Luke Altmyer Earns 2025 Loren Tate Media Award, Cementing Legacy On and Off the Field
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer has added another accolade to an already impressive resume, becoming the third-ever recipient of the Loren Tate Media Award. It’s a recognition that goes beyond the box score - honoring not just what a player does between the lines, but how he carries himself beyond them.
Named after legendary Champaign sportswriter Loren Tate, the award is presented annually to the Illinois football player who exemplifies professionalism, integrity, and cooperation with the media. This year, 20 media members from 12 outlets who regularly cover the Illini cast their votes. Altmyer appeared on 18 of those ballots, collecting 14 first-place votes and four second-place nods - a clear consensus pick.
And it’s not hard to see why.
Altmyer has been a steady hand at quarterback and a steady voice off the field. As a team captain and three-year starter, he’s helped guide Illinois to three bowl appearances in two seasons, including back-to-back eight-win campaigns - a feat that speaks to both his leadership and consistency under center.
Statistically, Altmyer’s 2025 season was one of the best in the Big Ten. He ranked sixth in the conference in both passing yards (2,811) and completion percentage (68.1%), and fifth in touchdown passes (21), while throwing just five interceptions.
That kind of efficiency - especially in a rugged Big Ten slate - doesn’t come easy. It’s the product of poise, preparation, and a deep understanding of the offense.
His career numbers are just as telling. Altmyer sits sixth all-time at Illinois in passing yards (7,411), fifth in completions (612), and is tied for second in career touchdown passes (56). That puts him in rare company in program history - and he’s not done yet, with the Music City Bowl still to come.
But what sets Altmyer apart, and what ultimately earned him this award, is how he’s handled the spotlight. Whether facing the media after a tough loss or a statement win, he’s been composed, thoughtful, and accountable - the kind of presence every coach wants leading the locker room.
“Luke is one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Illinois history, but what he has represented off the field has been just as impactful,” said head coach Bret Bielema. “He embodies everything that Illinois Football and Loren Tate stand for.
He is a consistent leader that lives his routine every day. He will represent Loren’s award for years to come in the NFL and beyond."
That’s high praise - and it’s warranted.
The award’s namesake, Loren Tate, is a titan in Illinois sports journalism. Over a career that has spanned more than five decades, Tate has chronicled the highs and lows of Illini athletics with insight and integrity.
From his early days as sports editor of the Hammond Times in Indiana to his long tenure at The News-Gazette in Champaign, Tate’s voice became synonymous with Illinois sports. He’s penned books, won national awards, and even launched a weekly radio show - all while maintaining a front-row seat to Illini history.
Tate’s impact was recognized with inductions into both the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame. So when an Illinois player receives an award bearing his name, it carries weight - not just as a media-friendly honor, but as a symbol of trust, class, and respect.
For Altmyer, this award is another chapter in a career defined by more than just numbers. It’s about leadership.
It’s about consistency. And it’s about setting the tone - not just for the offense, but for the entire program.
As he prepares to take the field one last time this season, Altmyer does so not just as one of Illinois’ most productive quarterbacks, but as one of its most respected voices. That’s the kind of legacy that lasts well beyond the final whistle.