Jon Rothstein has put Illinois squarely in the spotlight.
After Brad Underwood guided the Illini to a Final Four last season - their first since 2005 - Rothstein slotted Illinois at No. 1 in his latest Big Ten preseason power rankings, even with star point guard Keaton Wagler gone. That’s a strong statement this early in the offseason, and it gives Underwood’s team a very different kind of attention heading into next year.
Illinois’ rise has been built on more than one good run. Underwood has kept key pieces from last year’s roster, including Andrej Stojakovic and David Mirkovic, which helps explain why Rothstein sees the Illini as the conference’s top team. The ranking also reflects how much the program has changed from the days when it could still slide into the background as a dark horse.
That’s not really the case anymore.
Illinois has been in the mix in recent years, but it was never viewed as the same kind of steady heavyweight as Purdue or Michigan, at least for two years under Dusty May. Now, with the offseason recruiting Underwood has put together, the Illini look like a legitimate Big Ten threat instead of a team sneaking up on people.
And this time, the surprise factor is gone. Last season, Illinois wasn’t on many radars, with Wagler - a three-star recruit out of high school - leading the way in a season few saw coming.
That anonymity worked in Underwood’s favor. Next season should be different.
With this roster and this ranking, Illinois is going to draw far more attention than it usually does in the regular season.
Michigan, the reigning National Champion, already carries a huge target, but Illinois may be right behind it. The Wolverines also have a new face leading them, with Dusty May gone and Mike Boynton Jr. taking over.
Underwood will also have to manage the adjustment of life without Wagler, but he’s confident in the group he’s assembled. He’s also built a strong non-conference schedule, not just to help the postseason case, but to get his team ready for Big Ten play.
The message is clear: Illinois won’t be sneaking up on anybody this time.
In Other News...
Illinois Adds Trezavant Boyd As 2027 Secondary Build Keeps Growing
Illinois 2027 secondary build picked up another piece with the addition of Trezavant Boyd, a three-star cornerback from Miami Central who brings a profile that fits the kind of long-term defensive planning programs chase on the recruiting trail. Boyd is rated by 247Sports as the 72nd-best cornerback nationally and the 61st player in Florida, and his physical tools and playing style give Illinois another prospect to mold for the back end of its defense.
The appeal here is less about immediate impact and more about how Boyd could grow into the system over time. He may need a couple of years before hes ready for steady defensive snaps, but his frame and movement skills point to a player who can be developed into a useful piece in Illinois scheme, with early value possibly coming in other phases while he learns the college game. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Is Betting Big On A Few Familiar Faces In 2026
Illinois is heading toward 2026 with a familiar kind of offseason plan: trust the players already in the building to take on bigger jobs. On defense, James Kreutz is expected to move into a starting inside linebacker role, while Joe Barna is lined up to become the teams top edge presence. On the other side of the ball, Nathan Knapik is in the mix for an offensive line spot after already showing he can step in when needed.
The bigger backdrop is a new voice running the defense in Bobby Hauck, and that change could matter as much as any individual promotion. Illinois is counting on continuity in some key places, but it also needs those returning pieces to grow fast enough to handle heavier responsibility. How quickly Kreutz, Knapik and Barna settle into those roles will go a long way toward shaping what this roster looks like when the season arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Finally Rewards Josh Whitman For Changing Everything
Josh Whitmans run as Illinois athletic director has now been rewarded with the kind of long-term commitment that usually follows real change, not just promises of it. Since arriving in 2016, the Illinois alum and former football player has helped reshape the department from the top down, and the school has clearly decided the results across its biggest programs are worth locking in for the long haul.
The extension keeps Whitman in place through 2036, with his pay set to climb over time as Illinois bets on continuity after years of progress in football and basketball. Bret Bielema, Brad Underwood and Shauna Green have all become central to that turnaround, and the broader picture around the department is hard to ignore: bowl seasons on the gridiron, a Final Four in mens hoops, and steady NCAA Tournament work from the womens team. [Read more 🡒]