Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois football's 20-17 walk-off win at Maryland. The guys discuss QB Katin Houser's return, the defense doing its part again in a win, a run game that showed up just in time and much more. The guys look ahead to a November where the Illini need just one win to make a bowl game.

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Jeremy Werner chats with Inside MD Sports' Ben Messinger and Illini Inquirer's Joey Wagner to preview Illinois football's Week 9 game at Maryland. Messinger discusses Maryland's coaching change, interim leadership, QB Malik Washington's sophomore season and defensive struggles. Then Werner and Wagner answer a six-pack of questions about Illinois entering a big game for the Illini's bowl chances.

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Illini Inquirer's Kyle Tausk and Jeremy Werner react to Illinois basketball's final exhibition game against UIC and look ahead to the first week of the regular season, which includes games against Fairleigh Dickinson and Penn.

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The Illini have new life! J Leman joins the podcast to recap Illinois' surprise home win over a faltering Oregon team on Saturday. Can they maintain this newfound momentum against a struggling Maryland team at the bottom of the Big Ten? What are the chances this team gets to a bowl game?

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois football's 21-10 win over Oregon and break down the many hits and few misses from the victory over a marquee program. The guys discuss a great game for the Illini coaching staff — including Barry Lunney Jr.'s use of two quarterbacks, Bart Miller's key offensive line change paying off and Roger Cooper and the defensive staff getting their unit to play its best game — and some individual standouts. The guys then discuss what the win means for the rest of the season heading into next week's game at Maryland.

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk react to Illinois basketball's 95-91 exhibition loss to Baylor. The guys discuss a concerning update on David Mirkovic and injuries to Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic and Zvonimir Ivisic, as well as continued defensive concerns. The guys also highlight some positives, including the freshmen, Jason Jakstys, Jake Davis and Stefan Vaaks.

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Jeremy Werner previews Illinois vs. Oregon with Duck Territory's Matt Prehm and Illini Inquirer's Joey Wagner. Prehm breaks down a disappointing first half of the season for Oregon, the impact of offseason brain drain, the QB carousel with Dante Moore out, injuries at wide receiver, a talented defense and the matchup with Illinois. Werner and Wagner then answer a six-pack of Illini questions, focusing on QB Michael Clayton's first start, if the defense can take a step forward during the off week and the chances of an upset against the Ducks.

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Illini Inquirer basketball analyst Mike LaTulip joins Jeremy Werner to break down Illinois basketball's 105-96 exhibition win at Cincinnati. LaTulip breaks down his impressions of a faster-paced offense, a defense with issues, transfer Stefan Vaaks and freshmen guards Quentin Coleman and Ethan Brown. LaTulip then looks ahead to Friday's exhibition against Baylor.

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All-American linebacker J Leman joins Jeremy Werner ahead of Saturday's home game against Oregon. He and Jeremy Werner discuss what the Illini need to see out of both sides of the ball to get the win. They also look at the rest of the season to gauge which games are truly winnable.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk react to Illinois basketball's 105-96 exhibition win at Cincinnati. The guys discuss big offensive games from Andrej Stojakovic and Stefan Vaaks, standout performances from freshman guards Quentin Coleman and Ethan Brown and the level of concern about the Illini's defense.

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Did you miss him? Illini Inquirer alum Derek Piper rejoins the podcast as a special guest. He and Kyle Tausk discuss the preseason hype of Brad Underwood's team, and if Illinois can really live up to the big expectations. They also take a stroll down memory lane and look at what could be in store for some of these Illini at the next level.

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There's a lot to discuss with J Leman after Saturday's thrilling 38-37 overtime win at Michigan State. Katin Houser will be out for the foreseeable future. How serious is his hand injury? What does this mean for the rise of Michael Clayton? Also, how doomed is this defense? Leman and Werner discuss what can be done going into the bye week, and how this program can compete past this season.

0:00 - Intro

3:45 - How bad is Houser’s injury?

7:34 - Michael Clayton II

11:47 - Future of the offense

16:38 - De...

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois football's Week 6 game at Michigan State, breaking down the hits and misses from the game for the Illini and previewing the off week and the back half of the schedule. Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on:

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner preview Illinois football's game at Michigan State. The guys discuss Pat Fitzgerald taking over a struggling Spartans program, if the defense showed any signs of life with Roger Cooper calling plays, if the offense bounces back after a poor game at Purdue, the latest with the injury report and more. The guys wrap up the show by making their picks to click and bold predictions.

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With college basketball right around the corner, Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk sit down with Illini men's head coach Brad Underwood at Big Ten Basketball Media Days to discuss his decade-long tenure and preview the upcoming season. They also talk to star players David Mirković and Andrej Stojaković, who come in as Preseason All-Big Ten, about the Final Four run, their next steps and the new pieces around them.

0:00 - Intro

1:55 - Brad Underwood

12:55 - David Mirković

27:31 - Andrej Stojaković

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With college basketball right around the corner, Jeremy Werner sits down with Illini women's head coach Shauna Green at Big Ten Basketball Media Days to preview her upcoming season. He also talks to two of her players, Berry Wallace and Jasmine Brown-Hagger. He finishes the podcast by talking to Sara Burton about the current state of women's sports at Illinois.

0:00 - Intro

0:59 - Head coach Shauna Green

14:21 - Berry Wallace and Jasmine Brown-Hagger

26:38 - Illinois Chief Sports Officer Sara Burton

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk discuss what they learned from their conversations with Illinois men's basketball players and coaches at Friday's on-campus media day. The guys discuss the returners, transfer Stefan Vaaks, which freshmen can make an impact, how this team is wired and plays different and more.

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All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to react to Illinois football's 24-17 loss to Purdue. Leman breaks down a poor offensive performance, Katin Houser's worst game and red zone issues and then chats about the defense's continued inability to create negative plays. Leman chats about what Bret Bielema must change for Illinois to show improvement this season and to make strides long-term.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois football's disappointing 24-17 loss to Purdue. The guys discuss whether this was the worst loss of the Bret Bielema era, if Bret Bielema can overcome a disaster of an offseason, Roger Cooper's impact as a play caller and Katin Houser's off day. The guys then discuss what's ahead for the season and this program.

0:00 - Intro

1:05 - Biggest takeaways from the loss

3:33 - Bielema's disastrous offseason

7:43 - Worst loss of Bielema era?

9:13 - Who can Illinois beat on its...

Jeremy Werner previews Illinois vs. Purdue with Gold & Black's Tom Dienhart and Illini Inquirer's Joey Wagner. Dienhart breaks down the state of the Purdue program, which is on a 19-game Big Ten losing streak, and he breaks down the strengths and weaknesses of the 2026 team and what the game at Illinois means for Purdue. Wagner then joins Werner to welcome Noah Cowell to the Illini Inquirer team and then answer a six-pack of questions about the Illini defense after Bobby Hauck, the latest on the injury report and the matchup against the Boilermakers. The guys wrap up by giving...

All-American linebacker and Illini Inquirer football analyst J Leman joins Jeremy Werner to react to defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck's departure after just four games. They discuss what Bielema said of why it happened, what went so wrong and what must happen next for the defense to succeed this season. The guys then look ahead to Saturday's must-win game against Purdue and the keys to victory.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to the news that Illinois and defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck have "mutually agreed" to part ways. The guys discuss why they think Bielema showed this urgency and what this means for the program and this season.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois football's game at No. 7 Ohio State. The guys discuss another defensive letdown and Jeremiah Smith's dominance and how Bret Bielema and Bobby Hauck address that side of the ball moving forward. Then the guys discuss positives on offense, including QB Katin Houser, the running game and a thin offensive line.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner preview Illinois football's Big Ten opener at No. 7 Ohio State. The guys break down the latest injury report and what it means for Illinois and how the Illini can compete with the Buckeyes' far more expensive and talented roster. The guys close out by making their picks to click and bold predictions for the game.

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Illini Inquirer's Kyle Tausk and Jeremy Werner discuss a five-star-heavy fall of recruiting for Illinois basketball. The guys discuss the latest buzz following official visits for Darius Wabbington, Bentley Lusakueno and Moussa Kamissoko and an unofficial visit for Dylan Betts. The guys then discuss upcoming official visits for five-star prospects Brady Pettigrew and Benjamin Berrouet.

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(0:00) - Intro

(3:30) - Early impressions from...

Illini Sports Network analyst Carey Davis joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to evaluate the Illini through three games, including QB Katin Houser, WR Collin Dixon, the running backs and tight ends and the defense. Then Werner catches up with 247Sports Ohio State expert Dave Biddle of Bucknuts.com to preview the Illini's trip to No. 7 Ohio State. Biddle breaks down expectations in Columbus, the loss to Texas, WR Jeremiah Smith, QB Julian Sayin, the run game, a new-look defense and what Saturday's game against Illinois means for Ohio State.

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All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to review Illinois football's 48-10 win over Southern Illinois. Leman breaks down another strong passing performance for Katin Houser, Collin Dixon and crew; what improvements he saw from the Illini defense; lingering concerns heading into Big Ten play; and flashes from some freshmen, including RB Javari Barnett. Then Leman looks ahead to the Illini's monumental task at No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner break down Illinois football's 48-10 win over Southern Illinois. The guys discuss big games against from Katin Houser and Collin Dixon, getting more weapons involved offensively, piecing together an offensive line, freshman RB Javari Barnett and a far cleaner day for the defense. Then the guys look ahead to Saturday's game at No. 6 Ohio State.

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Jeremy Werner chats with River Radio Group's Matt Varney and Illini Inquirer's Joey Wagner to preview Saturday's non-conference finale between Illinois and Southern Illinois. Varney breaks down SIU, including star QB DJ Williams, what the Salukis bring on defense and expectations against Illinois. Then Werner and Wagner break down the Illini side of the matchup with a six-pack of questions and their picks to click and bold predictions. Follow the Illini Inquirer Podcast on:

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk react to Illinois basketball's 2026-27 Big Ten schedule drop and preview a huge recruiting weekend full of five-star prospects. The guys discuss the setup of the schedule and what it means for the team. Then the guys discuss a star-studded visitor list for the weekend of four Composite five-star prospects: 2027 prospects Darius Wabbington and Moussa Kamissoko and 2028 prospects Bentley Lusakueno and Dylan Betts.

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All-American linebacker and Illini Inquirer football analyst J Leman joins Jeremy Werner to react to Illinois football's 31-27 loss to Duke. Leman discusses his concern level after the loss, key miscues that swung the close game, the difference between a great offensive first half and poor close and what Illinois needs to be more successful defensively. Leman also discusses what he wants to see in the Illini's game Saturday against Southern Illinois and what he makes of a bad week for the Big Ten.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois football's 31-27 loss to Duke. The guys break down the defense's continued struggles, the offense's tale of two halves and what it means for the team moving forward.

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CBS Sports college basketball writer Isaac Trotter joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to break down the latest college basketball news, including Purdue's Trey Kaufman-Renn and Minnesota's Cade Tyson's chances at another year of eligibility, Michigan freshman Brandon McCoy's season-ending injury and Mark Mitchell's return to Missouri. Then Trotter breaks down his expectations for Illini freshman Quentin Coleman; the latest updates on Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic and David Mirkovic; and his views on Illinois basketball's ceiling and floor for the 2026-27 season.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner preview Illinois vs. Duke with a six-pack of questions. The guys break down how Brandon Henderson's injury impacts the offensive line, what other personnel changes the Illini could make, the key to Bobby Hauck's defense slowing down Duke's passing attack, the keys for the offense against Manny Diaz's aggressive defense and their biggest concerns and reasons for confidence in the game. The guys wrap up by making their Picks to Click and their bold predictions for the game.

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All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to review Illinois football's 42-23 season-opening win over UAB. Leman breaks down Bobby Hauck's defensive coordinator debut, concerns about the Illini's run defense and tackling but encouraging signs from its pass rush. Leman then breaks down his initial impressions of the Katin Houser-led offense and new-look offensive line. He then previews Saturday's non-conference showdown against defending ACC champion Duke.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois football's 42-23 season-opening win over UAB. The guys discusses encouraging signs from the offense — especially QB Katin Houser's debut and star performances from RB Ca'Lil Valentine and WR Collin Dixon — but some concerns (and bright spots) from Bobby Hauck's defense.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner catches up with former IHSA football head coach Mat Pistole to break down the X's and O's of Bobby Hauck's new Illinois defensive scheme, how it fits the Illini's personnel and the exciting and concerning things about the defense in 2026. Then Werner and Joey Wagner preview Illini football's season opener against UAB, what they want to see from the offense and defense, their picks to click and their bold predictions.

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Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner make their bold predictions for the 2026 Illinois football season. The guys discuss some potential big goals for the Illini offense, a wide range of possibilities for the defense and some potential breakout performers.

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All-American linebacker J Leman joins Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner to preview Thursday's Illinois football season opener against UAB. Leman breaks down what Game One is like for players, the excitement level around Illinois football's 2026 season, what would make for a successful first game, what he expects to see from Bobby Hauck's defense and players he's higher on than the consensus.

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(0:00) - Intro

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner unveil their 'Sign Guys' for the 2026 Illinois football season. The guys break down no-doubt starters, rotation players and underclassmen they're all-in on to make a significant impact and why.

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(0:00) - Intro

(1:00) - Explaining 'Sign Guys'

(10:34) - Joey's keeper from last year

(14:49) - Jeremy's keeper from last year

(21:00) - Jo...