Podcast appearances and mentions of Bret Bielema

Hour 1 of The Drive gets you ready for another big football weekend in Central Illinois. Carson Gourdie joins the show to break down Bret Bielema's latest press conference ahead of Illinois' season opener against UAB and discuss what we're learning about the 2026 Fighting Illini. Carson also previews Week 2 of the high school football season, including the biggest storylines and matchups to watch around Central Illinois. Illini wrestling great Zac Braunagel calls in to talk about RAF Wrestling's trip to Moscow, his co-main event on the card, and more. Plus, it's time for another Random Illini Player of the Day, featuring another memorable name from Illinois football history. Listen to the full first hour of The Drive for Illini football, Central Illinois high school football, wrestling and plenty more.

-Illinois head football coach Bret Bielema said on the podium in Chicago last month at B1G Media Days that he hired a new DC (Bobby Hauck) inFebruary to install a scheme that might catch the rest of the league by surprise-He then said on the side podium that he is changing the way his defense is schemed because Illinois can't afford to pay the numbers needed toget what he wanted otherwise---they had committed a lot of their money to the offensive line, and D-line players were going for “ungodly”amounts of money…so he's patching together a defense that doesn't need a bunch of ‘big' players. Will that work and keep Illinois competitive?Who knows…but what is Nebraska doing to try and keep up in the era of the money gap?Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Drive's second hour features an emotional conversation with Illini wrestling great Danny Pucino, who is raising money for pancreatic cancer research while honoring his late father. Pucino's father, Scott, was himself a Division I All-American wrestler, and Danny has used his own wrestling platform to help raise awareness and funds for cancer research through Pin Cancer. The guys also break down the latest injury news surrounding Illinois wide receiver Jayshon Platt. Head coach Bret Bielema said Platt's injury initially had an unknown timeline, but the team has received encouraging news. Bielema couldn't rule out a Week 1 absence, saying Platt could potentially return anywhere from Week 1 to Week 3 or Week 4. Plus, it's Tuesday Draft time! The guys put together their lists of the Biggest Sports Scandals of All Time, leading to plenty of debate over which controversies deserve a spot at the top.

-Nebraska played in Week Zero when they lost at Illinois in Bret Bielema's debut in 2021, and lost again in Week Zero when they lost toNorthwestern in Ireland-That put Nebraska behind the 8-ball before most teams even started their season…we, selfishly, love watching football on Week Zeroas football is back…but what do most programs wish they were playing Week 1 like the rest of the country?Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular is back for Season 6, and it's loaded! ️In this episode, we break down Illinois football as the season opener approaches and dive into the buzz around the new 5-on-5 eligibility rule—plus what it could mean for Illinois roster moves.We also cover:Bret Bielema's updates + recruiting storylines with big names and NBA-level talentA major men's recruiting spotlight (including who Illinois replaced on a major list)Women's basketball international flavor and national-team updatesBobby Hauck's 3-3-5 defense: what it means, why it's different, and what to watch vs. UABJoin the Illini community and subscribe to IlliniGuys for more Illini sports coverage all season long. ️ Visit IlliniGuys.com for subscription content and exclusive sports coverage.Larry Smith, Brad Sturdy & Mike Cagley are the IlliniGuys.This week's show marks their 6th year as hosts of the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular - a weekly hour-long Illini radio show on over 20 stations in Illinois.This week they talk Illini sports with IlliniGuys staffers Ked Prince and Matt Stevens.If you enjoyed this show go to IlliniGuys.com and join the site to get access to insider message boards where you can talk with Illini fans around the world and the staff of the IlliniGuys. It's only 27 cents a day.Podcast from August 22, 2026 on the Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, online at heartlandnewsfeed.com, Spreaker, the Heartland Newsfeed Alexa radio skill, and other platforms. Now available on Google Assistant speakers!SCHEDULE - local time is Central timeIlliniGuys Sports Spectacular: Saturdays 8 a.m. Eastern/5 a.m. Pacific (7 a.m. local)Websites: IlliniGuysListen Live: https://www.heartlandnewsfeed.comFollow us on social mediaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/hlnfradionetworkBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/heartlandnewsfeed.bsky.socialMastadon: https://liberdon.com/@heartlandnewsfeedTikTok: https://tiktok.com/@heartlandnewsfeedDiscord: https://discord.gg/6b6u6DTSupport us with your financial supportStreamlabs: https://streamlabs.com/heartlandmediaPayPal: https://www.paypal.me/heartlandmediaSquare Cash: https://cash.app/$heartlandnewsfeedPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/heartlandnewsfeedCrypto via 1UpCoin: https://1upcoin.com/donate/heartlandmediaBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/heartland-newsfeed-radio-network--2904397/support.

J Leman joins The Drive to preview the 2026 Illinois football season, discussing expectations for Bret Bielema, key players, and what could make this Illini team special. Jacob Infante breaks down the latest from Chicago Bears training camp, including the impact of Coby Bryant's injury and standout performers. Plus, the Cubs emerge as one of the biggest winners of the MLB Trade Deadline with several key additions, while the Cardinals begin reshaping their roster by trading Lars Nootbaar. Catch all the biggest Illini, Bears, Cubs, Cardinals, and NFL headlines from August 4, 2026. The Cubs were widely viewed as aggressive buyers at the deadline, while St. Louis shifted toward selling by moving Nootbaar. Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Dawg Nation Daily Host Brandon Adams speaks about the results of the Coaches Poll, what aspects of the UGA team might be mildly concerning entering camp, which SEC teams he thinks could win the conference, the backup QB job for Georgia, the comments made by Curt Cignetti at Big Ten Media Days, and why Bret Bielema is way off in his comments attacking the SEC.

The Cover 3 crew sits down with coaches at Big Ten Media Days.

Austin Burklund of Armchair Illini joins The Drive to break down expectations for Bret Bielema and Illinois football entering the 2026 season. The conversation covers what success looks like for the Illini, key players to watch, the biggest challenges on the schedule, and why Washington has the potential to emerge as one of the Big Ten's biggest surprise teams this year. Later in the hour, Kurtis Allen and Evan Stone recap the Cubs taking three of four games from the Cardinals in a heated rivalry series. The guys discuss what went wrong for St. Louis, what the series means for both teams moving forward, and the latest storylines around the National League playoff race. Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Welcome to the I on the Illini from IlliniGuys.com, your home for in-depth coverage of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sports! In this episode, Mike Cagley and Brad Sturdy break down the latest in Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball, including: Bret Bielema's confidence, Big Ten positioning, and roster-building strategy Illinois football's defensive changes, NIL challenges, and recruiting momentum Kayton Hauser, Luke Altmyer, and expectations for the upcoming Illini football season The impact of the Busey Bank partnership and the future of college athletics Brad Underwood's loaded Illinois basketball roster and why expectations are rising Illini basketball recruiting updates, including Quentin Coleman and Ethan Brown Big Ten, SEC, NIL, transfer portal, and super conference discussion If you love Illini football, Illini basketball, Big Ten sports, and honest analysis from people who follow the program closely, this is the show for you. Subscribe to IlliniGuys at your favorite podcast distributor for more Illinois Fighting Illini coverage, recruiting updates, interviews, analysis, and game breakdowns. Visit IlliniGuys.com for premium Illini coverage, message boards, and insider discussion. Like this podcast, comment your thoughts, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of I on the Illini Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Happy Thursday! We review some of the Buckeye soundbites from Big Ten Media Days. Pat Murphy of Bucknuts joins the show live from Media Days. Bret Bielema stands up on behalf of the Big Ten to jab back at the SEC. Can Jeremiah Smith win the Heisman Trophy? Jake Burns of Browns Film Breakdown joins the show. When will Fernando Mendoza overthrow Kirk Cousins? Baker Mayfield lays out all of his business with the Buccaneers for all to hear. Myles Garrett would love to have Aaron Donald back. And we Tell the Truth about manliness.

Predicting the College Football Playoff from preseason media polls Bret Bielema takes a shot at the SEC at Big Ten Media Days Notre Dame signs massive deal for jersey patches NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah joins the show! Today's 40-in-40 Team: The Tennessee Volunteers PLUS, our daily 4 Downs presented by Central Alabama Asphalt! SUBSCRIBE: @NextRoundLive - youtube.com/@nextroundlive @TNRClips - youtube.com/@TNRClips FOLLOW TNR ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/7zlofzLZht7dYxjNcBNpWN FOLLOW TNR ON APPLE PODCASTS: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-round/id1797862560 WEBSITE: https://nextroundlive.com/ MOBILE APP: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-next-round/id1580807480 SHOP THE NEXT ROUND STORE: https://nextround.store/ Like TNR on Facebook: / nextroundlive Follow TNR on Twitter: / nextroundlive Follow TNR on Instagram: / nextroundlive Follow everyone from the show on Twitter: Jim Dunaway: / jimdunaway Ryan Brown: / ryanbrownlive Lance Taylor: / thelancetaylor Scott Forester: / scottforestertv Tyler Johns: /TylerJohnsTNR Brooks Carter: /BrooksACarter Sponsor the show: sales@nextroundlive.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this audio-only edition of the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, hosts Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr share their reaction to speaking with Illinois head coach Bret Bielema about the state of college football, being a Big Ten spokesman, growing up, living with failure, and much more.

Tony Petiti spoke well, and Bret Bielema took a shot at the SEC. Connor and Mike recap everything that took place in the first day of the Big Ten Media Days.

Connor and Mike asked Joey questions regarding yesterday's dinner. They later talk cucumbers and hard boiled eggs before discussing Bret Bielema taking shots at the SEC.

-What were some of the headlines from Bret Bielema and Tony PettitiAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Illinois football took center stage at Big Ten Media Days, and Doug Bucshon of Orange & Blue News joins The Drive to break down everything Illini fans need to know. The guys discuss Bret Bielema's headline-making comments comparing the Big Ten and SEC, Katin Houser representing Illinois at media day, the biggest concerns and strengths on the defensive side of the ball, and what to expect as preseason camp approaches. The hour wraps up with another edition of Evan's Random Illini Football Players of the Day. Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

“The Smoak Show” on 365 Sports-YouTube Tuesday, July 28th: ***UTAH GOLF VACATION VIEWS*** (Coral Canyon GC View, Wolf Creek Video, Sand Hollow Most Beautiful + 13 + 15) Utah Trip Colors, Utah Trip-Unread Texts-SmoakyPeteJohn) ***LANCE LEIPOLD GIFT-KU FOOTBALL HELMET****Tony Petitti Opening Comments on Big Ten's Strength (Big Ten-Video)*Big Ten Football Media Pre-Season Poll (On3)*Big Ten Football Champions Poll (Graphic) *Michigan's Kyle Whittingham on Fixing College Sports (Rich Eisen Show Video) *Tony Petitti on SEC and 24-Team CFB Playoff (Brett McMurphy)*Tony Petitti on Big Ten and Non-Conference P4 Opponents (Brett McMurphy)*Tony Petitti on Big Ten Rivalry vs. SEC (ESPN Rittenberg)*Illinois' Bret Bielema on SEC “Living in the Past” (Brett McMurphy)*Tony Petitti on Greg Sankey SEC's “Breakaway” (ESPN Rittenberg) *Protect College Act Continuing Negotiations (Ross Dellenger)*Protect College Act Revisions for Big Ten/SEC (Dave Portnoy-Image)(Smoaky Note on Petitti and Sankey Talking Today) *UNC Places Michael Lombardi on Administrative Leave (Bruce Feldman) *Notre Dame Athletics Jersey Patch Sponsorship (On3)*Ohio State Athletics Jersey Sponsorship Patches-JP Morgan (11W))*Ohio State Gets $17M vs. Big 12's Monster Energy Dollar$ (FOS)*Illinois Athletics Jersey Patch Sponsorship (SBJ)Baylor Opening Home “Night Game” Helmet & Offer (Baylor FB) *Transfer Portal Hurting American Conference (Brett McMurphy) *365 Sports Flags Available (Link and Images, Black, White, The Smoak Show)0:40:00-Brett Ciancia, Pick Six Previews1:00:00-Trey Wallace, Fox/Outkick1:45:00-Craig Smoak's “Off the Radar”2:05:00-John McClain, Hall of Fame Columnist2:25:00-Super Chats/Wheel/Quizzes/Polls*Rez, Garrett, Andrew, Logan Producing *Please Hit Like and/or Subscribe Buttons*365 Sports Tonight at 10:30 on Local CWSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chuck reacts to the Big Ten going chest out toward the SEC at their media days. Chuck and Heath analyze the surprising NCAA suspension of a Tennessee linebacker. Nick Roush of KSR assesses the latest with Kentucky. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe DeLeone and Blake Ruffino react to the biggest college football news and controversies surrounding 2026 Big Ten Media Days. They break down the escalating Big Ten vs. SEC debate, the future of the College Football Playoff, major trouble for Bill Belichick at North Carolina and Ohio State's historic new jersey sponsorship.0:00 Introduction7:55 Ohio State Notre Dame Jersey patches25:00 Tony Pettiti vs Greg Sankey42:14 Bret Bielema SEC56:15 North Carolina

In the first hour of 3 Man Front Pat Smith, Conrad Van Order and Molly Robinson discussed Ole Miss taking legal action, Bret Bielema's SEC comments at Big Ten Media Days, and Vegas Insider Brian Edwards gave us his Big Ten win totals! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema and Illini athletics director Josh Whitman join Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner to preview the 2026 season. Bielema gives a deep dive on his roster, breaking down each position group and new players, including quarterback Katin Houser. He also chats about the new defense under Bobby Hauck and the keys to sustaining success. Whitman then discusses his contract extension and what it means for him, his coaches and the program. He then dives into how Illinois football can sustain success and what Big Ten leadership must accomplish during the fall.Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on:Apple: https://apple.co/3oMt0NPSpotify: https://spoti.fi/2Xan2L8 Other: https://bit.ly/36gn7Ct Go VIP for just 50% OFF: https://tinyurl.com/2fkhmjdz

2026 Big Ten Media Days kick off Tuesday in Chicago, with Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti addressing the future of the league and college sports on the whole, and then six Big Ten head coaches previewing their team's season, including USC's Lincoln Riley, Penn State's Matt Campbell, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, Illinois' Bret Bielema, Rutgers' Greg Schiano, and Wisconsin's Luke Fickell.In this episode of the Buckeyes TomOrrow Morning podcast, Tony Gerdeman of BuckeyeInsiders.com joins host Tom Orr to discuss some of the biggest storylines they're interested in learning about this week, what you can expect to see and hear, and much more.Today's episode is presented by Jeff Ruby's Columbus, the award-winning, upscale steakhouse in Downtown Columbus, named one of the Top 50 steakhouses in America by Food Network. Just go to JeffRuby.com/Columbus to check out the menu and make a reservation today. 

Illinois football officially takes center stage as Big Ten Media Days get underway in Chicago. Head coach Bret Bielema opens the week by taking a subtle shot at the SEC, saying parts of college football are "still stuck in 2005," while explaining why he believes the Big Ten has become the nation's premier conference. We break down Bielema's biggest comments, what they mean for the Illini entering the 2026 season, and the national storylines surrounding Illinois. Plus, Sunny Verma of Locked On Illini joins us live from Big Ten Media Days in Chicago with the latest buzz surrounding Bret Bielema, player interviews, preseason expectations, recruiting chatter, and how Illinois is being viewed by the national media. We also continue one of our favorite offseason traditions with another edition of Random Illini Football Players of the Day, featuring forgotten names, memorable moments, and a trip down Illinois football memory lane.

Hour 2 kicked off with Sunny Verma of Locked On Illini, who joined the show for an in-depth look at the Illinois football schedule and what it means for Bret Bielema's team entering the 2026 season. Verma highlighted the most challenging stretches on the schedule, the games that could define Illinois' season, and his concerns about the season. The discussion also focused on the continued momentum surrounding the program and why expectations in Champaign continue to rise after several successful seasons. The conversation then shifted to the latest debate in college football after Nick Saban made comments comparing the SEC and Big Ten, prompting a response from Bret Bielema. Sunny and the crew discussed whether the Big Ten has closed the gap—or even surpassed—the SEC in recent years, how conference strength should be evaluated, and why Bielema has become one of the league's most vocal advocates. The hour wrapped up with the always entertaining Old Man Names Draft Results, as listeners weighed in on which team assembled the best collection of classic names. To close the week, the crew shared their Friday Toasts, recognizing the people, teams, and moments that deserved a celebratory sendoff heading into the weekend.    

Get the latest University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign sports coverage on the IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular, powered by IlliniGuys.com. This episode dives into Illini football as Bret Bielema, Katin Houser, and the Fighting Illini prepare for Big Ten Media Days in Chicago. The crew breaks down Illinois' recent football success, Josh Whitman's impact on Illini athletics, recruiting momentum, and expectations for the upcoming season. Plus, we cover Illinois basketball updates, rising Illini talent, women's basketball storylines, and a special look at the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago with CBS Sports' Isabel Gonzalez. Follow and subscribe for weekly insight, analysis, interviews, and passionate coverage of Fighting Illini football, basketball, recruiting, and Big Ten sports. Subscribe now to IlliniGuys and never miss the latest in Illini Orange & Blue sports coverage. #IlliniGuys #FightingIllini #Illini #IllinoisFootball #IlliniFootball #IllinoisBasketball #IlliniBasketball #BigTen #BigTenFootball #BigTenMediaDays #BretBielema #KaidonHouser #JoshWhitman #UniversityOfIllinois #UIUC #ChampaignUrbana #CollegeFootball #CollegeBasketball #WNBA #WNBAAllStar #SportsPodcast #IlliniNation Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Illinois Football continues to strengthen its off-the-field leadership as Bret Bielema has added Tory Tekyl as the program's new Executive Director, bringing another experienced administrator into the Illini football operation as the program looks to build on its recent success. Meanwhile, Cardinals legend Adam Wainwright is standing up for St. Louis. After Barstool Sports criticized the Cardinals organization, Busch Stadium, and its fan base, Wainwright fired back by passionately defending Cardinals fans, saying they earned the reputation as "the best fans in baseball" through decades of loyalty and knowledge of the game—not because they gave themselves the title. Tonight, the Cardinals open a key series against the Arizona Diamondbacks looking to continue building momentum in the second half. Can St. Louis slow down Arizona's explosive offense while continuing to get production from its young core, including Home Run Derby champion Jordan Walker? Plus, the Cubs begin an intriguing interleague matchup against the Minnesota Twins. Chicago enters the weekend trying to stay in the thick of the National League playoff race, while the Twins are looking to climb back into contention in the American League. We'll break down both matchups, discuss the biggest storylines to watch, and make our predictions for tonight's games.

Illinois football adds defensive back Trezavant Boyd to its 2027 recruiting class, Keaton Wagler continues to impress in NBA Summer League with the Clippers, and Argentina defeats England to advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final against Spain. Hour 1 of The Drive is packed with the latest Illini and international sports headlines. Illinois football continues building momentum on the recruiting trail with a commitment from defensive back Trezavant Boyd, adding another talented piece to Bret Bielema's future secondary. The guys also break down another standout NBA Summer League performance from former Illinois star Keaton Wagler, whose impressive play is reinforcing why the Los Angeles Clippers selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Plus, the World Cup delivered another dramatic semifinal as Argentina stunned England 2-1 to punch its ticket to Sunday's championship match against Spain. We discuss the biggest moments from the match and preview what should be a thrilling World Cup Final between two global soccer powers.

Hour 2 of The Drive opened with Illinois football adding another piece to its 2027 recruiting class, securing a commitment from defensive back Tyrone Howard Jr. The talented secondary prospect gives head coach Bret Bielema and the Illini another athletic defender as the program continues to build momentum on the recruiting trail.  The show also highlighted new Illinois wide receiver commit Brody Knowles after he received a video message from NBA legend Dirk Nowitzki. The unique connection sparked conversation about Knowles' athletic profile and why national figures continue to take notice of the Illini's incoming talent. Illinois' recruiting efforts under Bielema continue to generate buzz as the program looks to build on recent success. To close the hour, the crew held its weekly Tuesday Draft, selecting the biggest NBA Draft busts of all time. Names such as Anthony Bennett, JaMarcus Russell, Greg Oden, and Darko Miličić fueled a spirited debate over which highly touted prospects failed to live up to expectations. The discussion weighed injuries, circumstances, and unrealized potential while revisiting some of the most infamous draft decisions. Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Hour 2 featured a deep dive into the ever-changing Big Ten football landscape with Ravi Lulla of Hurrdat Sports. Ravi examined which conference programs made the biggest strides during the offseason, which contenders may have taken a step back, and where Illinois fits into the 2026 race. The conversation focused on roster development, transfer portal additions, coaching continuity, and the realistic expectations for Bret Bielema's Illini entering a season with heightened expectations. The guys also continued reacting to Team USA's impressive 2-0 World Cup victory over Australia. The Americans moved closer to advancing from Group D thanks to another strong defensive performance and timely scoring, creating plenty of optimism about the squad's chances moving forward in the tournament. Listeners got to know one of the show's biggest supporters during  "Meet Listener Mark," before wrapping up the week with the always-popular Friday Toasts segment, celebrating accomplishments, memorable moments, and everything worth raising a glass to heading into the weekend. Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

-It's not the most flattering thing to be listed as the 10 th best coach in the conference---and that's why the league has become soformidable the last few years-The top 10 in order: Curt Cignetti, Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, Kyle Whittingham, Kirk Ferentz, Lincoln Riley, Bret Bielema, Jedd Fisch, MattCampbell, Matt Rhule. A major upset….Barry Odom is NOT dead last at Purdue…who is, though?Our Sponsors:* Check out Hims and use my code hims.com/EARLYBREAK for a great deal: https://www.hims.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Illinois football continued its strong 2027 recruiting momentum by securing a commitment from 4-star wide receiver Bennett Konkey and flipping 3-star running back Steven Alexis, giving Bret Bielema's staff two major offensive additions for the future. The duo adds speed, playmaking ability, and depth to an already impressive Illini recruiting class. On the diamond, the Cardinals received a dominant performance from pitcher Dustin May, who shut down the Padres lineup and delivered one of St. Louis' best starting pitching outings of the season. Meanwhile, the Cubs earned a dramatic 5-4 comeback win over the Rockies behind a historic night from centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Crow-Armstrong became the first player in Major League Baseball to hit for the cycle during the 2026 season, completing the feat in reverse order (home run, triple, double, single) while helping spark Chicago's late rally at Wrigley Field. The Cubs capped the comeback with a walk-off victory and have now won four of their last five games.

The New York Knicks are 1 game away from the NBA Title and we talk about the craziest comeback in NBA Finals history and an unreal night in NYC on Wednesday. Wemby and DeAron Fox falling short, Memes and Zac gearing up for Game 5 in San Antonio and Hater Hank out in full force (00:00:00-00:44:52). We talk Stanley Cup Final and the Knights might have a Carter Hart problem plus World Cup Day 1 (00:44:52-00:58:34). Spencer Hawes joins us in studio to talk about Game 5 which he attended, what the Spurs can do to get back in the series, what a team talks about after a loss like that and more (00:58:34-01:25:37). Illini Head Coach Bret Bielema joins the show to talk football, Chili's and Pig Farming (01:25:37-02:03:51). Preseason Mt Rushmore with Hanks dad as we do the Mt Rushmore of Non Alcoholic drinks plus Fyre Fest of the week.You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Netflix. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/pardon-my-take

The New York Knicks are one win away from their first NBA title since 1973 after completing the largest comeback in NBA Finals history Wednesday night. New York erased a 29-point deficit and stunned the San Antonio Spurs 107-106 in Game 4 at Madison Square Garden. OG Anunoby delivered the game-winning tip-in with 1.2 seconds remaining, capping a historic rally that saw the Knicks outscore San Antonio 58-30 in the second half. Carson Gourdie  from WICS-TV & Fox-Illinois breaks down what Illini Football landing Tolono Unity quarterback Dane Eisenmenger means for the future of Bret Bielema's quarterback room, how recent commitments are shaping the Illini's recruiting momentum, and why Lincoln Williams could be a difference-maker for Illinois basketball. Plus, Carson has an update on St. Joe-Ogden baseball as the Spartans prepare for the IHSA Class 2A State Finals, looking to cap another remarkable postseason run with a state championship.

Sunny Verma from Locked On Illini joins the show to discuss why former Illinois star Keaton Wagler potentially landing with the Chicago Bulls could be an ideal situation for both sides.  The conversation also turns to the latest Illinois football and basketball recruiting developments as Bret Bielema and Brad Underwood continue building momentum on the recruiting trail. From quarterback commitments to basketball targets, we discuss the names Illini fans need to know. Later, we take a trip down memory lane and draft our Top 10 Players of the Tim Beckman Era at Illinois. Despite the struggles of those teams, several standout players emerged and left lasting marks on the program. Plus, listeners get introduced to the newest member of The Drive team as we welcome intern Quinn Flavin to the show! Follow The Drive on X, Instagram, and Facebook.

Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer breaks down why the addition of Lincoln Williams was perfect timing for Brad Underwood and Illinois Basketball after the late recruiting cycle. Williams finished his high school career with 1,853 points and gives the Illini another talented in-state guard with scoring ability and defensive upside. Plus, Kyle reviews the impressive start by Illinois signee Quentin Coleman with Team USA at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup, where the freshman forward opened tournament play with an 11-point, 15-rebound double-double and showcased the athleticism that has Illini fans excited. Also, the guys discuss Tolono Unity quarterback Dane Eisenmenger committing to Illinois Football and what the local standout brings to Bret Bielema's quarterback room moving forward.

06/09/26 Hour 1: Illinois Football lands 3-Star Quarterback Sladen Shack - what you need to know; Cardinals vs Mets and Cubs vs Rockies Preview Illinois football added another piece to its future quarterback room as three-star 2027 signal caller Sladen Shack from Brandon, Mississippi announced his commitment to Bret Bielema and the Illini. The 6-foot-1, 211-pound quarterback chose Illinois over offers from Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, UConn, South Florida, East Carolina and others. Shack is rated as one of Mississippi's top prospects in the Class of 2027 and becomes Illinois' quarterback commitment for the cycle after the staff reset its recruiting board this spring. Illinois coaches Art Sitkowski and Barry Lunney Jr. prioritized Shack following strong evaluations and an official visit to Champaign. The commitment continues Illinois' recent pipeline into Mississippi, following the success of former Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer.  Then we shift to baseball as the Cardinals open a three-game series against the Mets at Citi Field. St. Louis enters the matchup at 35-28 and currently holds the top National League Wild Card position, while New York sits at 29-36 but comes home with momentum after winning series against both San Diego and Seattle. Young stars Jordan Walker and JJ Wetherholt continue to fuel the Cardinals' surprising season, while the Mets welcome catcher Francisco Alvarez back from the injured list ahead of the series opener. The matchup features two teams trying to strengthen their playoff positioning in a crowded National League race. Meanwhile, the Cubs begin a six-game season series with the Rockies at Coors Field. Chicago enters the series looking to gain ground after an inconsistent stretch, while Colorado continues rebuilding after a difficult 2025 campaign. The probable pitching matchups feature Colin Rea vs. Tomoyuki Sugano, Shota Imanaga vs. Michael Lorenzen, and Edward Cabrera vs. Ryan Feltner. Despite Colorado's struggles, Coors Field has historically been a difficult place for the Cubs, making this an important road test as they try to stay in the National League playoff picture. 

The future continues to look bright in Champaign as Illinois basketball adds one of the state's rising stars, Kankakee standout Lincoln Williams. Williams turned heads throughout his high school career, including a record-setting 44-point performance that broke Kankakee's single-game scoring mark, and now gives the Illini another talented in-state piece for the future. On the football side, Bret Bielema and his staff continue to build recruiting momentum, adding three more commitments as Illinois looks to follow up what has become one of the strongest recruiting stretches in program history. The Illini have elevated their recruiting profile significantly in recent years, consistently landing top in-state talent and competing for higher-ranked classes nationally. Plus, we pay tribute to legendary Bulls broadcaster and former NBA champion Stacey King. All that and more in today's Illini Headlines.

In Interviews of the Week on 104.3 The Score, FS1 host Danny Parkins joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to share an epic rant about Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson admitting he left a Bears-Packers game early; Chicago Sports Network analyst Clay Harbor joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to share his observations from watching Bears OTAs; and Illinois football coach Bret Bielema joined the Mully & Haugh Show to discuss the state of college football and to explain why he was amazed by what he saw from quarterback Caleb Williams while attending a recent Bears practice.

In Interviews of the Week on 104.3 The Score, FS1 host Danny Parkins joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to share an epic rant about Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson admitting he left a Bears-Packers game early; Chicago Sports Network analyst Clay Harbor joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to share his observations from watching Bears OTAs; and Illinois football coach Bret Bielema joined the Mully & Haugh Show to discuss the state of college football and to explain why he was amazed by what he saw from quarterback Caleb Williams while attending a recent Bears practice.

In Interviews of the Week on 104.3 The Score, FS1 host Danny Parkins joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to share an epic rant about Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson admitting he left a Bears-Packers game early; Chicago Sports Network analyst Clay Harbor joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to share his observations from watching Bears OTAs; and Illinois football coach Bret Bielema joined the Mully & Haugh Show to discuss the state of college football and to explain why he was amazed by what he saw from quarterback Caleb Williams while attending a recent Bears practice.

CBS Sports college football writer Tom Fornelli, a U of I graduate, joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to discuss his thoughts on Illinois football entering Year Six under Bret Bielema. Fornelli discusses what Bielema has accomplished, how new QB Katin Houser fits Barry Lunney Jr.'s offense, the hiring of defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck and 2026 expectations. Fornelli also discusses his thoughts on the state of college football and who he's buying and selling in the Big Ten in 2026.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORCheers Health: For a limited time our listeners are getting 20% off their entire order by using code ILLINI at CheersHealth.com. Just head to CheersHealth.com and use code ILLINI for 20% Off. Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on:Apple: https://apple.co/3oMt0NPSpotify: https://spoti.fi/2Xan2L8 Other: https://bit.ly/36gn7Ct Go VIP for just 50% OFF: https://tinyurl.com/2fkhmjdz

Ranking the Top 10 Big Ten Head Coaches (Who Will Make Fans Mad?) | Buckeye Weekly PodcastOn the Buckeye Weekly Podcast, Tony Gerdeman and Tom Orr rank their top 10 Big Ten head coaches and debate several controversial placements, including P.J. Fleck, Matt Rhule, Jedd Fisch, Bob Chesney, Bret Bielema, and Lincoln Riley. They discuss Kirk Ferentz and Kyle Whittingham as long-tenured, consistently tough coaches, question Riley's postseason results at USC, and evaluate Dan Lanning's Oregon success alongside concerns about recent playoff performances. They compare Ryan Day's sustained achievements at Ohio State with Curt Cignetti's rapid rise and national title at Indiana, emphasizing degree of difficulty. The episode ends with updates on launching a new Ohio State football community at buckeyeinsiders.com and where to follow the show online.00:00 Welcome and Setup00:10 Ranking Criteria and Format00:50 Number 10 03:46 Number 9 06:46 Number 8 10:10 Number 711:32 Number 613:33 Number 5 17:40 Number 4 20:34 Top 3 Debate23:52 Top 2 and Number 127:05 Wrap Up and Plug

Isaac Ambrose joins the show to break down Bret Bielema's recent comments directed toward Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua and what they reveal about college football scheduling, playoff access, and the changing power structure of the sport. The conversation then shifts to Illinois basketball and a debate that continues to gain steam in Champaign: has Brad Underwood already become the greatest coach in Illini history? With multiple Big Ten titles, deep NCAA Tournament runs, and the program's sustained success, the case for Underwood is stronger than ever. How does he stack up against Illinois legends such as Lou Henson and Harry Combes? Plus, the NBA Finals opened with a surprise as the New York Knicks stunned the San Antonio Spurs in Game 1, stealing home-court advantage behind a strong fourth-quarter performance and putting early pressure on the Western Conference champions.

Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes listened and reacted to Illinois football coach Bret Bielema's comments on the Mully & Haugh Show about what he saw in attending Bears OTAs recently.

In the final hour, Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris were joined by Illinois defensive back Matthew Bailey and defensive lineman/linebacker Joe Barna to discuss head coach Bret Bielema's leadership, the team's outlook for 2026 and more. After that, Chicago Sports Network analyst Steve Stone joined the show to discuss star slugger Munetaka Murakami's hamstring injury, the club's pitching, the AL Central race and more.

The Athletic's Scott Dochterman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to discuss the state of college football and tectonic shifts in the sport. Dochterman discusses the push to expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams and the rising cost of rosters, and then he gives his thoughts on Illinois football under Bret Bielema and the top stories for the 2026 Big Ten football season. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Columbia Street Roastery: Head to ⁠⁠CSRcoffee.com⁠ and use code IlliniAllTheWay to get 10 percent off your first order and get free shipping on orders of over $45. Cheers Health: For a limited time our listeners are getting 20% off their entire order by using code ILLINI at CheersHealth.com. Just head to CheersHealth.com and use code ILLINI for 20% Off.  Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/3oMt0NP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Xan2L8  Other: https://bit.ly/36gn7Ct   Go VIP for just 50% OFF: https://tinyurl.com/2fkhmjdz 

All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to discuss Illinois football's offseason changes, 2026 roster and expectations. Leman breaks down his thoughts on Bret Bielema hiring Bobby Hauck as defensive coordinator and the 3-3-5 defense, QB Katin Houser's fit in Barry Lunney Jr.'s offense and the talent around him and what this 2026 season means for Bielema's program. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Columbia Street Roastery: Head to ⁠⁠CSRcoffee.com⁠ and use code IlliniAllTheWay to get 10 percent off your first order and get free shipping on orders of over $45. Cheers Health: For a limited time our listeners are getting 20% off their entire order by using code ILLINI at CheersHealth.com. Just head to CheersHealth.com and use code ILLINI for 20% Off.  Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on: Apple: https://apple.co/3oMt0NP Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2Xan2L8  Other: https://bit.ly/36gn7Ct   Go VIP for just 50% OFF: https://tinyurl.com/2fkhmjdz 

On Josh Pate’s College Football Show Ep 735 Josh Pate reacts to coaches and administrators lobbying to expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams? Who has the best interest of the sport at heart? Will these changes happen? The College Football schedule is out for 2026 and it’s time for Josh Pate to draft the best games each week. Where do matchups like LSU vs Ole Miss, Oregon vs Ohio State, Miami vs Notre Dame, and UGA vs Alabama rank? Bold Prediction season continues tonight as we look at takes viewers are willing to put their name behind. Big Ten job approval ratings are back as we dive into the vibes around Ryan Day at Ohio State, Matt Rhule at Nebraska, and Bret Bielema at Illinois. Be sure to let us know what you think, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and CLICK THE BELL for notifications as we bring you multiple live shows per week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Josh Pate’s College Football Show Ep 734 Josh Pate reacts to coaches and administrators lobbying to expand the College Football Playoff to 24 teams? Who has the best interest of the sport at heart? Will these changes happen? Bold Prediction season continues tonight as we look at takes viewers are willing to put their name behind. Big Ten job approval ratings are back as we dive into the vibes around Ryan Day at Ohio State, Matt Rhule at Nebraska, and Bret Bielema at Illinois. What do early mock drafts tell us about the potential national title picture for 2026? All that plus behind the scenes stories from Josh’s trip to Clemson to sit down with Dabo Swinney. Be sure to let us know what you think, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and CLICK THE BELL for notifications as we bring you multiple live shows per week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.