MIKE EPSTEIN NEWS

Not returning to Illini Epstein announced that he is not returning to the Illini in 2022, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Epstein's playing days appear to be over, at least at Illinois, after a productive but injury-riddled career dating back to 2018. He never appeared in more than seven games in a season and topped out at 411 yards on 6.9 yards per carry as a freshman.

MARCH 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Reeling Illinois bracing for conference foe Maryland

Maryland opens Big Ten play at Illinois on Friday night

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sitting out Saturday Epstein won't play in Saturday's game against Virginia, Jeremy Werner of 247Sports.com reports.

Impact Coach Bret Bielema was unwilling to expand on the reason behind Epstein's absence, but the junior back will sit out the contest after tallying 32 yards on nine carries last week. Look for Chase Brown and Chase Hayden to lead the way in the Illini backfield Saturday.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

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

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

Illini turn to Bret Bielema to keep building in Big Ten

Illinois opens its season Aug. 28 against Nebraska

AUGUST 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Will return for 2021 season Epstein has decided to return for the 2021 season, The Champaign News-Gazette reports.

Impact Epstein wasn't part of the mix during spring practice and it was a question mark whether or not he would return for the extra season granted by the NCAA. Now that he's officially back in the mix, Epstein figures to have some share of the Illini's workload out of the backfield again. However, it's fairly apparent that Chase Brown has seemingly surpassed Epstein for the lead spot on the depth chart.

JUNE 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Illinois Football: Mike Epstein adds to a deep Illini running back room An already deep Illinois football backfield just got a little deeper over the weekend. According to Bob Asmussen of The News-Gazette, Illino...

JUNE 8, 2021 • WRITINGILLINI.COM

Report: Running back Mike Epstein returning to Illini for another season According to a report from The News-Gazette's Bob Asmussen, the fifth-year senior running back has returned to Champaign and will suit up fo...

JUNE 7, 2021 • PANTAGRAPH.COM

No. 24 Iowa scores 35 straight to beat Illinois 35-21

Spencer Petras threw three touchdown passes and No. 24 Iowa scored 35 straight points after trailing by two touchdowns early and beat Illinois 35-21

DECEMBER 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

No. 24 Iowa taking nothing for granted against Illinois

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is taking nothing for granted in his team's visit to Illinois on Saturday

DECEMBER 3, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

No. 3 Ohio State goes on the road to face revitalized Illini

No. 3 Ohio State (4-0) goes on the road for first time in nearly a month to face Illinois (2-3) in Champaign

NOVEMBER 27, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Revitalized Illinois hosts undefeated No. 3 Ohio State

No. 3 Ohio State will try not to let its guard down when the Buckeyes go on the road to face revitalized Illinois on Saturday

NOVEMBER 25, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Huskers' Miller expected to fully recover from spinal injury

Nebraska coach Scott Frost says linebacker Collin Miller is unlikely to play the rest of the season after he injured his spine making a tackle against Illinois

NOVEMBER 23, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Illini win 2nd in row 41-23 over turnover-plagued Huskers

Brandon Peters threw for one touchdown and ran for another in his first game in nearly a month, Illinois had two rushers go over 100 yards, and the Illini beat turnover-plagued Neb...

NOVEMBER 21, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

McCourt's late field goal sends Illinois past Rutgers 23-20

James McCourt overcame two long misses earlier in the fourth quarter to hit a 47-yard field goal with three seconds left to lift Illinois past Rutgers 23-20 for its first win of th...

NOVEMBER 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Purdue wary of Illini as Boilermakers try to go 2-0

Purdue is fresh off a 24-20 upset of Iowa

OCTOBER 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Coming off bowl season, Illini eye bigger things in Big Ten

Illinois appears poised to make a statement in the Big Ten

OCTOBER 14, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Illinois RB Mike Epstein poised for breakout season

Illinois RB Mike Epstein poised for breakout season with No. 10 Penn State looming

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Illinois defense, Epstein smother Western Kentucky, 20-7 (Sep 09, 2017)

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Illinois had had a slim six-point lead in the second quarter on Western Kentucky, but the Illini defense had the Hill...

SEPTEMBER 11, 2017