Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast

At Big Ten Media Days, Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner catches up with BTN analysts Howard Griffith and Jake Butt as well as former Illini All-American offensive lineman Martin O'Donnell. Griffith and Butt both discuss Illinois adding transfer quarterback Katin Houser and the switch to Bobby Hauck's defense, as well as their expectations for the Illini in 2026. O'Donnell, an executive at Busey Bank, discusses Illini football's new Busey Bank jersey patch and Illinois offensive line play.

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Illinois QB Katin Houser, DB Matthew Bailey and DB Juice Clarke sit down with Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner at Big Ten Media Days at Hilton Chicago. The guys chat with Houser about why he picked the Illini, his first seven months at Illinois, taking on a leadership role and the coaches and players around him. Bailey and Clarke then discuss their journeys at Illinois, the new defense and the next steps as a program.

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Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and Illini athletics director Josh Whitman join Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner to preview the 2026 season. Bielema gives a deep dive on his roster, breaking down each position group and new players, including quarterback Katin Houser. He also chats about the new defense under Bobby Hauck and the keys to sustaining success. Whitman then discusses his contract extension and what it means for him, his coaches and the program. He then dives into how Illinois football can sustain success and what Big Ten leadership must accomplish during the fall.

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Illinois basketball great and Illini Radio Network analyst Deon Thomas joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to discuss all things Illini basketball. Thomas discusses his vantage point of the Illini's Final Four run and Brad Underwood's success at Illinois. Thomas then breaks down the Illini's strong frontcourt of David Mirkovic, Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic before discusses expectations for the 2026-27 Illini and what it will take for the team to reach its ceiling.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner preview Big Ten Media Days before diving into the Illini's X-factors for the 2026 season, players who could swing the season one way or the other. The guys discuss some skill players who could emerge as key pieces in Barry Lunney Jr.'s offense, including TE Kaden Feagin and WR Jayshon Platt. Then the guys discuss players who could/need to be answers on a defense with a lot of question marks, including FS Mac Resetich, DL Carter Janki, DB Jakwon Morris and more.

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PrepHoops.com's Scott Burgess joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to discuss Illinois basketball's increased, intense recruiting push for state of Illinois prospects. Burgess breaks down the Illini's strategy and evaluations and discusses 2027 commits Quinton Kitt and Mason Martin and new 2027 offer Ed Stasys. Burgess then breaks down 2028 stars Brady Pettigrew and Cole Kelly and where the Illini stand in those high-level pursuits.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk discuss Illinois AD Josh Whitman's contract extension and Illini basketball summer recruiting. Then the guys play a game of "Buy or Sell" with the 2026-27 Illini basketball team, breaking down expectations for Illinois as a team, players, style of play and much more.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner discuss who could be breakout stars for Illinois football in 2026. The guys discuss offensive playmakers, like QB Katin Houser, RB Ca'Lil Valentine and more, and also break down some defenders who could break out in a new defensive scheme and bigger roles.

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CBS Sports college basketball writer Isaac Trotter joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to discuss the Illinois basketball offseason. The guys chat about early impressions of Keaton Wagler in the NBA Summer League, how Michigan's turmoil impacts Illinois and the Big Ten and the most intriguing things of Illini summer workouts. Trotter then discusses the Illini's top 2027 NBA Draft prospects.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner discuss the biggest positives and question marks from Illinois football's summer recruiting. The guys discuss positions Illinois recruited well, positions left wanting, significant additions, tough misses and more.

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