Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois football's 42-23 season-opening win over UAB. The guys discusses encouraging signs from the offense — especially QB Katin Houser's debut and star performances from RB Ca'Lil Valentine and WR Collin Dixon — but some concerns (and bright spots) from Bobby Hauck's defense.
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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner catches up with former IHSA football head coach Mat Pistole to break down the X's and O's of Bobby Hauck's new Illinois defensive scheme, how it fits the Illini's personnel and the exciting and concerning things about the defense in 2026. Then Werner and Joey Wagner preview Illini football's season opener against UAB, what they want to see from the offense and defense, their picks to click and their bold predictions.
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(0:00) - Intro
(1:05) - Mat Pistole on Bobby Hauck's 3-3-5 scheme
(5:05) - Thoughts on bringing defense to Illinois
(9:01) - How Hauck deploys the defensive line
(14:52) - Importance of LBs in this defense
(20:50) - The secondary in this defense
(28:50) - Keys for defense vs. UAB
(30:45) - Question marks of the defense
(33:30) - Illinois vs. UAB preview
(36:38) - What we want to see from offense
(43:02) - What we want to see from defense
(45:34) - Picks to click offense
(49:48) - Picks to click defense
(53:03) - Bold prediction offense
(55:50) - Bold prediction defense

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.
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
(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