Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner make their bold predictions for the 2026 Illinois football season. The guys discuss some potential big goals for the Illini offense, a wide range of possibilities for the defense and some potential breakout performers.
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All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to preview Thursday's Illinois football season opener against UAB. Leman breaks down what Game One is like for players, the excitement level around Illinois football's 2026 season, what would make for a successful first game, what he expects to see from Bobby Hauck's defense and players he's higher on than the consensus.
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(0:00) - Intro
(1:30) - What Week One is like for a player
(3:30) - Excitement level for 2026 season
(5:04) - Bobby Hauck's defense debuts
(9:45) - Key for Illini linebackers in this defense
(16:00) - How Illini overcome WR injuries
(21:04) - What a success looks like for Katin Houser
(26:27) - Keys for new-look Illini offensive line
(28:20) - Players J Leman is higher on this season
(31:25) - Impact of Xavier Scott's return

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner unveil their 'Sign Guys' for the 2026 Illinois football season. The guys break down no-doubt starters, rotation players and underclassmen they're all-in on to make a significant impact and why.
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(0:00) - Intro
(1:00) - Explaining 'Sign Guys'
(10:34) - Joey's keeper from last year
(14:49) - Jeremy's keeper from last year
(21:00) - Joey's pick for offensive starter
(25:28) - Jeremy's pick for offensive starter
(30:40) - Joey's pick for defensive starter
(34:47) - Jeremy's pick for defensive starter
(40:07) - Joey's offensive rotation pick
(42:31) - Jeremy's offensive rotation pick
(47:14) - Joey's defensive rotation pick
(49:20) - Jeremy's defensive rotation pick
(53:15) - Joey's underclassman pick
(55:45) - Jeremy's underclassman pick

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner discuss what they learned from 2026 Illinois football training camp leading into the Sept. 3 season opener against UAB. The guys break down the team position by position, talking about encouraging signs at quarterback, running back, tight end, offensive line and the secondary and concerns at wide receiver, defensive line, linebacker and special teams.
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(0:00) - Intro
(4:30) - Jayshon Platt injury impact
(7:25) - Big Ten prohibiting NFL players from playing
(13:10) - Quarterbacks
(21:37) - Running backs
(30:41) - Wide receivers
(37:27) - Tight ends
(43:31) - Offensive line
(50:05) - Defensive line
(59:11) - Linebackers
(66:01) - Secondary
(71:32) - Specialists

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk break down Illinois basketball's 2026-27 nonconference schedule and the latest in recruiting. The guys discuss four 5-star prospects slated for fall official visits and the most intriguing parts of the Illini's pursuit. The guys then discuss Illinois playing three exhibition games, including a home game against Baylor, and a tougher-than-usual slate against mid-majors, before Tausk ranks the five marquee nonconference games.
(0:00) - Intro
(5:20) - Four 5-star prospects visiting Illinois this fall
(12:30) - Pursuits of Brady Pettigrew & NaVorro Bowman Jr.
(17:15) - Pursuits of Moussa Kamissoko & Darius Wabbington
(28:35) - Breaking down three exhibition games
(34:00) - Illini's tougher-than-usual mid-major slate
(37:00) - Ranking Illini's five marquee nonconference games
Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on:
Apple: https://apple.co/3oMt0NP
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Xan2L8
Other: https://bit.ly/36gn7Ct
Go VIP for 60% OFF: https://tinyurl.com/2fkhmjdz