Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner preview Illinois vs. Duke with a six-pack of questions. The guys break down how Brandon Henderson's injury impacts the offensive line, what other personnel changes the Illini could make, the key to Bobby Hauck's defense slowing down Duke's passing attack, the keys for the offense against Manny Diaz's aggressive defense and their biggest concerns and reasons for confidence in the game. The guys wrap up by making their Picks to Click and their bold predictions for the game.

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0:00 - Intro

0:53 - Setting up Illinois vs. Duke

4:55 - Home-field advantage for Illini

7:35 - Impact of Brandon Henderson's injury

14:26 - Personnel changes in Week 2?

23:36 - How does defense slow down Duke rushing attack?

30:00 - How does Illini attack Duke's aggressive defense?

35:12 - Biggest reason for confidence against Duke

41:05 - Biggest reason for concern against Duke

45:54 - Picks to click 5

53:26 - Bold predictions

57:45 - Look around the Big Ten

All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to review Illinois football's 42-23 season-opening win over UAB. Leman breaks down Bobby Hauck's defensive coordinator debut, concerns about the Illini's run defense and tackling but encouraging signs from its pass rush. Leman then breaks down his initial impressions of the Katin Houser-led offense and new-look offensive line. He then previews Saturday's non-conference showdown against defending ACC champion Duke.

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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.

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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

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Illini Inquirer basketball analyst Mike LaTulip joins Jeremy Werner to discuss the latest with Illinois men's basketball summer news and buzz. LaTulip breaks down the impact of David Mirkovic's foot injury, what it means for the star forward and the rest of the team. Then the guys discuss buzz around the freshmen, particularly Quentin Coleman and Lincoln Williams. LaTulip then breaks down areas Illini veterans can improve, including Stefan Vaaks, Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic and Jake Davis.

(0:00) Intro

(1:40) Keaton Wagler early impression with Clippers

(6:10) David Mirkovic injury impact

(19:27) What needed to be accomplished this summer

(24:15) Expectations for freshmen Quentin Coleman and Lincoln Williams

(36:10) Stefan Vaaks' adjustment

(40:55) Next steps for Andrej Stojakovic, the Ivisic twins and Jake Davis