NBA

Boston Celtics def Chicago Bulls 122-100

Big Ten

Maryland def Wisconsin 76-68

Rutgers def Northwestern 79-72

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Fighting Illini all-time great Kofi Cockburn will make his anticipated return to the University of Illinois campus on Tuesday, Feb. 11, participating in a banner raising ceremony as part of the Illinois Basketball Honored Jerseys program. Cockburn is one of the most decorated and successful players in Illinois Basketball history and arguably the program's greatest center. The Kingston, Jamaica native was a two-time consensus All-American, two-time Big Ten Champion, the school's scoring (1,546 points) and rebounding (861 boards) leader among three-year players, and the Illini career double-doubles record holder (45) as well

FORT WORTH, Texas – Fighting Illini All-America golfers Jackson Buchanan and Max Herendeen have been named to the 2025 Ben Hogan Award Watch List, The Illini duo is listed among 35 of the nation's top collegiate golfers named to the watch list for the prestigious award. Illinois is one of nine programs to boast multiple honorees, and one of three Big Ten programs represented on the list.

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton Buckley Loda Panthers are on the road on Friday night in Downs against the Tri Valley Vikings. Paxton Buckley Loda Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill talks about one of his junior centers in Ethan Williams...

Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill

Coverage on WPXN begins around 6-45 on Friday night

(Winston–jc)-–  The 20-25 Nascar Cup Series starts on Sunday with an exhibition race in the cup series. Nascar Driver Chase Elliott has some memories of Bowman Gray Stadium...

Nascar Cup Series Driver Chase Elliott

The race airs live on Sunday at 4-30pm on WPXN

(Nebraska–jc)  The University of Illinois Men's basketball team is on the road tonight at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are 6 and 2 at home, have size and play good defense. University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood

 talks about creating opportunities against a solid team...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood

The game airs live on WPXN at6-30 tonight.

(Cissna Park–jc)  Getting ready for the post season is the push for the Cissna Park Lady timberwolves.  Next up is a home game against Camp Point Central on Saturday afternoon in Cissna Park. Cissna Park Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Videcka says preparation is the key...

Cissna Park Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Videcka.

The Timberwolves also play Oakwood tomorrow night as a make up contest.

Big 10 Mens

5-30pm Penn State versus Ohio State

7-30pm Illinois at Nebraska

9-30pm Oregon at U C L A

Big 10 Women's Basketball

6pm Illinois at Rutgers

IHSA Girls Basketball

Paxton Buckley Loda @ Prairie Central

St. Thomas More @ Rantoul

St. Joseph Ogden @ Bloomington Central Catholic

Illinois Valley Central @ Tolono Unity

Fisher @ Lexington

GCMS @ Deer Creek Mackinaw

Iroquois West @ Hoopeston Area

Armstrong Potomac @ Watseka

Charleston @ Mahomet Seymour

Clifton Central @ Tri-Point

Urbana @ Champaign Central

Champaign Centennial @ Peoria Notre Dame

NHL
6pm Chicago Blackhawks at Carolina Hurricanes

Tonight on WPXN its Fighting Illini Basketball as Illinois is on the road to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Pregame at 6:30 with tip around 7:30pm.

NHL

Chicago Blackhawks def Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1

Big Ten

Michigan St. def Minnesota 73-51

IHSA Boys Basketball 

Charleston def Rantoul 78-65

Hoopeston Area def Cissna Park 73-44

Armstrong Potomac def Iroquois West 70-37

St. Joseph Ogden def St. Thomas More 85-33

Pontiac def IVC 72-54

Unity def Bloomington Central Catholic 67-49

Bismarck Henning Rossville Alvin def Watseka 67-49

Donovan def Milford 50-48

Champaign Centennial def Springfield Lanphier 64-58

IHSA Girls Basketball

Hoopeston Area def St. Thomas More 48-15

(Nascar–j)  The Nascar season officially starts with the Daytona 500 in February. There is an exhibition race set on Sunday and it will air live on WPXN. Nascar Driver Kyle Busch talks about participating in the race at Bowman Gray Stadium in North Carolina

Nascar Driver Kyle Busch

The race airs live on Sunday at 6pm

(Cissna Park–jc)  For IHSA Sports tonight on WPXN its Cissna Park and the Panthers of PBL. Cissna Park Boys Basketball Coach Josh Marquez says the Timberwolves can score, but one challenge is defense...

Cissna Park Boys Basketball Coach Josh Marquez

Our coverage begins around 6-15 tonight.

IHSA Girls Basketball Tonight

Cissna Park @ Kankakee Bishop McNamara

Tri-Point @ Flanagan Cornell

IHSA Boys Basketball Tonight

Cissna Park @ PBL

Big Ten Men's Basketball Tonight

#17 Wisconsin @ Maryland

Rutgers @ Northwestern

Big Ten Women's Basketball Tonight

#14 Maryland @ Penn State

Michigan @ Wisconsin

NBA Tonight

Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics

Tonight on WPXN its IHSA Boys basketball from Paxton as the Panthers of Paxton Buckley Loda host Cissna Park. Pregame at 6:15 with tip around 6:30. Then its live coverage from Kankakee Bishop McNamara High School with girls basketball featuring the Cissna Park Timberwolves.

NBA

Chicago Bulls def Denver Nuggets 129-121

Illini Women

Illinois def Purdue 74-38

IHSA Girls Basketball

Bloomington Central Catholic def PBL 66-16

Unity def Pontiac 42-41

IVC def Prairie Central 57-38

Watseka def Westville 57-20

(Champaign–jc) Keeping the positive momentum going, even with injuries and playing in the Big 10. That is the focus of the University of Illinois Women's basketball program.  On Monday night the Illini won over Purdue 74 to 38.

University of Illinois Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Greene says it's  Big Ten basketball and another test comes on Thursday against Rutgers...

University of Illinois Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Greene. 

Kendall Bostic grabbed 11 rebounds putting her all time record for rebounds at 1 thousand  218.

(St Joseph–jc)  Coaching High School basketball for several years, coaches get to know a wide variety of kids and some with collegiate talents too. For the St Joe Ogden Spartans, Boys Basketball Coach Kiel Duval talks about the development of Ty Pence from a great shooter as a Freshman, to an all state basketball player as an upperclassman to now a D-1 Player at Illinois State University...

St Joe Ogden Boys Basketball Coach Kiel Duval

(Rantoul–jc)  – The Rantoul Eagles boys basketball team hosts Charleston tonight in non-conference action. Rantoul Eagles Boys Basketball Coach Ryan Parker talks about one of his leaders in Holden Cargo...

Rantoul Eagles Boys Basketball Coach Ryan Parker. Coverage on WPXN begins around 7pm with the pre gameshow and the tip to follow

(Champaign–jc)  – The University of Illinois Men's Basketball team beat Northwestern on Sunday 83 to 74. University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood  says Morez Johnson stepped up bigtime....

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach  Brad Underwood

Next up for Illinois is a road game at Nebraska on Thursday. The game airs live on WPXN starting at 6-30pm.

BIg 10 Mens today

6pm Wisconsin at Maryland

7pm Minnesota at Michigan State

NHL

6pm Chicago Blackhawks at Tampa Bay Lightning

IHSA Girls Basketball

Iroquois West @ Beecher

St. Thomas More @ Hoopeston Area

Urbana @ Charleston

IHSA Boys Basketball

Charleston @ Rantoul

St. Joseph Ogden @ St. Thomas More

Prairie Central @ Monticello

Bloomington Central Catholic @ Tolono Unity

GCMS @ Ridgeview

El Paso Gridley @ Fisher

Hoopeston @ Cissna Park

Armstrong Potomac @ Iroquois West

Milford @ Donovan

Watseka @ Bismarck Henning Rossville Alvin

Bloomington @ Mahomet Seymour

Lanphier @ Champaign Centennial

Champaign Central @ Decatur MacArthur

Tonight on WPXN its IHSA Boys Basketball as the Rantoul Eagles host the Charleston Trojans . Pregame at 7pm with tip around 7:15.

NFL

NFC Championship

Philadelphia Eagles def Washington Commanders 55-23

AFC Championship

Kansas City Chiefs def Buffalo Bills 32-29

NHL

Minnesota Wild def Chicago Blackhawks 4-2

Big Ten

Illinois def Northwestern 83-74

Maryland def Indiana 79-78

Wisconsin def Nebraska 83-55

(Normal–jc)  Congratulations to the Eureka Lady Hornets basketball team on winning the 20-25 McLean County girls basketball tournament. The Hornets won with a long shot at the buzzer to beat Gibson City Melvin Sibley 42 to 41. The Hornets are coached by former Paxton Buckley Loda student and athlete Jerry Prina. The El Paso Gridley Titans won the boys McLean County tournament over Tri Valley 71-69 on Saturday night.

(Champaign–jc)  –  The University of Illinois Women's basketball team hosts Purdue tonight at the State Farm Center. University Of Illinois Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Greene says with one exception, the Illini have been playing good defense...

University of Illinois Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Greene.

The game tips at 7-30 tonight.

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton Buckley Loda boys basketball team got a quality win over Monticello on Friday night in Paxton. Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill says the Panthers played very good defense...

Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill

The Panthers host Cissna Park on Wednesday night

(Champaign–jc)  – The University of Illinois Men's Basketball team beat Northwestern on Sunday 83 to 74. University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood says the team played with "an edge"...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach  Brad Underwood

Next up for Illinois is a road game at Nebraska on Thursday. The game airs live on WPXN starting at 6-30pm.

IHSA Girls Basketball Schedule

Bloomington Central Catholic @ Paxton Buckley Loda

Rantoul @ Monticello

Decatur St. Teresa @ St. Joseph Ogden

Prairie Central @ Illinois Valley Central

Tolono Unity @ Pontiac

El Paso Gridley @ Fisher

GCMS @ Ridgeview

Cissna Park @ Oakwood

Salt Fork @ Iroquois West

Westville @ Watseka

Mt Zion @ Mahomet Seymour

Tri-Point @ Grace Christian Academy

NBA

7pm Denver Nuggets at Chicago Bulls

Big 10 Men's Basketball Schedule

5-30pm Penn State at Michigan

7pm Iowa at Ohio State

9pm UCLA at USC

Big 10 Women's Basketball Schedule

7-30pm Purdue at Illinois

Tonight on WPXN its The Brad Underwood Show. Hear the latest on University of Illinois men's basketball from 7pm to 8pm tonight. 

NBA

Golden St. Warriors def Chicago Bulls 131-106

Big Ten

Maryland def Illinois 91-70

EVANSTON, Ill. – Illinois women cruised to an 85-60 road win over Northwestern on Thursday night, the Illini's fifth-straight victory over the Wildcats.

For the first time this season, five scorers finished in double figures for the Orange and Blue, and improved to 14-5 overall and 4-4 in conference play this season. Kendall Bostic had a double-double with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Adalia McKenzie totaled 15 points for her 10th-straight game with double-digit points. 

IHSA Girls

Iroquois West defeated PBL  44-19 in girls basketball action.  The Raiders 

were led by Amelia Scharp who scored 30 points.  Amelia broke the school record for most 3 pointers in a game with 8 made 3's.  

Cissna Park 67 Pontiac 55

Lauryn Hamrick 20pts, 7 rebounds

Addison Lucht 18pts, 11 rebounds, 6 stl, 5A

Josie Neukomm 13 pts, 4 rebounds, 7A

Unity def Prairie Central 50-26

Bloomington Central Catholic def Olympia 63-40

McLean County Tournament

GCMS def Tri Valley 49-43

LeRoy def Flanagan Cornell Woodland 56-32

Eureka def Dee Mack 50-47

Tremont def Heyworth 63-39

IHSA Boys Basketball

McLean County Tournament

Dee Mack def GCMS 50-43

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton Buckley Loda Panthers boys basketball team is back in action tonight in the Illini Prairie Conference as they host the Monticello Sages. The two teams met at the Holiday Hoopla Tournament in late December with the Sages getting the win. Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill says the team is looking forward to the rematch tonight...

Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill. Our coverage begins around 7pm tonight. 

(St Joe–jc)  The St Joe Ogden Spartan boys basketball team is gearing up to make a run for the top spot in the Illini  Prairie Conference. St Joe Ogden Boys Basketball Coach Kiel Duval says several players have stepped up to bigger roles this season...

St Joe Ogden Boys Basketball Coach Kiel Duval

The Spartans travel to Chillicothe tonight to take on the Grey Ghosts of I-V-C. And then go to St Thomas More in Champaign next Tuesday in conference action 

(Champaign–jc)  – It was an old fashioned "whooping". The Maryland Terrapins beat the University of Illinois Men's basketball Team 91 to 70 last night at the State Farm Center. University of Illinois Men's basketball coach Brad Underwood gave all the credit to Maryland...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood. The Illini play on Sunday afternoon against Northwestern. Coverage on WPXN begins at 1pm

(Chicago–jc)  The University of Illinois Women's basketball team won big over Northwestern in Big 10 action last night. Final score was 85 to 60. University of Illinois Women's basketball Coach Shauna Green was proud of the effort after a loss to Michigan State...

University of Illinois Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Green.

Big 10 Men's Schedule

7pm #21  Michigan at #11 Purdue

8pm Penn State at Iowa

10pm UCLA at Washington

IHSA Boys w Basketball

Monticello @ PBL

Rantoul @ Tolono Unity

St. Joseph Ogden @ Illinois Valley Central

Pontiac @ Prairie Central

Watseka @ St. Thomas More

Mahomet Seymour @ Chatham Glenwood

Tri-Point @ Beecher

Cissna Park @ Chrisman

Salem Invite- Champaign Central

McLean County Tournament

NFL on Sunday

Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles 2pm

Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs 5:30pm

Tonight on WPXN its IHSA Boys Basketball as the PBL Panthers host the Monticello Sages in Illini Prairie Conference action. Pregame at 6:45 with tip around 7pm.

Saturday Morning on WPXN its On the sidelines Coaches Show at 7am. The show is sponsored by Gibson Area Hospital Elite Fitness, Angel Auto Services in Onarga, Conxxus, and MATCO Fire Protection Services in Paxton.

On Sunday its Fighting Illini Basketball as Illinois hosts Northwestern at State Farm Center.. Our coverage with the network begins at 1pm. The tip off is just past 2pm.

Big Ten 

Northwestern def Indiana 79-70

USC def Nebraska 78-73

IHSA Boys Basketball

Pontiac def PBL 60-47

IHSA Girls Basketball

McLean County Tournament

Fisher def Ridgeview 45-36

Fieldcrest def El Paso Gridley 50-43

(Champaign–jc)  Next up for the University Of Illinois Men's basketball team are the Maryland Terrapins. University of Illinois Men's basketball coach Brad Underwood says they are talented and athletic...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood.

The game airs live on WPXN at 7pm with the tip from the State Farm Center at 8pm

(Gilman–jc)  – Bismarck Henning Rossville Alvin is one team that schools in the Vermilion Valley Conference expect to contend for a conference crown this year in boys basketball. Iroquois West Boys Basketball Coach Zach Monk says the raiders are battling to see where they fit in...

Iroquois West Boys Basketball Coach Zach Monk

IHSA Girls Basketball Tonight

PBL @ Iroquois West

St. Joseph Ogden @ Monticello

Prairie Central @ Tolono Unity

Pontiac @ Cissna Park

Mahomet Seymour @ Normal University High

Momence @ Tri-Point

Urbana @ Mattoon

McLean County Tournament

IHSA Boys Basketball Tonight

Champaign Centennial @ Urbana

Salem Invite- Champaign Central

McLean County Tournament

Big Ten Men's Basketball Tonight

Maryland @ #17 Illinois

Big Ten Women's Basketball Tonight

#8 Maryland @ #12 Ohio State

#1 UCLA @ Rutgers

Illinois @ Northwestern

NBA Tonight

Chicago Bulls @ Golden State Warriors

Tonight on WPXN its Fighting Illini Basketball as Illinois takes on Maryland at State Farm Center. Pregame at 7pm with tip at 8pm. 

Big Ten

Ohio St. def Purdue 73-70

Minnesota def Iowa 72-67

UCLA def Wisconsin 85-83

Oregon def Washington 82-71

IHSA Boys Basketball

Armstrong Potomac def Georgetown Ridgefarm 55-25

McLean County Tournament

Fieldcrest def GCMS 55-50

(Chicago-dg)-The Chicago Bears have finalized a deal with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson to become their next head coach. He'll look to build a new explosive offense in Chicago with quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore, and former Lions running back D'Andre Swift , among others. 

(Cooperstown-dg) The population of Cooperstown just got a little bigger. Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ichiro and Sabathia were first time nominees and it was Wagner's 10 time on the ballot. 

(Paxton—jc)  The Paxton Buckley Loda Boys basketball team is now in the Illini Prairie conference portion of the season. Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quentin Hatfill says his team has the ability to compete with all conference opponents...

Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quentin Hatfill

The Panthers are on the road tonight at Pontiac. Our coverage begins around 6-45pm

(Cissna Park–jc)  Competing each night is the focus of the Cissna Park Boys Basketball team. Cissna Park Boys Basketball Coach Josh Marquez says they welcome the challenges...

Cissna Park Boys Basketball Coach Josh Marquez

IHSA Boys Basketball

PBL @ Pontiac

Manteno @ St. Joseph Ogden

IHSA Girls Basketball

Manteno @ Watseka

McLean County Tournament

Tonight on WPXN its IHSA Boys Basketball as the PBL Panthers travel to Pontiac to take on the Indians in Illini Prairie Conference action. The game was rescheduled from last night.  Pregame at 6:45 with tip around 7pm.

NCAA Football

Championship

Ohio St. def Notre Dame 34-23

NBA

Chicago Bulls def LA Clippers 112-99

NHL

Carolina Hurricanes def Chicago Blackhawks 4-3 OT

IHSA Girls Basketball

Watseka def PBL 52-30

Cissna Park def Manteno 58-37

Iroquois West def South Newton 65-19

Monticello def Prairie Central 48-26

Bloomington Central Catholic def Unity 61-32

IVC def Pontiac 58-47

McLean County Tournament

GCMS def Flanagan Cornell Woodland 42-24

(Cissna Park–jc)  Good teams like to be battle tested, and not just in practice to prepare for big games, but in big games too. Cissna Park Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Videcka says the Timberwolves have already been tested in big games and there are more between now at regionals in February. Coach Videcka says being tested by good teams makes you better...

Cissna Park Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Videcka

(East Lansing—jc)  The University of Illinois men's Basketball team is up two spots in the national poll this week despite a two point loss at Michigan State on Sunday. University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood talks about the play of Freshmen Kasparas Jakucionis...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood

The Illini are home on Thursday night against Maryland. The game airs live on WPXN starting at 7pm with an 8pm tip from the State Farm Center. 

(St Joe–jc)  The St Joe Ogden Spartan boys basketball team continues to rack up wins this season. The team is led by two senior starters that have played major roles for several years, says St Joe Ogden Spartan Boys Basketball Coach Kiel Duval...

St Joe Ogden Boys Basketball Coach Kiel Duval

IHSA Boys Basketball

PBL @ Pontiac

Prairie Central @ St. Joseph Ogden

Tolono Unity @ St. Thomas More

Cissna Park @ South Newton

Georgetown LaSalette @ Milford

Watseka @ St. Anne

Mahomet Seymour @ Washington

Urbana @ Decatur MacArthur

Morton @ Champaign Centennial

IHSA Girls Basketball

Champaign Central @ Rantoul

Morton @ Mahomet Seymour

Decatur Eisenhower @ Urbana

Danville Schlarman @ Cissna Park

McLean County Tournament

Big 10 Mens

630am Ohio State at Purdue

8pm Minnesota at Iowa

830pm Wisconsin at U C L A

10pm Washington at Oregon

Tonight on WPXN its IHSA Boys Basketball as the PBL Panthers travel to Pontiac to take on the Indians in Illini Prairie Conference action. Pregame at 6:45 with tip around 7pm.

NFL

Divisional series

Saturday

Kansas City Chiefs def Houston Texans 23-14

Washington Commanders def Detroit Lions 45-31

Sunday

Philadelphia Eagles def LA Rams 28-22

Buffalo Bills def Baltimore Ravens 27-25

NBA

Portland Trail Blazers def Chicago Bulls 113-102

Big Ten

Michigan St. def Illinois 80-78

Maryland def Nebraska 69-66

Michigan def Northwestern 80-76 OT

Big Ten Women 

Michigan St. def Illinois 86-68

630am

EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 19 Illinois fell to No. 12 Michigan State, 80-78, at Breslin Center on Sunday afternoon. Will Riley finished with 19 points, while Morez Johnson Jr. ended the day with 11 points and six rebounds. Kylan Boswell nearly posted a double-double, logging 13 points and nine rebounds. Next up for Illinois is a Thursday home game against Maryland. Our coverage with the network starts at 7pm on Thursday.

630am

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois women fell to No. 22 Michigan State, 86-68, at State Farm Center on Sunday afternoon, snapping the Fighting Illini's two-game winning streak. Kendall Bostic registered her 11th double-double of the season, tallying 20 points and 14 rebounds against the Spartans. Adalia McKenzie finished with 15 points.  Next up for the Fighting Illini is an in-state matchup against Northwestern away from home on Thursday.

IHSA Girls Basketball

Watseka @ PBL

Rantoul @ Champaign Centennial

St. Thomas More @ St. Joseph Ogden

Monticello @ Prairie Central

Tolono Unity @ Bloomington Central Catholic

Manteno @ Cissna Park

Herscher @ Tri-Point

McLean County Tournament

NCAA Football

Championship

Ohio St. vs Notre Dame 6:30pm

NBA

Chicago Bulls at LA Clippers 9:30pm

NHL

Carolina Hurricanes at Chicago Blackhawks 7:30pm

NHL

Nashville Predators def Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 Shootout

Big Ten

Minnesota def Michigan 84-81 OT

Rutgers def nebraska 85-82

Northwestern def Maryland 76-74 OT

Illini Women

Illinois def Indiana 68-54

IHSA Girls Basketball

Monticello def PBL 55-19

Cissna Park def Hoopeston Area 57-24

Iroquois West def Armstrong Potomac 42-34

LeRoy def Fisher 49-37

IVC def St. Joe Ogden 47-30

Sacred Heart Griffin def Mahomet Seymour 45-38

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The prestigious Butkus Award ceremony will be held at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Illinois on February 1,, bringing together football's finest linebackers and celebrating the legacy of one of the greatest to ever play the game, Fighting Illini alumnus Dick Butkus.  The Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation's best linebacker at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels, was established in honor of Butkus, an Illinois native and two-time All-American linebacker at the University of Illinois. Josh Whitman, Director of Athletics at the University of Illinois, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the event for the university and the community.

(Bloomington–jc)  The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors approved a pair of advisory committee recommendations aimed at bringing the IHSA Baseball and Softball State Final schedules in alignment with other multiclass IHSA sports. In recent years, the IHSA has made changes to its State Final schedules in boys soccer, girls soccer, girls basketball, and boys basketball. Each sport previously held their state final tournaments over the course of two weekends, contesting different classes on each weekend. Now, Girls and Boys Basketball and Soccer are played in a  single-weekend state final format. The changes approved by the I-H-S-A set the stage for baseball and softball to follow suit with single-weekend state final formats beginning in 2026. 

(St Joe–jc)  When you talk about a challenging high school boys basketball schedule, you may first think of the St Joe Ogden Spartans. The Spartans have played games this basketball season against some of the best teams in the state including Pecatonica, Williamsville, and have started play in the always tough, Illini Prairie Conference. St Joe Ogden Boys Basketball Coach Kiel Duval says its all to prepare for the state tournament...

St Joe Ogden Boys Basketball Coach Kiel Duval

(Cissna Park–jc) High school basketball teams are in conference play this time of year, but at Cissna Park High School, the lady Timberwolves have several key non-conference games still on the schedule. Manteno, Kankakee Bishop McNamara, St Joe Ogden and Camp Point Central are among the other games yet to play this year, says Cissna Park Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Videcka...

Cissna Park Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Videcka

(Indiana–jc)  The University of Illinois Women's basketball team beat Indiana on the road last night by a score of 68 to54 Four scorers for the Orange and Blue finished in double figures as the Illini recorded their largest margin of victory against the Hoosiers away from home since 1999. University of Illinois Women's basketball coach Shauna Green says it all started with a great defensive effort...

University of Illinois Women's basketball Coach Shauna Green

IHSA Girls Basketball Tonight

Champaign Central @ Champaign Centennial

IHSA Boys Basketball Tonight

Paxton Buckley Loda @ Tolono Unity

Prairie Central @ Rantoul

St. Joseph Ogden @ Pontiac

Illinois Valley Central @ St. Thomas More

LeRoy @ Fisher

South Newton @ Milford

Donovan @ Tri-Point

Urbana @ Bloomington

Champaign Central @ Champaign Centennial

Big Ten Men's Basketball Tonight

Indiana @ Ohio State

Iowa @ UCLA

NBA Tonight

Charlotte Hornets @ Chicago Bulls

NFL on Saturday

Division Series

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs 3:30pm

washington Commandeers at Detroit Lions 7pm

NFL on Sunday

Division Series

LA Rams at Philadelphia Eagles 2pm

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills 5:30pm

IHSA Girls Basketball Saturday

South Newton @ Watseka

McLean County Tournament

Vermilion County Tournament

IHSA Boys Basketball Saturday

St Anne @ Cissna Park

Chrisman @ Milford

Mahomet Seymour @ Champaign Centennial

Coal City @ Prairie Central

Grant Park @ Watseka

Bloomington Central Catholic MLK Shootout- Tolono Unity

McLean County Tournament

Vermilion County Tournament

Big Ten Men's Basketball Saturday

Purdue @ Oregon

Wisconsin @ USC

Big Ten Women's Basketball Sunday

Rutgers @ Michigan

Purdue @ Washington

NHL Saturday

Vegas Golden Knights @ Chicago Blackhawks

Big Ten Men's Basketball Sunday

Illinois @ Michigan State

Nebraska @ Maryland

Northwestern @ Michigan

Big Ten Women's Basketball Sunday

USC @ Indiana

Ohio State @ Penn State

Michigan State @ Illinois

Minnesota @ Northwestern

Iowa @ Oregon

NBA Sunday

Chicago Bulls @ Portland Trailblazers

630am

(Champaign–jc)  – The University of Illinois Tennis team  returns to  the Atkins Tennis Center  today through Sunday to host No. 8 Columbia and Boise State for the Fighting Illini Invite. Competition will feature singles and doubles play along with hidden duals across three days of jam-packed action. The first event is set for 10 this morning.

Tonight on WPXN its IHSA Boys Basketball as the PBL Panthers are in Tolono  to take on the Unity Rockets. Pregame at 7 with tip at 7:15.

Saturday Morning on WPXN its On the sidelines Coaches Show at 7am. The show is sponsored by Gibson Area Hospital Elite Fitness, Angel Auto Services in Onarga, Conxxus, and MATCO Fire Protection Services in Paxton.

Then its our Live action Auction starting at 8am.

On Sunday its Fighting Illini Basketball as Illinois is at Michigan St.. Our coverage with the network begins at 10:30pm. The tip off is just past 11am

NBA 

Atlanta Hawks def Chicago Bulls 110-94

Big Ten

Michigan St. def Penn St. 90-85

Purdue def Washington 69-58

IHSA Girls Basketball

Cissna Park def Chrisman 54-13

Watseka def Bismarck Henning Rossville Alvin 42-37

IHSa Boys Basketball

Iroquois West def Donovan  51-40

(Champaign–jc)  Parkland College is set to honor its 20-25 Sports Hall of Fame Class. WPXN's Joel Cluver has the story...

(Fisher–jc)  Schools that want to challenge their sports teams, set up tough sports schedules. That is the focus for the Fisher lady Bunnies basketball team. Fisher Girls Basketball Coach Ken Ingold says you only get better playing above level competition...

Fisher Girls Basketball Coach Ken Ingold. The Lady Bunnies host LeRoy tonight. 

(Champaign–jc)  With injuries, comes opportunities. That is where the University of Illinois Women's basketball program is in the middle of the Big 10 Schedule. University of Illinois Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Green says its next person up...

University of Illinois Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Green. The Illini take on Indiana later today.

(Champaign–jc)  It was a good road win after a bad home loss for the University of Illinois Men's basketball team from Saturday to Tuesday.  University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood says they played well against a team with the same record...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood. The Illini remain on the road at Michigan State on Sunday. That game airs live on WPXN at 10-30 Sunday Morning.

IHSA Girls Basketball Tonight

PBL @ Monticello

Tolono Unity @ Rantoul

Illinois Valley Central @ St. Joseph Ogden

Bloomington Central Catholic @ St. Thomas More

Prairie Central @ Pontiac

LeRoy @ Fisher

Armstrong Potomac @ Iroquois West

Hoopeston @ Cissna Park

Mahomet Seymour @ Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin

Grant Park @ Tri-Point

Urbana @ Peoria Manual

IHSA Boys Basketball Tonight

GCMS @ Watseka

Mattoon @ Mahomet Seymour

NHL Tonight

Chicago Blackhawks @ Nashville Predators

Big Ten Men's Basketball Tonight

Michigan @ Minnesota

Maryland @ Northwestern

Rutgers @ Nebraska

Big Ten Women's Basketball Tonight

Nebraska @ Iowa

Illinois @ Indiana

Ohio State @ Wisconsin

NBA

New Orleans Pelicans def Chicago Bulls 119-113

Big Ten

Illinois def Indiana 94-69

Wisconsin def Ohio St. 70-68

USC def Iowa 99-89

IHSA Boys Basketball

PBL def Herscher 54-29

Salt Fork def Cissna Park 40-32

Westville def Iroquois West 54-27

Lexington def GCMS 56-42

Dee Mack def Fisher 49-39

Unity def Tuscola 56-55

Fieldcrest def Prairie Central 54-45

Olympia def St. Thomas More 56-54

Bismarck henning Rossville Alvin def Armstrong Potomac 73-55

Watseka def Georgetown Ridgefarm 63-62

IHSA Girls Basketball

Clifton Central def Iroquois West 40-35

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton BuckleyLoda Panther boys basketball team responded with a huge home non-conference win last night after a tough loss against Rantoul last Friday. Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill says it was good to see the team be ready to go...

Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill

Next up for the Panthers is a road game on Friday night at Unity of Tolono. WPXN will be the live broadcast starting around 7pm

(Indiana–jc)  The University of Illinois responded big on the road on Tuesday with a win over the Indiana Hoosiers. University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood says they missed Kasparas Jacujoinus and last night's effort was a total team win...

University of Illinois Mens' Basketball Coach Brad Underwood. Next up for Illinois is another tough road game at Michigan State on Sunday. Sundays game airs live at 10-30 on Sunday morning

IHSA Girls Basketball Tonight

Springfield @ Champaign Central

Watseka @ Bismarck Henning Rossville Alvin

Cissna Park @ Chrisman

IHSA Boys Basketball Tonight

Iroquois West @ Donovan

Milford @ Georgetown Ridge Farm

NBA Tonight

Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls

Big Ten Men's Basketball Tonight

Penn State @ Michigan State

Purdue @ Washington

Big Ten Women's Basketball Tonight

Michigan State @ Rutgers

Washington @ Michigan

Purdue @ Oregon

Penn State @ UCLA

NFL

Wild Card

LA Rams def Minnesota Vikings 27-9

NHL

Calgary Flames def Chicago Blackhawks 5-2

IHSA Girls Basketball

Pontiac def PBL 57-33

Cissna Park def Salt Fork 43-29

GCMS def Lexington 60-24

Unity def St. Thomas More 40-27

Bloomington Central Catholic def IVC 59-49

Watseka def Georgetown Ridgefarm 55-40

Congratulations to the PBL Competitive Cheer squad as they finished 4th at the ICCA state Championship on Saturday.

(Rantoul–jc) The E I Baseball wood bat league has initial plans for a 5 team league for the 20-25 season. Several new teams are being explored.  E I League officials met last night in Rantoul and the tentative opening day for the season is Sunday May 18th. Teams represented are the Paxton Swedes, Royal Giants, Buckley Dutchmasters, Arcola Riders and  Danville Dirtbags.

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton Buckley Loda Panthers boys basketball team hosts the Herscher Tigers tonight at PBL High School in Paxton. Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill says the effort needs to be more consistent than what they showed this past Friday...

Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill

(Champaign–jc)  A tough loss for the University of Illinois Men's basketball team on Saturday nets you a road trip today against the top pick to win the Big 10  today. It's Illinois at Indiana later today on WPXN. University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood says the Hoosiers are picked at the top of the conference for good reasons...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood

IHSA Boys Basketball Tonight

Herscher @ PBL

Teutopolis @ St. Joseph Ogden

Fieldcrest @ Prairie Central

Tolono Unity @ Tuscola

Fisher @ Deer Creek Mackinaw

Lexington @ GCMS

Cissna Park @ Salt Fork

Iroquois West @ Westville

Oakwood @ Milford

Bismarck Henning @ Armstrong Potomac

Watseka @ Georgetown Ridge Farm

St. Thomas More @ Stanford Olympia

Illinois Lutheran @ Tri-Point

Danville @ Urbana

Champaign Centennial @ Normal Community

Normal West @ Champaign Central

IHSA Girls Basketball Tonight

Rantoul @ Danville

Prairie Central @ Lowpoint-Washburn 

Clifton Central @ Iroquois West

Mattoon @ Mahomet Seymour

Urbana @ Normal University

Champaign Centennial @ Normal Community

NBA Tonight

New Orleans Pelicans @ Chicago Bulls

Big Ten Men's Basketball Tonight

Illinois @ Indiana

Ohio State @ Wisconsin

Iowa @ USC

Big Ten Women's Basketball Tonight

Minnesota @ Maryland

Tonight on WPXN its Fighting Illini Basketball as Illinois is on the road at Indiana. Pregame at 5pm with tip just past 6pm. 

Following Illinois basketball it's bonus coverage of IHSA Boys basketball from Paxton as the Panthers of PBL host the Herscher Tigers. 

NFL

Wild Card

Buffalo Bills def Denver Broncos 31-7

Philadelphia Eagles def Green Bay packers 22-10

Washington Commanders def Tampa Bay Bucs 23-20

NBA

Sacramento Kings def Chicago Bulls 124-119

Scores from Christie Clinic Shootout on Saturday

In games broadcast on WPXN

Peoria Richwoods 52

Mahomet Seymour 49

Moline 65

Mount Zion 60

Montcello 62

Seneca 56

Unity of Tolono 77

Fieldcrest 68

St Joe Ogden 59

Warrensberg Latham 49

(Cissna Park–jc)  Its the time of year to get into conference basketball action and some with conference tournaments in the month of January. The goals for the Cissna Park program have not changed though says First year Coach Josh Marquez...

Cissna Park Boys Basketball Coach Josh Marquez

(Champaign–jc)  The number 13 ranked University of Illinois Men's basketball team lost to U-S-C on Saturday 82 to 72.  It was  not a good day, says University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood.

THe Illini are on the road this week at Indiana and Michigan State.

IHSA Girls Basketball Tonight

Pontiac @ PBL

St. Joseph Ogden @ Prairie Central

St. Thomas More @ Tolono Unity

Fisher @ Deer Creek Mackinaw

Lexington @ GCMS

Cissna Park @ Salt Fork

Iroquois West @ Westville

Watseka @ Georgetown Ridge Farm

Bismarck Henning @ Armstrong Potomac

Illinois Lutheran @ Tri-Point

NHL Tonight

Calgary Flames @ Chicago Blackhawks

Big Ten Men's Basketball Tonight

UCLA @ Rutgers

Minnesota @ Maryland

NFL Wildcard Playoffs Tonight

Minnesota Vikings vs LA Rams

NCAA Football Orange Bowl

Notre Dame def Penn St 27-24

Illini Women

Illinois def Iowa 62-57

Big Ten 

Oregon def Ohio St. 73-71

Purdue def Rutgers 68-50

Michigan St. def Washington 88-54

IHSA Girls Basketball

Unity def PBL 40-27

Prairie Central def Rantoul 59-40

Cissna Park def Armstrong Potomac 56-27

Bismarck Henning Rossville Alvin def Iroquois West 49-28

Eureka def GCMS 52-45

Watseka def Schlarman 51-19

Bloomington Central Catholic def Monticello 49-18

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Number. 10 Illinois wrestling team is set for its Big Ten home opener at Huff Hall on Friday  when the No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes travel into town. Huff Hall meet day parking updates are now available to see head coach Mike Poeta's team in action. Fans can park in lots E2 and E18 for free after 5 p.m. today and for free on the weekends. 

(Cissna Park–jc)  When you take on good competition, you find out what works and what you need to work on. That is the philosophy for the Cissna Park Timberwolves girls basketball team. Cissna Park Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Videcka says games like the overtime contest against Gibson City Melvin Sibley to an upcoming game against Harden-Calhoun shows your strengths and also weaknesses...

Cissna Park Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Videcka

(Champaign–jc)  The University of Illinois Men's basketball team is home on Saturday morning to the Trojans of U-S-C in Big 10 conference action. University of Illinois Mens' basketball coach Brad Underwood says each team battles in a different way, but all need to learn how to get wins...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood

(Rantoul–jc)  The Rantoul Eagles are on the road tonight in Paxton for an Illini Prairie Conference game between the Eagles and the Paxton Buckley Loda Panthers. Rantoul Eagles Coach Ryan Parker says two of his senior leaders continue to help win games...

Rantoul Eagles Boys Basketball Coach Ryan Parker. WPXN live coverage of the game begins around 7pm tonight. 

(Champaign–jc)  The University of Illinois  Women's basketball team beat Iowa last night at the State Farm Center in Champaign. University of Illinois Women's basketball coach Shauna Green says the basketball culture at Iowa is still there...

University of Illinois Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Green The Illini are 12 and4 on the season

IHSA Boys Basketball tonight

Rantoul @ Paxton Buckley Loda

Fisher @ Urbana University High

GCMS @ Eureka

Prairie Central @ Peoria Christian

Tolono Unity @ Maroa Forsyth

Iroquois West @ Bismarck Henning

Cissna Park @ Armstrong Potomac

Milford @ Hoopeston Area

Danville Schlarman @ Watseka

Tri-Point @ St. Anne

Urbana @ Normal Community

Champaign Centennial @ Normal West

Peoria Notre Dame @ Champaign Central

IHSA Boys Basketball on Saturday

Champaign Judah Christian @ Fisher

Iroquois West @ Herscher

Hoopeston Area @ GCMS

Donovan @ Watseka

Champaign Centennial @ Chatham Glenwood

IHSA Girls Basketball on Saturday

Fisher @ Heritage

GCMS @ Iroquois West

Watseka @ Clifton Central

St. Thomas More @ Illinois Valley Central

Tolono Unity @ Tuscola

Urbana @ Peoria Richwoods

Normal West @ Champaign Central

Bloomington @ Champaign Centennial

Cissna Park @ Breese Paws Shootout

NCAA Football tonight

Cotton Bowl

#3 Texas vs #6 Ohio St. 6:30pm

NFL Saturday

Wild Card

LA Chargers at Houston Texans 3:30pm

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens 7pm

NFL Sunday

Wild Card

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills Noon

Green Bay Packers at Philadelphia Eagles 3:30pm

Big Ten Basketball tonight

Minnesota at Wisconsin

UCLA at Maryland

Big Ten on Saturday

USC at Illinois

Indiana at Iowa

Big Ten on Sunday

Nebraska at #20 Purdue

#16 Michigan St. at Northwestern

Washington at #24 Michigan

#15 Oregon at Penn St.

Tonight on WPXN its IHSA Boys Basketball as the PBL Panthers host the Rantoul Eagles in Illini Prairie Conference action. Pregame at 7pm with tip at 7:15.

Saturday morning on WPXN its On the Sidelines Coaches Show at 7am. The show is sponsored by Gibson Area Hospital Elite Fitness, Angel Auto Services in Onarga, Conxxus, and MATCO Fire Protection Services in Paxton.

Then it's Fighting Illini Basketball as Illinois hosts the USC Trojans at State Farm Center. Pregame at 10am with tipoff at 11am.

Following Illinois Basketball its IHSA Boys Basketball  with 5 games at the Christie Clinic Shootout, hosted by St Joe Ogden High School. The 1-30 contest features Mahomet Seymour and Peoria Richwoods followed at 3pm with Mt Zion and Moline. The 4-30 contest has Monticello and Seneca, then at 6pm its Fieldcrest and Unity. The final contest of the day is a 7-30pm contest featuring the host St Joe Ogden Spartans and Warrensburg Lathem. 

NBA

Indiana Pacers def Chicago Bulls 129-113

NHL

Chicago Blackhawks def Colorado Avalanche 3-1

Big Ten

Illinois def Penn St. 91-52

Indiana def USC 82-69

(Cissna Park–jc)  The goals for the Cissna Park Boys basketball team have not changed since the beginning of the year. First year Cissna Park Boys Basketball Coach Josh Marquez says improvement and learning to compete the "right way" are keys...

Cissna Park Boys Basketball Coach Josh Marquez

(Champaign–jc)  The University of Illinois Men's Basketball team  defeated Penn State 91 to 52 last night at the State Farm Center in Champaign. University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood says the season continues to be one of learning about teammates and listening to the process to get positive outcomes...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood.

Next up for the Illini is a home game on Saturday against the University of Southern California. Broadcast on WPXN starts at 10 Saturday morning. 

(Champaign–jc)  The University of Illinois Women's basketball team learned of two key injuries that will sideline the two players for the rest of the year. University of Illinois Women's basketball Coach Shauna Green says the focus remains to compete at a high level and to get wins in the Big 10...

University of Illinois Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Green. The Lady Illini take on Iowa tonight at the State Farm Center. 

(St Joe–jc)  –WPXN Sports will cover 5 games of the upcoming Christie Clinic Shootout, hosted by St Joe Ogden High School on Saturday. The coverage follows Illinois basketball on Saturday. The 1-30 contest features Mahomet Seymour and Peoria Richwoods followed at 3pm with Mt Zion and Moline. The 4-30 contest has Monticello and Seneca, then at 6pm its Fieldcrest and Unity. The final contest of the day is a 7-30pm contest featuring the host St Joe Ogden Spartans and Warrensburg Lathem. 

NCAA Football

Orange Bowl

#5 Notre Dame vs #4 Penn St. 

Big 10 Women's Schedule

6pm  Number 23 Iowa at Illinois

Big 10 Men's Schedule

5pm #20 Purdue at Rutgers

5pm #15 Oregon at Ohio State

7pm #16 Michigan State vs Washington

IHSA Girls Basketball Schedule

Tolono Unity @ Paton Buckley Loda

Rantoul @ Prairie Central

Pontiac @ St. Joseph Ogden

Sullivan @ St. Thomas More

Gibson City Melvin Sibley @ Eureka

Westville @ Fisher

Cissna Park @ Armstrong Potomac

Iroquois West @ Bismarck Henning

Danville Schlarman @ Watseka

Springfield @ Mahomet Seymour

Tri-Point @ Beecher

Champaign Centennial @ Urbana

Big Ten

Iowa def Nebraska 97-87 OT

Michigan def UCLA 94-75

IHSA Boys Basketball

Mahomet Seymour def Rantoul 92-61

Westville def Cissna Park 67-42

Iroquois West def Georgetown Ridgefarm 31-28

Fieldcrest def Fisher 52-29

Williamsville def St. Joe Ogden 51-39

Armstrong Potomac def Schlarman 72-59

Salt Fork def Milford 38-35

IHSA Girls Basketball

GCMS def PBL 59-30

Cissna Park def Westville 72-12

630am

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois freshman point guard Kasparas Jakucionis is on the Midseason Top 25 Watch List for the John R. Wooden Award, presented by Principal, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Tuesday. Jakucionis is having a brilliant rookie campaign for the 13th-ranked Fighting Illini. He is averaging 16.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.4 assists on the season,  He is shooting nearly 50% from the field, better than 41% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the foul line

(Paxton–jc)  It's always playing good defense that will lead to wins in basketball. The Paxton BuckleyLoda Panthers start the second half of the season on Friday at home against Illini Prairie Conference opponent Rantoul. Paxton Buckley Loda boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill says one key for the Panthers and all of their conference games is to play solid defense...

Paxton Buckley Loda Boys Basketball Coach Quenton Hatfill

(Seattle–jc)  The University of Illinois Men's team is now back home after a two game road swing to the west coast and two wins..  University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood says both games were experience builders for the Illini...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood.

NBA

6pm Chicago Bulls at Indianapolis  Pacers

NHL

630pm Chicago Blackhawks vs Colorado Avalanche

Big 10 Mens

6pm USC at Indiana

8pm Penn State at Illinois

Tonight on WPXN it's Fighting Illini Basketball as Illinois hosts Penn St. Nittany Lions. Pregame at 7pm with tip at 8pm.

NBA

Chicago Bulls def San Antonio Spurs 114-110

Big Ten

Wisconsin def Rutgers 75-63

Ohio St. def Minnesota 89-88 2OT

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis is Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced Monday. Jakucionis is co-recipient of the league's weekly honor, along with Rutgers' Ace Bailey. Jakucionis led the Illini to three wins during the week, averaging a team-best 16.0 points and 5.3 assists along with 5.0 rebounds, while shooting 60% from the field, 39% from 3-point range, and making all seven free throw attempts. Jakucionis scored a team-high 18 points with team-high six assists and added five rebounds in the win at Washington.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois All-Big Ten outside linebacker Gabe Jacas is the latest Illini to announce he will return to Illinois in 2025. Jacas was one of the most disruptive edge rushers in college football in 2024.  Jacas started all 13 games at outside linebacker for Illinois in 2024, helping the Fighting Illini tie the program record for wins in a season (10) with a victory in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl over #14 South Carolina. In the Citrus Bowl win, Jacas had one of his best games of the season with eight tackles and 3.0 tackles for loss. He was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection by the conference's coaches and media following the regular season and earned Phil Steele All-America Third Team honors. .

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois All-Big Ten left tackle J.C. Davis announced he will return to Illinois in 2025. Davis was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection by the conference's coaches following the regular season. Davis started all 13 games at left tackle for Illinois in 2025, helping Illinois to tie the program record for wins in a season (10) with a victory in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl over #14 South Carolina. He will enter his second season with Illinois in 2025.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Fighting Illini men's tennis team is set to begin its spring season in Arizona with the Thunderbird Invite, hosted by Arizona State starting later today and running through Sunday. Illinois student-athletes will compete in both singles and doubles action across multiple days of competition . The Orange and Blue, who are receiving votes in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association Coaches Poll.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Fighting Illini junior McKenna Schaefbauer has been named to the 2025 Big Ten Women's Tennis Players to Watch List, the league announced on Monday. The Normal, Illinois, native is headed into her second dual season with the Orange and Blue. Schaefbauer is one of 18 athletes named to the Players to Watch List. Schaefbauer is coming off of a successful sophomore campaign that featured a 17-10 overall singles record and an 18-16 overall mark on the doubles courts. The transfer appeared at all six singles slots and all three doubles courts for the Illini in 2024.

(Cissna Park–jc)  –  Several area basketball teams had a longer holiday break due to scheduling and the weather. The Cissna Park Girls basketball team had one of those longer breaks this year. Cissna Park Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Videcka says the team came back to practices with a sense of purpose...

Cissna Park Girls Basketball Coach Anthony Videcka

Cissna Park's first game in the new year is today against Westville

(Seattle–jc)  It may have seemed that the University of Illinois basketball win over then number 9 Oregon was smooth or a bit easy, but two nights later, still out on the west coast, the Illinois team got a different "gutsy" type win over Washington says University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood.

The Illini are now home for several games this week. Wednesday night at 8 against Penn State and Saturday morning against U-S-C at 11. 

(Rantoul–jc)  The Rantoul Eagles boys basketball team is 7 and 7 on the year. The Eagles started the season at a tough tournament in Effingham and recently finished 3rd at the Kankakee Holiday Tournament. Rantoul Eagles Coach Ryan Parker says the team is in a good spot...

Rantoul Eagles Boys Basketball Coach Ryan Parker

The Eagles have a big challenge on the road tonight at Mahomet Seymour. The game airs live on WPXN starting around 7pm

IHSA Boys Basketball Schedule

Rantoul @ Mahomet Seymour

Westville @ Cissna Park

Fieldcrest @ Fisher

Iroquois West @ Georgetown Ridge Farm

Salt Fork @ Milford

Chrisman @ Watseka

Armstrong Potomac @ Danville Schlarman

Clifton Central @ Tri-Point

St. Joseph Ogden @ Williamsville

Decatur St. Teresa @ St. Thomas More

Normal University @ Tolono Unity

IHSA Girls Basketball

GCMS @ PBL

Prairie Central @ Urbana

Big Ten Men's Basketball Tonight

Nebraska @ Iowa

#24 Michigan @ #22 UCLA

Big Ten Women's Basketball Tonight

#1 UCLA @ Purdue

Wisconsin @ Washington

Tonight on WPXN its IHSA Boys Basketball from Mahomet Seymour High School as the Bulldogs host the Rantoul Eagles. Pre game is set for around 7pm and the tip to follow.

NFL

Chicago Bears def Green Bay Packers 24-22

Indianapolis Colts def Jacksonville Jaguars 26-23 OT

Detroit Lions def Minnesota Vikings 31-9

NHL

NY Rangers def Chicago Blackhawks 6-2

Big Ten Men's Basketball

Illinois def Washington 81-77

Indiana def Penn St. 77-71

Purdue def Northwestern 79-61

Oregon def Maryland 83-79

630am

(Minneapolis–jc)  Illinois women fell on the road to Minnesota, 68-61, at Williams Arena on Sunday afternoon. Three Fighting Illini scorers finished in double figures, including the third-straight 20-point outing for Genesis Bryant. Bryant scored in double figures for the seventh-consecutive game, registering a team-most 20 points while also totaling six rebounds and two assists. In her return to her home state, Adalia McKenzie ended the afternoon with 14 points, two rebounds, two assists, and three steals

630am

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois All-Big Ten First Team defensive back Xavier Scott announced he will return to Illinois in 2025. Scott was a semifinalist for the Pay-dot-com Jim Thorpe Award as one of the top 15 defensive backs in college football. Scott started all 13 games at cornerback for Illinois in 2024, helping Illinois to tie the program record for wins in a season (10) with a victory in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl over No. 14 South Carolina. He was an All-Big Ten First Team selection by the media following the regular season and earned Phil Steele All-America honorable mention honors.

(Seattle–jc)  The Illini won at Oregon this past Thursday and won the second of two road games on the west coast yesterday over Washington by a final of 81 to 77. University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood says one area of needed improvement is recognizing a "hot" shooter...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood

The Illini take on Penn State at home Wednesday at 8pm The game airs live on WPXN starting at 7pm 

(Cissna Park–jc)  There have been wins and losses for the current Cissna Park Timberwolves boys basketball team this year. The focus for first year head Coach Josh Marquez is building, not only a team, but a foundation to succeed in life...

Cissna Park Boys Basketball Coach Josh Marquez

(Rantoul–jc)  The wins for the Rantoul Eagles boys basketball team are starting to mount up. The team started the year one and three at a tough tournament at Effingham. Recently, the eagles have won 6 of their last 8 games says Rantoul Eagles Boys Basketball Coach Ryan Parker...

The Eagles won over Normal West on Saturday 53 to 43.

Rantoul Eagles Boys Basketball Coach Ryan Parker

The Eagles have road games this week at Mahomet Seymour tomorrow night and at Paxton Buckley Loda on Friday night. Both games will air live on WPXN.

IHSA Girls Basketball

Prairie Central @ St. Thomas More

Westville @ Cissna Park

Iroquois West @ Georgetown Ridge Farm

Armstrong Potomac @ Danville Schlarman

Chrisman @ Watseka

Mahomet Seymour @ Danville

Tri-Point @ Donovan-St. Anne

Big 10 Mens

6pm Wisconsin at Rutgers

8pm Ohio State at Minnesota

NBA

7pm San Antonio Spurs at Chicago Bulls

Tonight on WPXN its the Brad Underwood Show. Get the latest news on Fighting Illini Basketball from 7-8.

NCAA Football

Sugar Bowl

Notre Dame def Georgia 23-10

Gator Bowl

Ole Miss def Duke 52-20

Big Ten Basketball

(Eugene-Oregon–jc)  –Number 22 Illinois used balanced scoring and an efficient offensive performance to soar past Number 9 Oregon, 109-77, at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene Oregon last night. The victory marked the Fighting Illini's first road win over a top-10 team since 2021, while the Orange and Blue surpassed the 100-point scoring mark away from home for the first time since 2016.

Penn St. def Northwestern 84-80

#20 Purdue def Minnesota 81-61

Indiana def Rutgers 84-74

Washington def Maryland 75-69

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Former Illini All-American Devon Witherspoon earned his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection, the NFL announced Thursday. Witherspoon is the first player since Dick Butkus to finish his Illini career then earn a spot in the Pro Bowl during his first two seasons in the NFL. 

Witherspoon has 90 tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, and seven passes defended on the season.

(Orlando–jc)  The University of Illinois Football team finished the year with 10 wins, the latest was the Cheez It Citrus Bowl championship over South Carolina.University of Illinois Football Coach Bret Bielema talks about the t-Bar sign...

University of Illinois Football Coach Bret Bielema

(Eugene–jc)  The University of Illinois' balanced attack and huge bench help, made it look easy at times against the number 9 team in the nation in Big Ten men's basketball last night. University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood says the guys off the bench were one main reason for the road win...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball  Coach Brad Underwood. The Illini continue a west coast trip with a game on Sunday at Washington. Our coverage with the network begins at 2pm. The tip off is just past 3pm

IHSA Girls Basketball Tonight

Blue Ridge @ Fisher

IHSA Boys Basketball Tonight

Blue Ridge @ Fisher

Danville Schlarman @ Iroquois West

Milford @ Armstrong Potomac

St. Thomas More @ Prairie Central

Flanagan Cornell @ Tri-Point

Tolono Unity @ Tri-Valley

Watseka @ Oakwood

Big Ten Men's Basketball Tonight

Iowa @ Wisconsin

#18 Michigan State @ Ohio State

NHL Tonight

Montreal Canadians @ Chicago Blackhawks- 7pm

IHSA Girls Basketball Saturday

Illinois Valley Central @ Paxton Buckley Loda

GCMS @ St. Joseph Ogden

Mahomet Seymour @ Chatham Glenwood

Ridgeview @ Tri-Point

IHSA Boys Basketball Saturday

Normal West @ Rantoul

Paris @ Tolono Unity

South Newton @ Watseka

Donovan @ Cissna Park

NBA Saturday

New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls - 7pm

Big Ten Men's Basketball Saturday

#15 UCLA @ Nebraska

Michigan @ USC

Big Ten Women's Basketball Saturday

#1 UCLA @ Indiana

Wisconsin @ Oregon

NFL Sunday

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers - noon

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts - noon

Minnesota Vikings @ Detroit Lions - 7:25 pm - winner wins NFC North and #1 NFC seed

NHL Sunday

New York Rangers @ Chicago Blackhawks- 2pm

Big Ten Men's Basketball Sunday

Indiana @ Penn State

Northwestern @ #20 Purdue

Maryland @ #9 Oregon

#22 Illinois @ Washington

Big Ten Women's Basketball Sunday

Northwestern @ #10 Ohio State

Penn State @ Nebraska

Illinois @ Minnesota

#8 Maryland @ #23 Iowa

#4 USC @ Rutgers

Saturday Morning on WPXN its On the sidelines Coaches Show at 7am. The show is sponsored by Gibson Area Hospital Elite Fitness, Angel Auto Services in Onarga, Conxxus, and MATCO Fire Protection Services in Paxton.

Then its our Live action Auction starting at 8am.

Sunday afternoon its Fighting Illini Basketball as Illinois is at Washington. Our coverage with the network begins at 2pm. The tip off is just past 3pm

NBA

Washington Wizards def Chicago Bulls 125-107

NCAA Football Bowl Games

Peach Bowl

Texas def Arizona St. 39-31 2OT

Rose Bowl

Ohio St. def Oregon 41-21

(Orlando Florida–jc) With the win over the South Carolina Gamecocks on Tuesday night, the University of Illinois  Orange and Blue picked up their 10th triumph of the 2024 campaign, equaling the program single-season record and securing 10 victories for the first time since 2001. The fighting Illini football team mounted their NCAA–-leading, fifth fourth-quarter comeback of the year. Illinois  took the lead with 7:29 remaining, forced a turnover on downs with just over three minutes to go, and then ran out the clock on their ensuing possession. Named the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl MVP, Josh McCray recorded his third multi-touchdown game of the season, finishing with two rushing scores while posting 13 carries for 114 yards. His two touchdowns marked his ninth and 10th such scores during the 2024 campaign, which rank eighth-most in a single season in program history. The 2024 Illinois squad finished with a 10-3 record and are now the fifth team in program history to earn 10 wins in a season, joining the 1902, 1983, 1989, 2001 teams. The Orange and Blue posted their first-ever victory over an SEC opponent en route to their fourth ranked triumph of the year, tying the record for the most in a single campaign in program history.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois Head Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood announced  the hiring of Neel Ganta as Director of Player Personnel. 

Ganta reunited with Underwood and the Fighting Illini program, where he served as graduate manager during the 2020-21 season when Illinois led the Big Ten in wins and won  the Big Ten Tournament Championship, earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. 

(Orlando–jc)  The University of Illinois football team finished off a 10 win season after their victory over South Carolina on Tuesday in the Cheez It Citrus Bowl 21 to 17. University of Illinois Football Coach Bret Bielema says the win was fulfilling for a variety of reasons...

University of Illinois Football Coach Bret Bielema

(Champaign–jc)  The University of Illinois Men's basketball team is on the road in Big 10 play tonight and again on Sunday. The Illini won over Chicago State this past Sunday with a lot of positives in the contest. University of Illinois Men's basketball coach Brad Underwood says letting one player get some easy points, is something they need to work on going into conference play...

University of Illinois Men's Basketball Coach Brad Underwood

NCAA Football Bowl Games

Postponed from Wednesday

Sugar Bowl game

7-45pm Number 2 Georgia vs Notre Dame

Caesars Superdome  –New Orleans, Louisiana

Gator Bowl

6-30pm Number 14 Ole Miss vs. Duke

EverBank Stadium –Jacksonville, Florida

IHSA Girls Basketball

Cerro Gordo @ Fisher

Big Ten Basketball

Northwestern at Penn St.

#20 Purdue at Minnesota

Rutgers at Indiana

Maryland at Washington

#22 Illinois at #9 Oregon

On WPXN tonight its University of Illinois Basketball as the Fighting Illini take on the Oregon Ducks, Broadcast start time with the network is at 8pm tonight. Tip from Eugene is 9pm