The Drive with Lon Tay & Derek Piper

The Chicago Bears magical season came to an end last night with a 20-17 overtime loss against the Rams. Where do they go from here? We recap the game and look at the free agent list. Plus, Eric Bienemy is leaving the Bears and returning to the Chiefs for their Offensive Coordinator position.  The Bills have fired Sean McDermott. Is he immediately the most sought-after free agent coach? We dig into the latest coaching carousel. Evan has a College Football National Championship "Etched in Stone" bet that might shock you. And we announce the next category in our Tuesday Drafts.

The All-American J Leman joins us on the Dick Van Dyke Appliance phone line to preview the National Championship Game between Indiana vs Miami. Plus, J gives his thoughts on Illinois football recruitment and much more. Speaking of recruitment, Illinois Head Coach Bret Bielema joined ESPN 93.5 today to discuss his recruitment class and all things college football. Coach Bielema let listeners know that he's nowhere near done building the 2026 roster. And we recap the Illini men's basketball team's home win over Minnesota. Big Z was the hero this time.

Our guy Carson Gourdie from WICS-TV and Fox Illinois joins us to preview Illinois vs Minnesota. Carson has great insight and statistical breakdowns as always. Plus we talk about the Illinois football transfer portal and some of the odd pictures on Carson's Facebook page. Evan went 2-2 last night in Etched in Stone and is over .500 for 2026. Find out which basketball games he likes for tonight. We make our predictions for the NFL Divisional round and are completely split. Who did we pick and who do you agree with? Plus, our big Friday Toasts!

The St. Louis Cardinals rolled into Champaign today for our annual Cardinals Caravan! This hour you'll hear from several of the stars for this year's team. Players included Michael McGreevy, Thomas Saggese, Yohel Pozo, Andre Pallante, and alumni favorite Bengie Molina! Zack Pearson covers the Chicago Bears for BearWire on 247Sports. He's back on the show and this time we're talking Bears vs Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs. How does Zack think the Bears can win this game? The Illini Men's Basketball team takes on Minnesota tomorrow and head coach Brad Underwood met with the media earlier today. Underwood addresses the health of David Mirkovic, Keaton Wagler, and the infamous hook & hold call from the Northwestern game.

Can you guess how many Super Bowls the Top 10 quarterbacks in the NFL have won? The number might surprise you. Evan has done the research and explains why overpaying a QB won't win a championship. Sean Payton did not like a reporter's question about Dre Greenlaw's return and made that very clear. Was he out of line? Have a listen and judge for yourself. We take a look at the Bears vs Rams injury report, and if the weather makes a difference this Sunday night. Plus FOUR bets from Evan in "Etched in Stone."

The #13 Illini men's team landed another win last night, this time in Evanston against Northwestern, 79-68. Keaton Wagler led the Illini once again with 22 points, and Tomislav Ivisic also added 21 points and 7 rebounds. Kyle Tausk from Illini Inquirer joins us to talk about the win, preview the upcoming game with Minnesota, thoughts on Keaton Wagler's back spasms, and more.

Dante Moore will NOT be the #1 pick in this year's NFL Draft. The Oregon Ducks starting quarterback announced today he's returning for another year. How does his decision stack up with Top Pick athletes that have made similar decisions? Kurtis crunched some numbers and it sparked a great conversation. How does Moore's decision affect the NFL Draft for this year?  Gies Memorial Stadium is about to have the biggest scoreboard in all of College Football. What are some other renovations that could be made? What are improvements that YOU want to see? And give our score predictions for tonight's Illinois vs Northwestern game.

The in-state rivalry continues tonight in Evanston between the Illinois men's basketball team and Northwestern. We preview the game before tipoff. Illini gymnastics has a huge meet this Friday night at Huff Hall against Penn State. We chat with head coach Josh Nilson about the meet, and the importance of the community's support. Cardinals fans can join us this Friday at the Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center for the "Cardinals Caravan." The event features Chip Caray, players Michael McGreevy, Thomas Saggese, Yohel Pozo, and Andre Pallante. Plus alumni favorites Brad Thompson and Bengie Molina. Diane Ducey joins us to talk about the event and how you can be a part of it.

Our guy Tristan Thomas from WCIA-3 joins us for almost a full hour and we cover a lot! First, Illinois football unveiled a new state-of-the-art scoreboard that will be the BIGGEST in College Football. We discuss the new renovations to Gies Memorial Stadium. Also, Illini basketball is cruising through the new year. Tristan discusses Brad Underwood's presser before tomorrow night's game against Northwestern. Plus, is there another player besides Keaton Wagler that could be a one-and-done from this year's roster? And its Tuesday Draft Day! Today's top: Our Celebrity Crushes. The rules also require one Man-Crush. Who wins? Vote on the socials @thedrive935 on Twitter, Instagram, and on the ESPN 93.5 Facebook page.

Breaking news: The Steelers and Mike Tomlin have parted ways after 19 years. Where will he go next and who will be the Steelers 4th Head Coach in franchise history? How about Curt Cignetti? Another Cardinals star is on the move. St. Louis traded Nolan Arenado to the Arizona Diamondbacks for right handed pitcher Jack Martinez. Jeremiah Cox covers the Redbirds and joins us to discuss the move. Plus, Etched in Stone is on fire! Get tonight's bet from Evan.

The National Championship game is set and we know Indiana will take on Miami. Our friend Ravi Lulla from Hurrdat Sports joins us to discuss the latest. We recap an insane NFL Wildcard Weekend and preview the Steelers vs Texans. It's Kurtis' week to pick a Tuesday Draft category and he says Evan will have to "bare his soul" this week. What did he choose?

The Illini men's and women's basketball teams scored big wins on Sunday. The men held off an Iowa comeback yesterday at Carver Arena for a 75-69 and are now the 13th ranked team in the country. Keaton Wagler led all scorers with 19 points, while Kylan Boswell and Adrej Stojakovic each added 17.  For the 4th straight season under Shauna Green, the Illini women's team is nationally ranked. The Illini are now number 25 in the country after a 92-76 on the road over Penn State. Berry Wallace dropped 28 and Maddie Webber added 26 points, including 5 three-pointers, to lead the way. We break down both games. The Bears finally slayed The Packers! Chis Kwiecinzki of Fox32 in Chicago chats with us about the Bears biggest comeback of the year!

Chris Kwiecinski from Fox32 Chicago joins the show to preview Bears vs Packers III in this weekend's Wildcard matchup. Has the Bears magic run out or is this where they turn the tide in the NFL's oldes rivalry? Plus NFL Wildcard Weekend predictions - Kurtis and Evan are completely split in one division. Etched in Stone hit again! Did you cash in? Evan has 2 more bets tonight. And we give our Friday Toasts! Cheers!

The Illini men's basketball team had no problem with Rutgers last night at State Farm Center, winning 81-55. Find out why Brad Underwood said this team is "A Coach's Dream." Ravi Lulla from Hurrdat Sports joins us to break down the College Football Playoffs. Did Miami win on a Pass Interference? Where does Jordan Chambliss go from here? And can Oregon upset Indiana? And are there Illini fans rooting for Indiana?!

Wild Card Weekend is almost here. Who should be on Upset Alert? We go through the point spreads and make our picks. Who do you think could pull off a stunner? Speaking of stunners, you will be stunned by the first ever Rap Battle in the history of The Drive. Is it so bad that it's good? You be the judge. Plus our Score Predictions ahead of Illinois vs Rutgers tonight!

"The Portal giveth and the Portal taketh away."  Evan Stone does a deep dive into the latest on Illinois football's Transfer Portal news, including details on Angelo McCollum leaving town.  The Great Kyle Tausk from Illini Inquirer joins us ahead of tonight's Illini men's basketball game against Rutgers. We discuss Tomislav Ivisic's struggles and Zvonimir Ivisic's recent success. Plus, what's Mihalo Petrovic's role going forward and is Keaton Wagler officially a one & done in Champaign? A'Ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo were in the house last night at State Farm Center for the Illini women's game. We recap the game and discuss A'Ja's message to the team.

Brad Underwood met with the media ahead of the Illinois vs Rutgers game at State Farm Center. Hear the latest from the Illini head coach. Evan's "Etched in Stone" bet looks at Duquesne vs St. Joseph's. And who won our Best QB Of All Time draft?!

Bret Bielema has addressed a lot of needs for the 2026 Illini Football team, but what's the most pressing issue? We talk with Fox Illinois & WICS' Carson Gourdie about the latest Transfer Portal news. Plus, Carson gives his insight on what Illini basketball needs to improve on going into this stretch of the season, in particular Ivisic Brothers. The Cubs traded their top prospect for Edward Cabrera. Was it the right move? Should the Cardinals trade Brendan Donovan?  Kurtis throws his CURVEBALLS!

The hour starts with a conversation about the best job openings in the NFL and takes an immediate turn with the breaking news of John Harbaugh's firing from the Baltimore Ravens! Plus a recap of Illinois State's historic postseason run that ended last night in the FCS National Championship game against Montana State. This week's Tuesday Draft is "Best NFL Quarterbacks of All Time" and features a special guest. Who wins this week? Vote on Instagram & Twitter @thedrive935 and on the ESPN 93.5 Facebook page!

Stephen Igoe covers East Carolina athletics for "Hoist the Colours" on 247Sports and 94.3 The Game. He's covered new Illini quarterback Katin Houser for the last 2 years and gives us insight into the newest member of the Bret Bielema's roster.  Richie O'Leary is back on the show and this time we're talking Illini vs Rutgers ahead of Thursday night's men's basketball game at State Farm Center. It's been a rough season so far for the Knights and Richie doesn't mince words about it. And Evan announces the topic for today's Draft -  Best NFL Quarterbacks!

We found out very quickly who will be protecting Katin Houser next year for the Illini. Bret Bielema's staff land Wisconsin starting Center Jake Renfro through the transfer portal. Renfro has 1 year of eligibility and will anchor the O-Line in 2026. Illini basketball got a win in Philadelphia on Saturday night against Penn State. We recap the game and look ahead to Rutgers on Thursday. The Bears lost the season finale against the Lions after mounting an improbable comeback. They now turn their attention to the Packers on Saturday night for the 3rd time in six weeks. How concerned are you? Evan's been "riding a cash wave" for a couple of weeks and shares a special bet in today's "Etched in Stone!"

It's the final J Leman Hour of this football season and we're going out with a bang! J recaps the Illini's Music City Bowl win, breaks down the Illini transfer portal, and College Football Playoffs. Plus, Katin Houser has transferred from East Carolina to the University of Illinois. J discusses the Illini's new QB, expectations for next season, and more! Lets gooooo!

Shauna Green's team had a signature win over #7 Maryland last night! Daniel Thompson covers Illini Women's Basketball and joins the show to discuss the win. Plus, a dive into the teeth of the schedule that features games against five ranked opponents. Plus the Bears wrap up the regular season against the Lions. Who won our Tuesday Draft: Best Movie Sequels? And our Friday Toasts

Illinois Football had a signature win over Tennessee in the Music City Bowl on December 30th. Now the Transfer Portal is open and some familiar names are leaving town. We have the latest on the Illini roster. Our guy Ravi Lulla from HurrDat Sports joins the show to discuss a WILD quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoffs. The Final Four are set, but who has an advantage the rest of the way and Ravi explains why it's NOT Indiana? Plus, the latest on the Illini Men's basketball game against Penn State.

The Illini beat Tennessee last night in a thriller at the Music City Bowl, 30-28! David Olano walked off the game winner and one of the guys predicted it would happen. Listen for a quick recap! Have a safe and Happy New Year from The Drive! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @thedrive935 Like ESPN 93.5 on Facebook!

Glenn Kinley is the Sports Director for WCIA-3 and is live on location at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. He calls the show with last-minute nuggets for the Music City Bowl and more. Plus, we try to complete our Tuesday Draft right before kick-off. Today's topic is "Best Movie Sequels of All Time" and the results get heated!  

We are ready for The Music City Bowl! This hour features keys to the game, a deep dive into the Vols offense & defense, and more. Plus Kurtis tosses out some Tennessee Curveballs and we talk some Illini hoops.

Coach Underwood's Illini squad took care of business today at State Farm Center, beating Southern 90-55. The win follows Illinois' drubbing of Mizzou in the Braggin' Rights Game, 91-48. We break down the latest victory and preview the upcoming slate of games against Penn State, Rutgers, and Iowa. Has the magic run out for the Cardiac Bears? Ben Johnson's team lost a thriller last night against the Niners and head back to Chicago for a regular season finale against the Lions. We look at Caleb Williams' missed opportunities, the pass rush, and the current playoff picture. Plus, our final Tuesday Draft of 2025 is tomorrow! What category will Kurtis pick?

Christmas Break is over and we're back! J Leman is in studio to preview the Illini vs Tennessee in the Music City Bowl! How will a month off affect Illinois' defense against a high-powered Vols offense? How should Coach Bielema & Lunney utilize Luke Altmyer in this particular game?  Also, J reacts to Coach Bielema's comments about "the SEC powers-that-be" and how they schedule games. And J's thoughts on Kyle Whittingham taking over at Michigan. Let's gooooo!  

Our guy Ravi Lulla from Hurrdat Sports breaks down the opening round of the College Football Playoffs. Is there an upset brewing? Chris Kwiecinski covers the Bears for Fox32 Chicago and is back on the show. Get the latest info on Bears vs Packers. What is the key to Chicago winning? How will the loss of Rome Odunze and Luther Burden affect the Bears rushing attack? Plus our Friday Toasts!

Josh Whitman placed Illinois Wrestling coach Mike Poeta on indefinite administrative leave. The university said the decision stems from “potential violations of his employment agreement stemming from possible noncompliance with University fiscal control policies.” We have the latest. Kyle Tausk from Illini Inquirer joins us to talk about the Braggin' Rights game. Plus, more Illini basketball nuggets. Evan gets a whole minute to talk about his favorite soccer team and Kurtis throws the Curveballs!

Ally Schneipp and Joseph Pasthila cover Mizzou Basketball for the Columbia Missourian. They join us to talk about Monday's Braggin' Rights game between the Illini and Tigers. Why is this more than a rivalry game for the Mizzou Tigers this year? How will the Illini respond after the home loss to Nebraska? We need some money! Evan has your 5 bets for this weekend and a few games to stay away from.  Plus, the Cardinals are looking to offload talent while the Cubs added a few depth pieces. And more on Bears vs Packers.

Andy Villamazaro is a national writer for RIVALS and covers high school sports. He wrote about the new changes to the IHSA Football Playoffs system and how it affects area schools. He joins us to further explain the changes, the pros and cons, and how it affects recruiting. We also check the Illini Headlines, the Bears are down 2 big weapons against the Packers, and Kurtis is firing Curveballs.

Nathalie Jones is an award-winning Sports Director for ABC-17 in Columbia, MO and covers the Mizzou Tigers. She joins the show this hour to talk about the Braggin' Rights Game. This week's draft had more votes than any other so far! So who won our Christmas Movies Draft?  Plus we take a look at the NFL Playoff picture and who could be on their way to the Super Bowl.

Dave Wischnowsky returns to ESPN 93.5 to talk Illini athletics! Dave gives his thoughts on Luke Altmyer playing in the Music City Bowl, Illini basketball & the Braggin' Rights game against Mizzou, and much more! A must-listen conversation! Plus we give you a check of today's Illini headlines, a recap of our Tuesday Draft, and Kurtis' Curveballs.

The College Football Playoffs start on Friday night and we make our predictions. Kurtis and Evan both have upsets in their brackets, but who wins the Natty? Tuesday is Draft Day and we're celebrating the holiday season! We're drafting the Best Christmas Movies of All Time! Who won? Which movies did we miss? Vote on Twitter & Instagram @thedrive935, on the ESPN 93.5 Facebook page, or text your vote to 217-359-2255!

Luke Altmyer met with the media and discussed his decision to play in the Music City Bowl. We react to Luke's comments and give you a check of today's Illini Headlines. The IHSA voted "YES" on Propsal 19, which will expand the post season from 256 to 384 teams. The news has been met with mixed reactions. We explain the changes and give our reactions. Plus, Evan and Kurtis go head-to-head with College Playoff Predictions! Who's winning the national championship?

Another Balkan is coming to town! Croatian Forward Toni Bilic has committed to Illinois and is eligible to play. What does the 6'9" 20-year-old bring to Brad Underwood's team?  Also, reactions continue to pour in after the Illini's loss against Nebraska on Saturday. What's next for the Illini and what adjustments are in the immediate future? The Chicago Bears destroyed the Cleveland Browns yesterday at Soldier Field. Our intern Cooper O'Kelly was there and enjoyed wind-chills of up to -20!  Plus Philip Rivers almost wins, Bo Nix and the Broncos beat the Packers, we announce our next Tuesday Draft, and Kurtis heaves some Curveballs!

J Leman is back in studio for a full hour on The Drive! The conversation starts with football and moves to basketball. We talk about the risk/reward of Luke Altmyer playing in the Music City Bowl. Plus, JC Davis and Gabe Jacas are sitting out of the game. The Tennessee Vols are currently sitting at 3 point favorites.  Plus, J gives his thoughts on Brad Underwood calling out David Mirkovic's poor practices ahead of the game against Nebraska. This caused the text lines to BLOW up! 

BREAKING Illini news - Luke Altmyer WILL play in the Music City Bowl. We react to the news and what it means for Illinois vs Tennessee. Carson Gourdie covers the Illini for WICS-TV. We get his reaction to the Altmyer news and his thoughts on Illinois basketball's game against Nebraska. Plus score predictions for Illinois vs Nebraska and our Friday Toasts!

Illini football's Gabe Jacas has officially declared for the NFL Draft and will not play in the Music City Bowl. We look back on Gabe's career at Illinois and look at potential fits at the NFL level. Brad Underwood met with the media ahead of tomorrow's game against #23 Nebraska at State Farm Center. We have the full press conference this hour. The Sherrone Moore-Michigan story has another twist. We have the latest news and what's next for the Wolverines. And Kurtis throws them Curveballs!

Cooper O'Kelly covers the Illini for The Champaign Room and has joined The Drive in an intern role. We dive into the numbers ahead of Saturday's game. Plus more on the conditions at Soldier Field this Sunday, the coldest games YOU have ever attended, Notre Dame upsets the rest of college football, and Philip Rivers is in line to START for the Colts!

We have the latest on Sherrone Moore's firing at Michingan, the future of the program, potential coaching replacements, what the university knew, and much more.  Ravi Lulla from Hurrdat Sports calls in to talk about Saturday's game between the Illini and Cornhuskers. What will be the biggest challenge for Illinois? And we found out Cooper O'Kelly is going to the Bears game on Sunday. The wind chill will be -20! What's the coldest game you ever attended?

NCAA National Champion Lucas Byrd joins us this hour to talk the 2025-2026 Wrestling Season, his career, and much more.  More reactions to Michigan's firing of Sherrone Moore "for cause." More details emerge this hour. The votes have been tallied and we have a winner in our Best Board Games Draft! Who got your vote?

The Illinois Men's basketball team went to Columbus last night and walked out with a W. We break down the game. Also, Isaac Trotter from 247 Sports & CBS Sports joins us to discuss Keaton Wagler's performance, the state of Illini basketball, and Big Ten hoops. And BREAKING NEWS! Sherrone Moore has been fired as Michigan's head coach after an internal investigation. 

Evan Stone said tonight's men's basketball game against OSU starts "a 10 game stretch in which the Illini should win every game." Need proof? He did a deep dive into the KenPom rankings for every Illinois opponent before meeting Purdue on January 24th. It's Draft Day! The Drive does a draft every Tuesday and today's topic is The Best Board Games of All Time! Who won? Tell us on the socials @thedrive935 or text us at 217-359-2255. And we give our final score predictions for tonight's game against Ohio State.

The Illinois men's basketball team kicks off Big Ten play tonight in Columbus against The Buckeyes. We preview the game, break down the OSU roster, and more. The Colts signed Philip Rivers to their practice squad today. It's been 5 years since Rivers threw in the NFL. Will he actually see the field?  Speaking of which...Who are the oldest pro athletes of all time? And it's Tuesday, so it's Draft Day! Today we're drafting The Best Board Games of All Time!

We switch gears this hour to Illini basketball. Adam Jardy from the Columbus Dispatch covers Ohio State Buckeyes basketball. He gives us the OSU side of things before tomorrow night's game. How will guys like Bruce Thorton and Amare Bynum match up with Illinois?  We also get "The Great" Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer's input. Kyle breaks down Illinois' win over Tennessee on Saturday, previews the OSU game, and tells us if he could take Jelly Roll in a fight. And the Bears lose at Lambeau. What went right and what went wrong against the Packers?

It's J Leman vs Evan Stone with Kurtis Allen as the referee!  Evan said the committee "got it right" with their playoff selections and J completely disagrees. We dive into the bracket and the debate is incredible. Which team does J think SHOULD NOT be in the playoffs? The answer might surprise you! Plus, we take a look at the Illini vs the Vols in the Music City Bowl on October 30th.  This is a MUST-LISTEN hour!

The Drive welcomes Colleen Kane from the Chicago Tribune to the show! Colleen covers the Illini and gives her thoughts ahead of the game with Tennessee. Carson Gourdie from Fox Illinois and WICS-TV joins the fellas to talk Illini hoops. Carson gives his thoughts on Coach Underwood saying he'd love to play in Dubai, predictions for Saturday, and the latest injury news. Plus, Carson talks about Bret Bielema & Illini football's class of 2026. And we've got our Friday toasts! Cheers! 

Brad Underwood met with the media before the Music City Madness game against Tennessee. We've got the full press conference for you.  Chris Kwiecinski from Fox32 Chicago joins the show with great insight ahead of Bears vs Packers. Rome Odunze is out, Christian Watson is in, and the Bears defense is getting healthy while the Packers have lost some key pieces. Who wins? Our friend Ravi Lulla covers The Big Ten for Hurrdat Sports. He joins the show to talk about Matt Campbell to Penn State, and the B1G TEN Championship game between Ohio State & Indiana.