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Our coverage of National Signing Day for Illinois Football continues. Tristan Thomas from WCIA-3 joins us this hour to recap Coach Bielema's presentation to the media and the class of 2026.
Evan Stone did an incredible deep dive into the "Best Era of Fighting Illini Football." Evan went all the way back to the 1950s, covered the most successful 5-year periods in Illinois history, and compared it to the Bielema era. The results are fascinating. A must-listen to segment!
And who won our Sitcom Draft? The margin of winning was only 2 votes!
It's National Signing Day for Fighting Illini Football! We'll do a deep dive into the Class of 2026 - the highest ranked class of the Bret Bielema Era (Number 21).
Coach Bielema joined ESPN 93.5 to talk about this year's class, bowl season, his family, and if he's receiving offers from other schools.
It's Draft Day! Kurtis and Evan are drafting The Best TV Sitcoms of All Time. Vote for who wins on Instagram & Twitter @TheDrive935 or text your vote to 217-359-2255.
Who will be the next head coach for Penn State? It's a mess of a situation and candidates are running out. We discuss the list and your texts.
Plus, Illini football recruitment notes.
It's a busy day for Illini men's & women's basketball, and Illini football. We dig in with today's Illini headlines.
Also, Evan is about to do a deep dive of Illini football over 5 year periods. But before he does that we want to know...What's your favorite individual season of Illinois football?
Tuesday = Draft Day! Today's draft subject: Best Sit-Coms of All Time.
And Kurtis throws out those Curveballs!
The Illini men's basketball team competed, but ultimately fell to UConn at Madison Square Garden. What went right and what went wrong? Where will Brad Underwood & Co do ahead of their trip to Nashville before playing Tennessee?
Da Bears are Da Number 1 team in da NFC! The Chicago Bears handled the Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday in Philly. Ben Johnson's team has won 9 of their last 10 games and are in the driver's seat the rest of the way. Next up? The Packers in Green Bay.
A handful of texts start this conversation: Why are some Illini fans still unhappy with Bret Bielema and Brad Underwood?
The All-American J Leman is back after an Illini W! We break down Saturday's win at Geis Memorial Stadium over Northwestern, the defense's bounce-back performance, and much more.
How would J sum up the 2025 campaign? How does the coaching carousel impact Illinois? What does Illinois need to do during the offseason?
Plus we cover A LOT more from the world of college football. LET'S GOOOO!
Happy Thanksgiving! Here's a special episode of "The Drive" exclusive to podcast subscribers.
Brad Underwood and the Illini Men's Basketball team head to Madison Square Garden to take on the #5 ranked UConn Huskies. Tip-off is scheduled for Friday morning at 11:30am. We preview the game and give our predictions.
Friday afternoon features the Chicago Bears against the Philadelphia Eagles. Is this the biggest test for Da Bears so far? Are the Eagles vulnerable or is this a "get right" game for Philly?
Bret Bielema leads the Illini football team into their final regular season game for Senior Night on Saturday. Snow, rain, and wind are in the forecast for the game. How will it impact Barry Lunney's offense? Will it help or hinder Aaron Henry's defense? We preview and give our score predictions.
We hope you have a great holiday weekend and thanks for listening! - The Drive
Tristan Thomas from WCIA-3 previews the IHSA State Championship games! Maroa-Forsyth, Tolono-Unity, and Rochester are all playing on Friday.
Local celebrities voted in our Thanksgiving Side Dish draft, and one vote really hurt Kurtis' feelings. It's a familiar name...
And who WON our draft? The results are crazy!
Plus, our Thanksgiving Toasts!
The Illini wrap up their regular season on Saturday night at Gies Memorial Stadium against the Northwestern Wildcats. Snow is in the forecast - who does that benefit?
We talk with Ravi Lulla from Hurrdat Sports takes us around the Big Ten football slate. Ravi previews Ohio State vs Michigan, Washington vs Oregon, and much more.
Chris Kwicinski from Fox32 covers Northwestern athletics and the Chicago Bears. He joins us to talk about both.
Bret Bielema met with the media and got emotional while talking about his group of Seniors on the Illini roster. What will you think of when you look back on the 2025 season?
Also, should Luke Altmyer play in a bowl game? Kurtis and Evan say "No."
And it's our Tuesday Draft! This week we're drafting "Best Thanksgiving Side Dishes." Vote for who won @thedrive935 on Instagram, Twitter, and by texting 217-359-2255!
Illinois Men's basketball beat UT Rio Grande Valley 87-73 last night. Why did Brad Underwood call the performance "Doo Doo?"
Our guy The Great Kyle Tausk from Illini Inquirer joins us to break down the game and preview Friday's match-up with UCONN at Madison Square Garden.
Plus Kurtis has a check of the other Illini headlines and throws some serious Curveballs!
The Illini Men's basketball team took care of business on Saturday against Long Island University. Brad Underwood was candid in his post-game presser about the performances of Kylan Boswell and a returning Brandon Lee. Plus, Underwood's comments about what he expects out of Andrej Stojackovic and we preview tonight's game against UT Rio Grande Valley.
Also, Da Bears did it again! Chicago now sits at 8-3 after beating the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday. Are they really no longer "the same ol' Bears?"
Kurtis announces our next Tuesday draft and throws CURVEBALLS right at Evan.
J Leman is back in-studio to break down what went wrong for the Illini against Wisconsin. J talks Bielema, Barry Lunney, Bart Miller, Aaron Henry, and plenty more!
Plus Evan puts the current state of Illini football in a historical perspective and J brings out the "Rage Side" of Kurtis.
We cover it all this hour of The Drive!
The EIU Panthers take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa tomorrow. We talk with longtime EIU play-by-play man Mike Bradd about the game, the state of EIU's program, and plenty more.
It's a big weekend in the IHSA Playoffs, including Tolono-Unity vs St. Joe-Ogden. We talk with Tolono head coach Tony Reetz about the game, the community, and the opportunity coach a state championship game at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
Plus we give our score predictions for Illini basketball against Long Island University and Illini football against Wisconsin.
AND FRIDAY TOASTS!
It's a busy Friday on The Drive!
Joey Wagner from Illini Inquirer joins us this hour to talk Illini vs Wisconsin, Barry Lunney's future, Bears vs Packers, and much more!
Plus we get a check of today's Illini Headlines and Kurtis throws some Curveballs!
Kurtis noticed David Mirkovic has an "awesome tattoo" on his right leg. Did you catch it last night during the Illini vs Crimson Tide game?
Da Bears will have a couple of key defensive pieces back as soon as Sunday against the Steelers. Who's in and who's out?
We need some money! Evan has those Etched in Stone bets for this week and he's feeling extra generous ahead of Thanksgiving.
Plus, wanna feel old? Evan has a few stats that just might do the trick.
The Fighting Illini men's basketball lost against Alabama at the United Center in Chicago. We answer your texts and give our reactions to the 90-86 loss.
Ravi Lulla from Hurrdat Sports joins us to talk Big Ten Football for this weekend and why USC could spoil Oregon's playoff hopes.
Mark Stewart covers Wisconsin Badgers football for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He gives us the Badgers perspective ahead of Saturday's showdown with Bret Bielema and the Illini at Camp Randall.
Carson Gourdie from Fox Illinois & WICS joins us this hour to preview Illinois vs Alabama, give his insight, last-minute injury updates from Brad Underwood, and more. Plus, we talk Illini Football ahead of Saturday's showdown at Camp Randall.
Who won our Denzel Movie Draft? It wasn't as close as some people thought!
We give our final score predictions for tonight's Illinois vs Alabama game. Lets go!
We preview tonight's #8 Fighting Illini men's basketball game against #11 Alabama Crimson Tide at the United Center in Chicago! Who's in and who's out?
We'll talk with Tristan Thomas from WCIA-3 about tonight's game, plus 2 area schools are guaranteed to play for a State Championship. We'll preview Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond vs Maroa-Forsyth and Tolono-Unity vs St. Joe-Ogden.
Kurtis throws some serious Curveballs at Evan and more on our Denzel Movie Draft.
Illini Football head coach Bret Bielema met with the media and talks about the upcoming trip to his former stomping grounds in Wisconsin. Plus, Bielema expects a very busy coaching carousel this offseason for college football. And he gives us some insight into the "good problems" that Illinois athletics have right now.
It's Tuesday and that means DRAFT DAY! This week's subject: Denzel Washington Movies! Who wins? Vote on our Instagram & Twitter pages @thedrive935 or text your vote to 217-359-2255!



