There’s always a lot going on with Illinois sports, but this fall features a whole new set of intriguing storylines for fans to follow. From basketball to tennis to football, here are five must-know sports stories new and old Illini sports fans should pay attention to.
Ivišić brothers unite in frontcourt
Illini men’s basketball just got a whole lot bigger. Seven-foot-one rising junior center Tomislav Ivišić was a major part of the 2024-25 Illini squad, and he is returning to the team next season. However, he’s not the only Ivišić in Champaign now.
Illinois went into the transfer portal and landed Ivišić’s twin brother, Zvonimir Ivišić, a rising junior who played at Arkansas last season. At 7-foot-2, Zvonimir forms an intriguing “twin tower” pairing in the frontcourt with Tomislav.
After being teammates all their lives, the two played against each other for the first time last season. Now, they will reunite in Champaign under the leadership of assistant coach Orlando Antigua, who recruited them to play college basketball in the United States.
Both brothers can stretch the floor and shoot the three while being good rim protectors. This gives Illinois a unique scenario with two 7-footers who can play inside and out.
Head coach Brad Underwood must determine how often the brothers can play together in the lineup. Regardless, it will be a fun sight to see at State Farm Center when they grace the court together.
Illini football hopes to build on recent success
Illinois is known as a basketball school, but this started to change last year. The Illini had a fantastic season in 2024, going 10-3. It was their first 10-win season since 2001, and their Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win helped them finish at No. 16 in the AP Top 25 poll.
Multiple key pieces from last year’s squad are to return in 2025, including rising senior quarterback Luke Altmyer, rising senior defensive back Xavier Scott and rising senior linebacker Gabe Jacas, preserving the experience of last year’s team.
Head coach Bret Bielema has also been active, recruiting talent from high school and the transfer portal to bolster the roster in 2025 and 2026. Illinois currently has a top-10 recruiting class for 2026. It should help ease the transition as key seniors leave after this upcoming season.
Many have seen Illinois’ 2025 schedule as relatively favorable, with most media members and fans expecting roughly three losses. The Illini should finish anywhere from 8-4, given if they falter in a few games, to 10-2 if everything goes right.
The schedule’s highlight is a challenging home matchup with Ohio State in Week 7. Similarly, a Homecoming showdown with USC is sure to bring out the energy in Illini fans.
Amazing Aussie joins men’s tennis
Illini men’s tennis added a star freshman heading into the 2025-26 season. Australian Hayden Jones will make his collegiate debut this fall after starring on the world stage in recent years.
Jones’ resume is already impressive. He boasts a career-high International Tennis Federation junior ranking of No. 8 worldwide and has competed in professional events, having Association of Tennis Professionals rankings in both singles and doubles.
Jones’ play earned him wild cards into the qualifying draws of the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Australian Open, one of the four major tournaments on the professional tour.
“Hayden’s competitive spirit will pay big dividends for the Illini, and we are looking forward to coaching Hayden and helping him grow toward becoming a top ATP professional,” said head coach Brad Dancer in a press release.
Jones’ experience in the highest levels of junior competition and the early stages of professional play should give him all the tools to be an immediate impact player for the Illini in the fall. He is the cherry on top for a stellar group of four incoming freshmen, which includes highly touted blue-chip recruit Sasha Colleu.
Illinois Ms. Basketball will make college debut as an Illini
Under the leadership of head coach Shauna Green, women’s basketball at Illinois has exponentially improved in the past few years.
From winning the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament title in 2024 to most recently being named a No. 8 seed in the NCAA tournament and winning their first tournament game since 2000, the Illini are on the rise. They finished last season with 22 wins, tied for third-most in program history.
An outgoing trio of seniors, forward Kendall Bostic, guard Genesis Bryant and guard Adalia McKenzie, were a major part of that success. In their absence, Illinois has a star freshman entering to make her mark.
Chicago native and five-star guard Destiny Jackson will make her debut for her home-state program this fall, and she’s sure to be a major piece from the get-go. Jackson was named the 2025 Illinois Ms. Basketball after a stellar senior season at Whitney Young High School, averaging 21.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals.
“I chose the University of Illinois because it felt like home from the moment I stepped on campus,” Jackson said in a press release. “Growing up in Illinois, I wanted to stay connected to my roots, and Illinois gives me the perfect balance of familiarity and new opportunities.”
Jackson’s ability to shoot the three, score off the dribble and put pressure on defenders when attacking will be a valuable asset for the Illini this fall and throughout the season.
She is the second-ever five-star recruit for the Illini and will play alongside rising sophomore forward Berry Wallace, the program’s first five-star player. Wallace played a key role for an Illini roster that struggled with injuries last season.
“I believe in the vision the coaching staff has for me and for the team, and I’m excited to be part of a program that values me and my potential as both a player and a person,” Jackson said.
Return of Ty Rodgers
Ty Rodgers shocked Illini fans when he decided to redshirt last season just moments before opening night. As a sophomore, Rodgers had been a key piece of the 2023-24 Elite Eight team, starting every game for the talented roster.
However, for reasons never publicized, Rodgers did not play last year. It was rumored that he would not have gotten the role he expected, with Will Riley and Tre White — neither of whom will return for this coming season — taking a large chunk of his minutes.
Many expected Rodgers to transfer following last season. But against the odds, Rodgers made the decision to return to Champaign.
Those in the program spoke highly of him as a teammate during his redshirt season, and he was seen actively coaching and providing advice during games. When Morez Johnson Jr. and White decided to transfer, that opened up more of a role for Rodgers.Add in the fact that he is beloved by the Illini community, and it made perfect sense for him to return.
“I love it here, man,” Rodgers said. “It’s my home. There’s no place I’d rather be. You know, I’m comfortable here. I love the community. I feel like the community loves me. I feel like I’ve got an opportunity to achieve all my dreams here.”
Along with Rodgers returning, the Illini have rising senior guard Kylan Boswell, rising junior wing Jake Davis and Tomislav returning. Senior walk-on guard AJ Redd and redshirt freshman forward Jason Jakstys will also help bring continuity of culture and familiarity to next season’s team after lacking that this past year.
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