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The Champaign Room

https://www.thechampaignroom.com/ | 189 entries published

A Fighting Illini community since 2012

Latest Entries

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 […]

26 days ago | 3 reads

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: […]

27 days ago | 0 reads

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 […]

27 days ago | 0 reads

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 […]

28 days ago | 0 reads

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 […]

28 days ago | 0 reads

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 […]

28 days ago | 0 reads

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 […]

28 days ago | 0 reads

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 […]

29 days ago | 0 reads

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 […]

29 days ago | 0 reads

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 […]

29 days ago | 0 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 1 read

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

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 […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

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 113-70 beatdown of Florida Gulf Coast at State Farm Center, it was the blocks by Zvonimir Ivisic, frenetic flashes from freshman Keaton Wagler, […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

Tomislav Ivisic ruled out against Florida Gulf Coast

Illinois center Tomislav Ivisic has been ruled out with a knee injury for tonight’s game against Florida Gulf Coast. Ivisic suffered the knee injury in Wednesday’s practice and has been unavailable since. The star junior scored 21 points on 9-for-12 shooting and added 4 rebounds in the team’s win over Jackson State on Monday night. […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

Underwood gives updates on health of Stojakovic, Petrovic and Lee

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Brad Underwood met with local media ahead of Illinois’ home game against Florida Gulf Coast University on Friday night. The health of several key players, including Andrej Stojakovic, Mihailo Petrovic, and Brandon Lee, was touched upon briefly by the Illini head coach. Stojakovic will be a game-time decision in Friday’s contest, while […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

Illinois basketball barely broke a sweat

On this episode of “Oskee Talk” I recap the season-opening win for Illini women’s basketball (1:53) and discuss who can fill the leadership void for Shauna Green in 2025 (8:06). I also break down men’s basketball’s blowout of Jackson State (10:39), review the Illini’s perimeter prowess (16:20), and wonder if this year’s roster is Brad […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads

Illinois gets back on the winning track — and a bowl projection

With its 35-13 win vs. Rutgers, Illinois improved to 6-3 and bowl-eligible for the second season in a row. The last time that happened was 2010-11, and the Illini have now made three bowl games in four seasons. It’s the first time that has happened since 1991-94. The chance to go 9-3 for the second […]

about 1 month ago | 0 reads