There are some elite programs after Cincere Johnson. Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas A&M and Oklahoma are all heavily involved with him as we get ready for the official visit season. Johnson was at Oklahoma on Jan. 25 and Alabama will host him to start February. But I’m placing an early FutureCast in favor of the in-state Buckeyes.

Illinois coach Bret Bielema and his staff have continued to build out the program's 2026 recruiting class, adding 6-foot-4, 240-pound Jacob Alexander – a three-star and top-15 in-state edge rusher – on Monday.

The Fighting Illini's Bret Bielema is the latest college football head coach to visit Dunlap's Mack Sutter this month.

Bob Asmussen is a college football reporter and columnist for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at 217-393-8248 or [email protected].

Bret Bielema and the Illinois football staff this week could be found in Orlando, Florida, busy on the recruiting trail. On Thursday, the Illini signed class of 2026 wide receiver Kenyon Alston to add another potential weapon to the offense.

The Fighting Illini coach didn't call out the recruit by name, but Bielema watched Dunlap's Mack Sutter play basketball Saturday afternoon.

Entering his fifth season as Illinois coach, Bret Bielema has quickly ... on recruiting and how much this critical aspect of college football has impacted Bielema and his staff.

Illinois won 10 games in 2024 including the Citrus Bowl. Here is how the Illini and coach Bret Bielema ranked in the final coaches and AP polls.

Composite Rating: No. 929 overall, No. 72 edge rusher Offers: Illinois, Boston College, Cincinnati ... grade and has turned himself into a great football player. Long and athletic.

Here are some parting thoughts as the 2024 college football season officially came to a close for the major programs around Illinois.

It is early in the indoor season, but Northern Iowa senior Chase Knoche put down a time in the 800 meters that ranks very well nationally. Competing at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational on Saturday, the former Calamus-Wheatland prep produced a winning time of 1 minute,