule out Mihailo Petrovic making his college debut […]
Mirkovic named Big Ten Freshman of the Week
Illinois’ David Mirkovic has been named the inaugural Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the 2025-26 college basketball season. Mirkovic averaged 18.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game in his first two collegiate outings. He shot 57% from the field and 91% from the charity stripe. The star freshman recorded a double-double […]
Jackson, Illinois escape with win over Illinois State
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In an in-state rivalry matinee where Illinois State hoped to pull off an upset, Illinois was just too much. Despite the Redbirds sticking around for more than three quarters Sunday afternoon at State Farm Center, the Illini knocked off ISU, 75-65. The game was close throughout, especially late into the second half […]
How to Watch Illinois vs. Texas Tech: Game Time, TV Channel, Online Streaming and Odds
How to Watch Illinois vs. Texas Tech Game Time: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday TV Channel: FS1 Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO Odds: N/A (Illinois 68.7% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor) Quick Hits: Illinois Fighting Illini (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season, 167-101) Last Game: Illinois 113, FGCU 70 Gameday Reading: Texas Tech Red Raiders (2-0, 0-0 Big […]
FanDuel: Illinois opens as big favorite vs. Maryland
Illinois beat Rutgers by a million, and then Rutgers beat Maryland by a million, so by the transitive property, Illinois will beat Maryland by a billion. At least that’s what FanDuel Sportsbook is saying on Sunday in the opening line for next Saturday’s game (2:30 p.m. on FS1). FanDuel lists the Illini as a 14.5-point […]
Illinois great Isaiah Williams returns punt for TD
Let’s go, One! Illinois great Isaiah Williams returned a punt for a touchdown Sunday afternoon for the Jets. It was the lowly Jets’ second special teams TD of the first quarter against the Browns after they had a 99-yard kickoff return score earlier in the quarter. Williams started his NFL career last year with the […]
Buy or Sell David Mirk-o-Mania?
While Keaton Wagler was getting all the praise and attention in the preseason (and he had a strong showing himself in his Orange and Blue debut), we’re a couple games into the 2025-26 season, and David Mirkovic has the Illini fanbase, as well as the national media, absolutely buzzing. Against the Jackson State Tigers and […]
How Bielema is already building Illinois’ 2026 roster
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — With Illinois sitting firm at 6-3, bowl eligible for the second year in a row and controlling their own destiny for the remainder of the 2025 season, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema can not help but preparing for the future. During the second bye week of the season, Bielema has pushed the […]
Illinois football roster construction enters critical phase
During their bye week, Illinois football is sending its coaches (including the head ball coach) on the trail. They have been recruiting offensive line talent from the JuCo ranks and are reportedly looking to flip late prep finds from their current commitments. Over recent weeks, multiple JuCo prospects have been offered/visited. The focus on offensive […]
Stojaković debuts as Illinois registers beatdown of FGCU
CHAMPAIGN — State Farm Center, during these kinds of games, given the expectations for a No. 17 Illinois program, tends to be in a less-than-full-capacity formation and temper. But on Friday night’s beatdown of Florida Gulf Coast, 113-70, it was the blocks by Zvonimir Ivisic, frenetic flashes from freshman Keaton Wagler, and the occasional energizing […]
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