Football
Despite missing out on a bowl game, Illinois football had exciting highs in 2023. Illinois was entertaining at home, and there’s no better example than when quarterback John Paddock threw for 507 passing yards in a 48-45 overtime win against Indiana on Dads Weekend. Student season tickets are currently available online for $99. Single-game student tickets will be available closer to game days.
Basketball
There is no better time to get into Illinois basketball, as an Elite Eight appearance for the men’s team and a WBIT championship for the women’s team characterized an excellent 2023-24 season for both squads. Head coaches Brad Underwood and Shauna Green have been active recruiters from the transfer portal and high schools, with former five-star guard Kylan Boswell and current five-star forward Berry Wallace headlining the incoming class for each team. Student season tickets will be on sale online sometime during the fall semester, while single-game student tickets will be available closer to game days.
Volleyball
Illinois volleyball protected Huff Hall last season, winning 10 of its 13 games in front of the rowdy home crowd. The home energy kicked off an electric six-match win streak that included an upset win over No. 16 Purdue, Illinois’ best stretch of the season. On top of head coach Chris Tamas bringing in six new faces during the offseason, the Illini are getting a fifth-year outside hitter Raina Terry who has made first-team All-Big Ten in back-to-back seasons. Students can attend all of Illinois’ home games for free by showing their I-card at the entrance.
Baseball/Softball
The schedule beginning in February means that Illinois baseball and softball are in full swing as the spring semester winds down for most other sports. Illinois Field and Eichelberger Field are just east of the State Farm Center, and their overlapping schedules create a communal atmosphere where the success of one squad is within earshot of the other. The baseball team had a particularly strong 2024, claiming an outright Big Ten title in the final week of the season before defeating Indiana State in the NCAA Regional round. All baseball and softball games are free to attend.
Soccer
Led by head coach Janet Rayfield, Illinois soccer kicks off right around the start of the Fall semester. As of 2021, the team plays in Demirjian Park, one of Illinois’ newest facilities. The fresh arena is home to a class of eight incoming players that range from aggressive defenders such as Mia Gildea to goal-scoring forwards such as Claire Murray. All Illinois soccer games feature free admission.
Tennis
Following another pair of excellent seasons, Illinois tennis combined for a record of 34-20 across the men’s and women’s teams in 2024. In the fall, both squads compete as individual competitors, whereas the spring follows a standard team-versus-team format. The Illini filled the rankings last season, with senior Hunter Heck and junior Karlis Ozolins peaking at No. 2 doubles in late February while junior Megan Heuser worked with freshman Alice Xu to end the year at No. 70 with a record of 12-4. All tennis matches are free to attend at Atkins Tennis Center.
Golf
Illinois is no stranger to dominance on the greens, as both squads were crowned Big Ten champions in 2023. More recently, junior Jackson Buchanan took home Big Ten Golfer of the Year while senior Isabel Sy earned an individual spot at the NCAA regional tournament. The men’s team also made quite a bit of noise in the postseason, finishing second in the Big Ten Championship and dominating the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament before bowing out in the quarterfinals. Location is not predetermined when Illinois is hosting, with home competitions being held at Olympia Fields, Atkins Golf Club and Medinah Country Club last season. All events for both teams are free entry.
Track & Field
Since Petros Kyprianou was named director of track & field and cross country in July 2022, the Illini have done nothing but win. In that short amount of time, the women’s team claimed their first Big Ten championship since 2013, and the teams set 15 total school records. Illinois track & field alternates between competing at the UI Armory and Demirjian Park depending on the weather, with all competitions being free to enter.
Gymnastics
Beginning just after the end of winter break, the 2024 season featured a strong campaign from both Illinois gymnastics teams. The men were regularly within the top five all season long, in large part due to sophomore Tate Costa. His 853.49 total points were over 200 more than the closest Illini and contributed to an eventual fifth-place finish at the NCAA championship. Senior Abby Mueller displayed a similar level of dominance and totaled a team-high 615.525 points for the women’s team in 2024. The Illini typically compete in Huff Hall but move to the State Farm Center on special occasions such as hosting the Big Ten championships. All competitions are free to attend.
Swim & Dive
Illinois swim and dive racked up school records in its 2023-24 season. This effect was amplified in the postseason where Sydney Stoll, Suvana Baskar and Logan Kuehne broke the 200 freestyle, 50 backstroke and 50 freestyle times during the Big Ten championships. The Illini followed that up a few weeks later at the CSCAA national invitational championships, where Stoll and Kuehne both broke the 50 butterfly record with times of 24.02 and 24.51, respectively. All swim and dive competitions are held at the ARC Pool and are free to attend.
Wrestling
The 2023-24 season started and ended with a bang for Illinois wrestling, which got off to a 3-1 record that included a win over No. 21 North Carolina before finishing with a pair of conference wins at Purdue and Northwestern. Redshirt junior Edmond Ruth had an extremely impressive year and finished with a record of 26-4, the best amongst Illinois’ starters. The Illini compete in Huff Hall and all meets have free admission.
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