Welcome to the Armchair Illini podcast! Host Austin Burklund is joined by a big-time guest, Said Bravo of the Illini Inquirer and The Champaign Room.

Said and Austin break down the tough 42-25 loss to Washington and dive deep into the 2025 Illini football season. They discuss what the loss means for the program's "good vs. great" status and analyze the defense's woes in big games. Is it a talent issue or a schematic problem? They also discuss the future of DC Aaron Henry and the legacy of QB Luke Altmyer.

Plus, Said shares his pick for the player who has most exceeded expectations (Khalil Valentine) and one who has been a disappointment (Miles Scott).

Then, they switch gears to the hardwood to preview the upcoming Illini basketball season. How will the team handle a difficult non-conference schedule (UConn, Tennessee, Texas Tech) with so many new faces? Said shares his three players he's most excited to watch: Keaton Wagler , Andrej Stojakovic , and Mihailo Petrovic. They also talk defensive concerns and expectations for Tomislav.

Finally, Said provides an update on the Illini soccer and volleyball programs, highlighting the storylines for both teams.

Find Said Bravo's work on X (formerly Twitter) @sayead_bravo01.

This episode is brought to you by Hamilton Walkers and Campus Inks (use code 'armchairillini' for 15% off).

Be sure to like, share, and subscribe and visit armchairillini.com for more written content.

Timestamps

00:00 - Intro 00:36 - Sponsor: Hamilton Walkers 01:15 - Welcoming Guest Said Bravo 01:55 - Illini Football: Washington Loss Recap 02:10 - Said's Overview: Illinois is "Good, Not Great Yet" 03:33 - Analyzing the Defensive Woes: Talent vs. Scheme? 05:48 - The Future of DC Aaron Henry 08:34 - Luke Altmyer's Performance & Legacy 12:33 - Player Who Exceeded Expectations: Khalil Valentine 15:18 - Khalil Valentine's Efficiency & Joe Mixon Connection 16:07 - Player Who Has Disappointed: Miles Scott 18:16 - Sponsor: Campus Inks 18:40 - Illini Basketball Preview: Tough Non-Conference Schedule 21:05 - Three Players to Watch: Keaton Wagler 22:22 - Player to Watch: Andres Stojakovic 23:00 - Player to Watch: Tomislav Petrovic 24:06 - Concerns About the Basketball Team's Defense 26:28 - Expectations for Tomislav 28:09 - Said's Other Beats: Illini Soccer & Volleyball 29:00 - Illini Soccer Storylines: 31:44 - Illini Volleyball Storylines: Where to Find Said Bravo 35:06 - Outro

Keywords

Illinois Fighting Illini, Illini Football, Illini Basketball, Armchair Align Eye, Said Bravo, Illini Inquirer, Champaign Room, Illinois Football Recap, Washington Huskies, Aaron Henry, Luke Altmeyer, Khalil Valentine, Miles Scott, Illinois Basketball Preview, Brad Underwood, Keaton Wogler, Andres Stuyakovich, Tomislav Petrivich, Tomáš Luffa-Veselý, Illini Soccer, Illini Volleyball, Big Ten Football, Big Ten Basketball