Illinois Fighting Illini News Page 59 - College Football | FOX Sports

Artur Sitkowski - Decent effort in Week 1 Sitkowski completed 22 of his 42 pass attempts for 266 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1 versus UTSA.

Impact Sitkowski got another start Saturday with Brandon Peters (shoulder) not available and didn't quite have the shine he displayed in the opener against Nebraska. While he finished the day with three passing touchdowns, the sophomore completed only 52.4 percent of his pass attempts. Still, he's likely in line to maintain the starting job at least until Peters is cleared to return to action.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chase Brown - Cleared to play Brown (undisclosed) is expected to return to practice Tuesday and should be cleared to play Saturday against Virginia, Scott Richey of The Champaign News-Gazette reports.

Impact Brown reaggravated an injury in the team's season opener against Nebraska and was forced to sit out of the next game against UTSA. Even if Brown returns to practice and he can stay healthy, it's still possible he's limited against Virginia.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Brandon Peters - Still not cleared for contact Peters (shoulder) will start doing regular practice drills but he hasn't been cleared for contact yet, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact After suffering a shoulder injury in his team's season opener against Nebraska, Peters missed Saturday's game against UTSA and is considered doubtful for Illinois' matchup with Virginia. If Peters is unable to play, Artur Sitkowski could receive the start again.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

UTSA gets first win over a Big Ten foe, tops Illinois 37-30

UTSA posted its most impressive road win in its 10-year college football history, beating Illinois 37-30 for a win in the Roadrunners' first gave against a Big Ten Conference oppon...

SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chase Brown - Not in uniform Saturday Brown (undisclosed) isn't in uniform ahead of Saturday's game against UTSA, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Coach Bret Bielema was initially optimistic that Brown would be ready for Saturday's game after he aggravated an injury last week. However, it appears as though he'll be unavailable, while Mike Epstein will start at running back.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Brandon Peters - Not in full uniform Peters (shoulder) isn't in full uniform for Saturday's game against UTSA, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Although Peters is in his jersey Saturday, he'll be unavailable as he continues to deal with a shoulder injury. Artur Sitkowski will start for the Illini.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mike Epstein - Named starter Saturday Epstein will start Saturday's game against UTSA, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Epstein racked up 75 rushing yards and a touchdown in the season opener against Nebraska last week and will be rewarded with a starting spot Saturday. However, it's not yet clear whether he'll remain a starter once Chase Brown (undisclosed) returns to full health.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Artur Sitkowski - Starting Saturday Sitkowski is starting Saturday's game against UTSA, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Although Brandon Peters is in uniform ahead of Saturday's game, Sitkowski took first-team reps in warmups and will start under center. He transferred from Rutgers and has had minimal playing time to begin his collegiate career.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chase Hayden - Seen in walking boot Hayden was seen in a walking boot ahead of Saturday's game against UTSA, Joey Wagner of 247 Sports reports.

Impact Hayden totaled four carries for 12 yards in last week's season opener against Nebraska, but he apparently sustained a foot injury. It seems as though he'll be unavailable Saturday, and it's not yet clear when he'll be able to return.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Jafar Armstrong - Remains out Saturday Armstrong (undisclosed) won't play Saturday against UTSA, Scott Richey of The Champaign News-Gazette reports.

Impact Armstrong will miss a second straight game to begin the season, although the reason for his absence still isn't known. His next chance to play will be Sept. 11 against Virginia.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Marquez Beason - Dressed Saturday Beason (hamstring) is dressed for Saturday's game against UTSA, Scott Richey of The Champaign News-Gazette reports.

Impact Beason missed last week's win over Nebraska with a hamstring issue, but he may be available against the Roadrunners. He appeared in three games last year but wasn't targeted.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Illinois hosts dangerous UTSA, eager to go 2-0 under Bielema

New Illinois coach Bret Bielema took the first step last week toward restoring relevance to a tired football program by beating favored Nebraska in an early Big Ten conference matc...

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Artur Sitkowski - Likely to start Saturday Sitkowski is expected to start on Saturday against UTSA, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Brandon Peters is unlikely to suit up after suffering a shoulder injury in the season opener. Sitkowski is a transfer from Rutgers that has played very limitedly in his career.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Losing ways put Huskers' record sellout streak in jeopardy

Nebraska coach Scott Frost is asking fans to hang in there with his team two days after a season-opening loss at Illinois

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brian Hightower - Set for extended absence Coach Brett Bielema relayed Monday that Hightower (undisclosed) will be sidelined for a while due to a soft issue injury, Joey Wagner of 247 Sports reports.

Impact Bielema indicated that the injury won't end Hightower's season, but the fact that that had to be mentioned at all when discussing the injury would seem to suggest he's headed for a longer stay on the sideline as he recovers from the issue. Isaiah Williams, Donny Navarro ad Casey Washington led the way among the wideouts Saturday, while the eventual return of Marquez Beason (hamstring) should provide some added depth.

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Brandon Peters - Unlikely to play Saturday Peters (shoulder) is expected to miss Saturday's game against UTSA, Nico Haeflinger of FOX Illinois reports.

Impact Peters suffered an apparent shoulder injury during Saturday's opener and had a sling on his arm in the second half of the contest. It's not a huge surprise that he's in line to miss Saturday's contest, which would open the door for Artur Sitkowski to start his first game in an Illini uniform.

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chase Brown - Should be full-go after aggravation Coach Bret Bielema disclosed Monday that Brown was limited in the opener after aggravating an injury, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports. Bielema suggested Brown should be read...

Impact Brown was among the starting lineup as expected but saw a much smaller workload than was anticipated out of him in the contest. The injury may explain why he saw so few carries, though the solid efforts from some of the other Illini backs could lead to a rotation of carries against UTSA that could include as many as four running backs.

AUGUST 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Scott Frost and Nebraska open with a thud, plus RJ Young's Top 25

RJ Young examines what has become of once mighty Nebraska and presents his updated Top 25 after Week 0.

AUGUST 29, 2021

Scott Frost and Nebraska open with a thud, plus RJ Young's Top 25

College Football Week 0: Top plays from Saturday's games

Week 0 of the college football season kicked off with Nebraska vs. Illinois followed by Hawaii-UCLA. Check out the highlights!

AUGUST 28, 2021

College Football Week 0: Top plays from Saturday's games

Illinois fends off Nebraska in 30-22 season-opening win

Under a new coach, with fans packed into the stands for the first time since 2019 and its backup quarterback at the helm, Illinois beat Nebraska 30-22 to kick off the 2021 college...

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

College Football Week 0 Picks [Hawaii, UCLA, Nebraska, Illinois] ' CBS Sports HQ

AUGUST 28, 2021 • YOUTUBE

How to bet college football Week 0

College football season is finally here, and Sammy P has some advice on a Week 0 contest between Nebraska and Illinois.

AUGUST 28, 2021

How to bet college football Week 0

Luke Ford - Scores in season opener Ford caught three passes for 30 yards and a touchdown against Nebraska.

Impact The tight end was part of Illinois' plans in the passing game as he hauled in three receptions, one of which came in the red zone for a touchdown. Ford projects to be a productive pass-catcher in an offense that's light on proven receiving talent.

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Isaiah Williams - Scores in debut at receiver Williams had six catches for 41 yards and a touchdown Saturday against Nebraska and added two rushes for four yards.

Impact It was a strong debut for Williams at his new position after transitioning from quarterback during the offseason. Williams led the team in receptions and performed despite starting quarterback Brandon Peters going down with an injury. Illinois hosts UTSA on Sept. 4.

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Chase Brown - Limited workload Saturday Brown (undisclosed) was limited in Saturday's game against Nebraska. He finished with five carries for 24 yards.

Impact Coach Bret Bielema said after the game that Illinois knew Brown would be somewhat limited going into the game. Brown saw five carries while Mike Epstein and Reggie Love both pushed for double-digit carries. It's unclear when Brown will be back up to 100 percent.

AUGUST 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE