David Mirkovic gave Illinois basketball a little lift this week, and it had nothing to do with a box score.
After a summer that included foot surgery on August 4 and some understandable concern about his status, Mirkovic showed up at the Illinois football game on Saturday, September 19, and looked far from limited. The video that circulated didn’t offer much beyond a quick glimpse, but it told the important part of the story: no limp, no visible hesitation, and no sign that he was favoring the foot.
In the clip, Mirkovic jogs into position, does a little dance, and then laughs his way off camera. For Illinois, that’s the kind of sight that matters. A player who was in a walking boot a month later and then labeled day-to-day now appears to be moving comfortably again as the 2026-27 season approaches.
That’s a big deal for an Illini team carrying major expectations. Illinois is coming off a Final Four trip and managed to keep and add enough pieces to stay in the national conversation. Some are even calling this group a national championship favorite.
The intrigue around this roster has only grown over the past couple of months. Mirkovic’s health was one of the lingering questions, but this latest glimpse suggests he should be ready when the season opens.
Brad Underwood has built a roster shape that makes sense: a talented freshman in the middle of experienced help. Keaton Wagler had that setup last season, and the same kind of runway could be there for Quinton Coleman. He’ll have Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis around him, all of them coming off that Final Four run.
That combination is why this season feels so loaded with possibility for Illinois. The expectations are massive, the roster is stocked, and now one more key piece looks to be back on track.
In Other News...
Illinois Has A Rising Defender Pushing For A Bigger Week 1 Role
Mason Muragin spent 2024 on the sideline after an injury, but the senior linebacker has worked his way back into the conversation as one of Illinois more intriguing defensive pieces. Known for his physical style and ability to get after the passer, Muragin finally got his debut in 2025 and then kept building into a key part of the defense in 2026, enough to draw praise from Bret Bielema along the way.
Now the question is how quickly that momentum turns into a bigger Week 1 workload. Illinois is settling into a new 3-3-5 look, and Muragins skill set fits the kind of versatile role that can matter early, especially with Daniel Brown still working back from injury. The Illini have plenty to sort out on that side of the ball, but Muragin looks like one of the players who could help shape the first version of the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Just Changed The Mood Around Ohio State Week
A week after the Duke game left plenty to clean up, Illinois looked much more like itself in a 48-10 win over Southern Illinois at Gies Memorial Stadium. The defense set the tone early, finishing with 57 tackles, six tackles for loss and only 257 total yards allowed, a sharper response that should matter as the Illini turn their attention to Ohio State week.
Collin Dixon also gave the home crowd a moment to remember, breaking the single-season touchdown record at Gies Memorial Stadium and finishing with eight on the year. For an Illinois team trying to build momentum at the right time, the combination of a steadier defense and a record-setting performance in the passing game changes the mood in a hurry, even if the next test will say far more about where this group really stands. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Vs Ohio State Line Feels Like A Shot At The Illini
Illinois has had a rocky opening stretch, with a loss to Duke among the early-season setbacks, and now the betting market is making the trip to face No. 7 Ohio State look like an uphill climb from the start. The Illinis defense has been giving up 21.3 points per game, which helps explain why oddsmakers are leaning so hard toward the Buckeyes.
Still, there is a case to be made that Illinois offense is being overlooked a bit in the number. Katin Houser and Collin Dixon have helped push the Illini to 39 points per game, giving this team at least one area that can travel into a tough matchup even if the broader perception remains skeptical. [Read more 🡒]