Illinois Fighting Illini

Head Coach: Bret Bielema (5th year)

Offensive Coordinator: Barry Lunney Jr.

Defensive Coordinator: Bobby Hauck (1st year)

Spring Game: No spring game. Practice concludes on 19-Apr-2026

2026 Schedule

Most Likely: 8-4(expected 7.5)badge = team's win probability; ⚡ = toss-up (45-55%)

UABSep 584% -27.5

DukeSep 1269% -13.5

Southern IllinoisSep 19W

@ Ohio StateSep 2635% +10.5

PurdueOct 373% -16.0

@ Michigan StateOct 1062% -8.0

OregonOct 2433% +12.0

@ MarylandOct 31⚡ 53% -2.0

NebraskaNov 771% -14.5

@ UCLANov 14⚡ 46% +2.5

IowaNov 2171% -15.0

@ NorthwesternNov 28⚡ 54% -2.5

The Fighting Illini enter 2026 with new defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck.

Bret Bielema's Fighting Illini lost elite C Josh Kreutz (157, son of Bears legend) to the NFL Draft but return QB Katin Houser (114), RB Aidan Laughery (108), and DB Matthew Bailey (102). WRs Alex Perry and Hudson Clement (both 96) provide a dual receiving threat. Nine transfer starters fill gaps across the roster for a competitive Big Ten campaign.

Key Games

Toss-up: edges Maryland (Big Ten)53% win

Toss-up: edges Northwestern (Big Ten)54% win

Toss-up: trails UCLA (Big Ten)46% win

105Total Players

16Transfers

58Returning

31Freshmen

Starter Quality (out of 100)

Overall

Returning

Transfer

Quarterbacks(5)

Katin Houser

6'2" · 210 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

Maurice Smith Jr.

6'1" · 205 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#4Carson Boyd

6'0" · 185 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#15Jershaun Newton

6'0" · 220 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#12Trey Petty

6'0" · 210 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Running Backs(7)

#21Aidan Laughery

5'11" · 200 lbs · Age 20

Returning

R-Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#5Ca'Lil Valentine

5'11" · 190 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Junior

3 years remaining

Role: Starter

#22Petey Olaleye

5'7" · 205 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#27Corey Rashad

5'8" · 185 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#25Aaron Ball

5'11" · 195 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#20John Forster

5'10" · 190 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Cedric Wyche II

5'10" · 205 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Wide Receivers(12)

#13Hudson Clement

6'1" · 205 lbs · Age 20

Returning

R-Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#8Malik Elzy

6'2" · 215 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Key Reserve

#7Alexander Capka-Jones

6'4" · 190 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#17Collin Dixon

6'1" · 210 lbs · Age 19

Returning

R-Junior

3 years remaining

Role: Backup

Jayshon Platt

6'1" · 190 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Key Reserve

#80Hank Beatty

5'11" · 185 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#18Michael Bartolotta

6'2" · 215 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#87Tyler McClure

6'2" · 200 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#11Brayden Trimble

6'1" · 175 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#28Karson Kaiser

6'1" · 170 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#83Tysean Griffin

5'10" · 165 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Alex Perry

6-5 · 210 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Role: Starter

Tight Ends(9)

#3Kaden Feagin

6'3" · 250 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#85Tanner Arkin

6'4" · 265 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#88Davin Stoffel

6'6" · 260 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Backup

#23Jordan Anderson

6'4" · 240 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

Christian Abney

6'6" · 255 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

#16Logan Farrell

6'3" · 240 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#84Grant Smith

6'5" · 225 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#89Tanner Hollinger

6'5" · 225 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Trey Peters

6'5" · 220 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Offensive Line(17)

Jake Renfro

6'4" · 310 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#73Josh Gesky

6'5" · 325 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#72Ayden Knapik

6'6" · 295 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#66Brandon Hansen

6'6" · 335 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Junior

3 years remaining

Role: Backup

#75Brandon Henderson

6'5" · 335 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#65Kellen Francis

6'5" · 320 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#55TJ McMillen

6'3" · 295 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Tyler McMillan

6'6" · 320 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Dylan Frechette

6'6" · 310 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#78Eddie Tuerk

6'4" · 325 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#54Griffin Rousseau

6'7" · 325 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#56JJ Hirdes

6'6" · 280 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#68Michael McDonough

6'3" · 295 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Nathan Knapik

6'7" · 290 lbs · Age 18

Returning

R-Sophomore

4 years remaining

Role: Backup

#57Zach Barrett

6'3" · 280 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#79Zafir Stewart

6'6" · 355 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Christian Martin

6-6 · 300 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

R-Junior

Role: Starter

Defensive Line(15)

Darrell Prater

6'3" · 280 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#92Gentle Hunt

5'11" · 305 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#90James Thompson Jr.

6'6" · 300 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

William Holmes

6'3" · 245 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Junior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

Carter Janki

6'3" · 270 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

Connor Sullivan

6'4" · 285 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#4Daniel Brown

6'1" · 250 lbs · Age 20

Returning

R-Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#56Guillermo Gallardo

6'3" · 315 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

#44Angelo McCullom

6'2" · 290 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Carter Hewitt

6'5" · 290 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#93Henry Engel

6'2" · 295 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#52Pat Farrell

6'5" · 280 lbs · Age 19

Returning

R-Junior

3 years remaining

Role: Backup

#91Cameron Brooks

6'3" · 305 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#54Demetrius John

6'3" · 270 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Isaiah White

6'2" · 320 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Linebackers(15)

#26Ismael Kante

6'2" · 225 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

#18Mason Muragin

6'4" · 245 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Backup

Robert Edmonson

6'2" · 225 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

R-Junior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

Clayton Leonard

6'4" · 290 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#41James Kreutz

6'2" · 225 lbs · Age 20

Returning

R-Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#43Joe Barna

6'4" · 265 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Junior

3 years remaining

Role: Starter

#30Jojo Hayden

6'2" · 220 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#39Kenenna Odeluga

6'1" · 235 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#42Luke Zardzin

6'0" · 225 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#48Carter Smith

6'3" · 215 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#47Easton Baker

6'0" · 200 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#34Erik Gayle

6'3" · 215 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#33Grant Beerman

6'5" · 220 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#49Harrysson Ngassa

6'4" · 210 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Jack Paris

6'2" · 215 lbs · Age 18

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Defensive Backs(19)

Deuce Fillmore

5'11" · 180 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

R-Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

Lavon Williams

6'1" · 200 lbs · Age 22

Transfer

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#24Mac Resetich

6'2" · 204 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

#3Torrie Cox Jr.

6'0" · 175 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Xavier Scott

6'2" · 195 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Backup

#7Andre Lovett Jr.

6'0" · 195 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#5Des Straughton

5'10" · 176 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#4Juice Clarke

6'2" · 190 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

#6Tyler Strain

6'0" · 194 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#12Tywan Cox

5'11" · 187 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Rotation

#13Matthew Bailey

5'10" · 172 lbs · Age 20

Returning

R-Senior

3 years remaining

Role: Starter

#17RJ Jones III

5'10" · 170 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#1TJ Griffin

6'1" · 200 lbs · Age 22

Returning

Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#15Ben Clawson

5'11" · 182 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#20Donovan Turner

6'0" · 185 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#23Grayson Griffin

5'11" · 170 lbs · Age 19

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#21Murphy Clement

5'11" · 190 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#19Tanner Heckel

5'10" · 181 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Reserve

#22Xanai Scott

5'11" · 175 lbs · Age 19

Freshman

4 years remaining

Role: Reserve

Kickers(1)

Ethan Moczulski

6'0" · 185 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

R-Senior

2 years remaining

Role: Starter

Punters(3)

#95Blake Boatright

6'1" · 190 lbs · Age 20

Returning

Sophomore

3 years remaining

Role: Backup

Keelan Crimmins

Returning

R-Senior

1 years remaining

Role: Starter

Lars Rau

6-3 · 215 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

R-Sophomore

Role: Backup

Long Snappers(2)

Zach Haber

6'1" · 220 lbs · Age 21

Transfer

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup

#58Lucas Brim

6'0" · 215 lbs · Age 21

Returning

Junior

2 years remaining

Role: Backup