Carson Gourdie from ABC20 joins The Drive to preview opening night of high school football across Central Illinois, including the teams, storylines, players and matchups worth watching as the 2026 season gets underway.

Carson also breaks down the latest bombshell in the NCAA's eligibility battle. The U.S. Tenth Circuit granted the NCAA's request to stay the nationwide injunction in Wisne v. NCAA, putting the potential fifth season for qualifying Class of 2022 athletes on hold while the appeal continues.

The ruling is particularly complicated for college football players because the decision comes just days before the season begins. While the nationwide protection has been stayed, athletes who obtained separate state-court restraining orders may still have eligibility protection. That creates a confusing patchwork where some players can potentially play while similarly situated players cannot.

Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer joins The Drive to break down Illinois basketball's non-conference schedule, including the biggest challenges on the slate, which games should matter most for the Illini's NCAA Tournament résumé, and what the schedule tells us about Brad Underwood's program.

The conversation also turns to Illinois' recruiting pipeline in Chicago — how important the city remains to the Illini, the talent Illinois is targeting, and whether the program can continue strengthening its presence in one of the state's most important basketball recruiting markets.

Plus, a major development in the NCAA's ongoing eligibility battle: the U.S. Tenth Circuit granted the NCAA's request to stay the nationwide injunction in Wisne v. NCAA. The ruling temporarily puts the fifth-season opportunity for qualifying Class of 2022 athletes on hold while the appeal continues.

Brian Teague from Chicago State of Mind Sports joins The Drive for a packed second hour covering Illinois football and the Chicago Bears.

Teague breaks down why Jake Renfro and Xavier Scott could be critical pieces for the Illini in 2026, and what their health and production could mean for Illinois' hopes this season.

The conversation then shifts to the Bears, including Ben Johnson's intense approach at training camp and whether that physical, demanding style is exactly what Chicago needs to take the next step. The Bears have already had some heated practices, while Johnson continues to emphasize competition and preparation.

And with the Bears heading to Cincinnati for a joint practice and Saturday night's preseason matchup, there's extra intrigue surrounding Bears-Bengals after Joe Burrow made it clear that Cincinnati believes this is a Super Bowl-or-bust type of season. Burrow has compared the 2026 Bengals to his 2019 LSU championship team and says the team expects to compete for the Super Bowl.

Topics include:

The Bears and Bengals meet Saturday, August 22 at 6 p.m. CT in Cincinnati.

Illinois basketball legend Deon Thomas joins The Drive for a wide-ranging conversation about his legendary Illini career, his transition from player to Illinois Athletics Director of Major Gifts, and his continued role as a voice of Illini basketball.

Thomas reflects on his career at Illinois, where he remains the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,129 points, before discussing his work helping grow the Fighting Illini donor network and support current and future student-athletes.

He also looks back at the evolution of Illinois basketball from 2020 through 2026, including Brad Underwood's transformation of the program, the recent Final Four run, and what makes the current era so exciting for Illini fans.

Plus, Thomas reveals his Starting Five of Illinois players from 2020-2026 and explains why he selected each player.

Topics include:

Thomas joined the Illinois Athletics development team in 2019 and continues to serve as a radio analyst for Fighting Illini basketball.

The Drive's second hour dives into a busy night of Chicago and St. Louis baseball before turning to some of the strangest quirks in the 2026 Illinois and Big Ten football schedules.

The Cardinals enter Wednesday's matchup with Cincinnati having taken two of the first three games of the series. Matthew Liberatore gets the start for St. Louis against Reds rookie Chase Burns, who has emerged as one of Cincinnati's most impressive young pitchers.

Meanwhile, the White Sox salvaged their series against the Cubs with a 3-0 shutout at Wrigley Field. Jose Urquidy delivered six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, while Chicago's offense couldn't generate a run.

The hour also takes a closer look at the unusual quirks and anomalies hiding in the Illinois Fighting Illini and Big Ten football schedules. Which matchups stand out? What scheduling oddities could impact the season? And are there any patterns that could help—or hurt—the Illini?

Sunny Verma of Locked On Illini joins The Drive to break down the latest surrounding Illinois athletics. Verma discusses why Illinois wide receiver Jayshon Platt could be a special player for the Illini, the importance of special teams, and what role Platt could play as both a receiver and return specialist. Platt is coming off a 2025 season at Florida Atlantic in which he recorded 46 receptions for 720 yards and five touchdowns while also providing a major boost in the return game.

The conversation also turns to Illinois basketball and the expected role of Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks. The 6-foot-7 guard averaged 15.8 points and 3.2 assists per game last season and is expected to be one of Illinois' primary playmakers.

Plus, Evan's Random Illini Players of the Day!

Pete Crow-Armstrong put together one of the most memorable nights in Cubs history, becoming just the sixth player in MLB history to hit both a leadoff homer and a walk-off homer in the same game. PCA went 4-for-5 with two home runs in the Cubs' 7-5, 10-inning win over the White Sox, while his second homer gave him 30 home runs and secured his second straight 30-30 season.

The Cardinals and Reds split Monday's doubleheader, with St. Louis taking Game 1 before Cincinnati rallied for a walk-off win in Game 2. The focus turns to the series finale Tuesday, including the latest on Joshua Báez after his historic three-homer MLB debut. Báez went 0-for-9 in Monday's doubleheader, but his incredible start has Cardinals fans wondering if they've found another major piece for the future.

Then it's time for another Illini Football positional breakdown, with the spotlight on the offensive line. Illinois is working through a major overhaul up front, with new faces and limited continuity making the O-line one of the biggest questions heading into the 2026 season.

Doug Bucshon of On3’s Orange & Blue News joins The Drive to break down the latest Illinois football storylines as the Illini inch closer to the 2026 season. The conversation covers the team's injury situation, key position battles still being decided in training camp, and whether the revamped offensive line is starting to develop the chemistry it needs. Illinois is replacing four starters up front, making the O-line one of the biggest areas to watch heading into the season.

Plus, Kurtis and Evan bring back Random Illini Football Players of the Day, highlighting some names from Illinois football history that deserve another look.

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Hour 2 of The Drive gets you ready for a big weekend of baseball as the St. Louis Cardinals head to Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs in a three-game series beginning Friday, August 14. The rivals meet with both teams looking to make a push in the NL Central, setting the stage for another heated weekend at Wrigley.

The guys also check in on former Illinois football players making their mark in NFL preseason action. With preseason games underway, which Illini have the best opportunity to make an NFL roster, and who could be fighting for a bigger role?

And, unfortunately, it's time for a Friday Toast with a twist: the crew raises a glass to Quinntern the Intern, who is wrapping up her final day with The Drive. Plenty of laughs, memories and well wishes as the team says goodbye.

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In Hour 1 of The Drive, Kurtis Allen and Evan Stone dive into a big night for former Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer, who gets the start for the Detroit Lions in their preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. Altmyer is getting a major opportunity to showcase what he can do as he competes for a spot on Detroit's roster.

The guys also discuss the latest developments in the Chicago Bears' stadium situation. Bears leadership says the organization is conducting its due diligence on potential sites in Hammond, Indiana, with the team currently focused on two Northwest Indiana locations. Despite the Indiana discussions, the franchise says it would remain the Chicago Bears if it eventually crosses the state line.

Plus, it's time for another edition of Evan's Random Illini Football Players of the Day, featuring another name from the long and fascinating history of Illinois football.