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Artwork for Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast

Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast

247Sports, Illinois, Illinois Football, Illinois Basketball, Illinois Athletics, College Football, C
Illinois Fighting Illini
Big Ten Conference
Illinois Football
Illinois Basketball
Illinois
Big Ten
Keaton Wagler
NCAA Tournament
Brad Underwood
College Basketball
College Football
Uconn
Bret Bielema
David Mirkovic
Kylan Boswell
Transfer Portal
Brett Bielema
Football
Basketball
College Football Playoff

Illini Inquirer staff members Jeremy Werner, Joey Wagner, Mike LaTulip, J Leman and many others discuss all things Illinois Fighting Illini athletics.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1200Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FootballSports

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Artwork for Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast

Latest Episodes

Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman sits down with Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner in his office to reflect on the 2025-26 year for the Illini and what's ahead. Whitman also discusses the state of college athletics and facilities... more

YouTube

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Kyle Tausk react to Illinois one-and-done guard Keaton Wagler going No. 5 overall in the NBA Draft, how he fits with the Clippers and what this means for the Illini program. The guys then discuss the other Illini f... more

Live from New York for the NBA Draft, Illini Inquirer publisher Jeremy Werner chats about Keaton Wagler's journey to Tuesday's big moment in Brooklyn, three-star Texas WR Brody Knowles' commitment to Illinois and the Illini's addition of in-state kic... more

Illini Inquirer basketball analyst Mike LaTulip and CBS Sports college basketball writer Isaac Trotter join Jeremy Werner to preview the 2026 NBA Draft. The guys discuss how Illinois guards Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell fit into the NBA and then co... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Kendall Gill
Former number 5 overall NBA draft pick, Illini All-American
University of Illinois / NBA
Episode: Ep. 1188 - Kendall Gill on 2026 NBA Draft, Keaton Wagler & Bulls; WR Brody Knowles commits
Jenna Hall
Illinois softball head coach
Illinois Athletics
Episode: Ep. 1185 - Kyle Tausk on Illini MBB's push for in-state stars; New Illini softball coach Jenna Hall
CJ Moore
Athletic College Basketball Reporter
The Athletic
Episode: Ep. 1182 - Why CJ Moore has Illini basketball at No. 1 in his 2026-27 rankings
Scott Dochterman
National college football writer for The Athletic
The Athletic
Episode: Ep. 1178 - Scott Dochterman on the state of college football, the Big Ten and the Illini
J Leman
All-American linebacker, former Illinois star
Illinois Fighting Illini
Episode: Ep. 1176 - J Leman's post-spring Illini football thoughts
Kyle Tausk
New University of Illinois graduate joining as full-time basketball analyst
Illini Inquirer
Episode: Ep. 1174 - Super-sized Illini hoops mailbag with Kyle Tausk
Ryan Easterling
Illini Inquirer recruiting analyst, in-state recruiting expert
Illini Inquirer
Episode: Ep. 1173 - Illini football's Class of 2027 in-state infusion
Andrej Stojakovic
Basketball player, Illinois guard/forward
Illinois
Episode: Ep. 1172 - Illini football recruiting momentum; Stojakovic's stay-or-go decision
Yogi Roth
Big Ten Network analyst; NBC Sports contributor; host of The Y Option podcast
NBC Sports/Big Ten Network
Episode: Ep. 1171 - Yogi Roth evaluates Illini football, QB Katin Houser and new defense

Hosts

Jeremy Werner
Host of Illini Inquirer Podcast; Illini Inquirer staff writer, covering Illinois athletics
Joey Wagner
Co-host conducting the mailbag; Illini Inquirer staff writer

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Friends talking Illini

    Whenever I listen to Jeremy and Joey, I can’t help think if this was 20 years ago, when I was in grad school at UI, sitting at Murphy’s, just talking ball with these guys. It’s not stat-wonky, you can tell Jeremy and Joey are long-suffering, serious Illini fans; it comes across as old buds having a beer and talking about their favorite college team. I’d live for them to do a live pod someday!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AmherstTim
    United States10 months ago
  • Hi

    Good podcast but Jeremy interrupts too much, especially over Joey. Let him finish. Also talk slower. I’m listening in the car a lot and it’s easy to miss phrases

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    IlliniSludge
    United Statesa year ago
  • Favorite Sports Podcast

    Thorough content and polished/professional while still being passionate about the teams they cover. I also really appreciate the coverage they have started giving to UI WBB as the program has transformed during the Shauna Green era. Well done across the board!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SaraB22
    United Statesa year ago
  • Just a couple of friends, talking Illini

    What I LOVE about this pod is how casual it is. Jeremy, Joey, and Derek all come across as friends, just relaxing, talking about their favorite team. I could totally see myself just sitting at bar with any of them, talking about the Illini. The informal nature of Illini Inquirer makes it so much fun for me to listen to.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    UMass Band
    United States2 years ago
  • One The Best

    Of all the sports I consume and all the teams I follow, Illini Inquirer provides some of the best coverage of any of them.

    The podcast strikes the right balance of covering Illini sports: not cynically pessimistic or disingenuously optimistic.

    They are realistic in their outlooks with reasons for concern while also providing reasons to be hopeful.

    They do a great job of covering the basketball and football teams even during the off-seasons and don’t fall prey to becoming gimmicky.

    Simply put... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Garett.kerber
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans appreciate candid, insightful roster and recruiting discussions.
Listeners praise professional, balanced Illini coverage with strong guest slate.
Some critique pacing or depth on certain long-running topics but overall high quality and reliability.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#91
India/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#125
Netherlands/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#126
Hong Kong/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#203
Japan/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 1185 - Kyle Tausk on Illini MBB's push for in-state stars; New Illini softball coach Jenna Hall
Q: How do you see Illinois' guard development affecting their recruiting for 2027/2028?
Illinois has built a strong guard pipeline with a history of producing one-and-done capable players and has positioned itself as a premier destination for top guards in-state and out-of-state, leveraging relationships and a proven track record to attract commitments.
Ep. 1185 - Kyle Tausk on Illini MBB's push for in-state stars; New Illini softball coach Jenna Hall
Q: What stood out to you about Brady Pettigrew at Riverside Brookfield?
Pettigrew impressed with his elite frame and versatility, showing the ability to attack the rim, make plays, and compete at a high level against top in-state talent, which fits Illinois' guard-centric recruiting strategy.
Ep. 1181 - Tom Fornelli on the state of Illini football
Q: Where did you have Bret Bielema ranked five years in, and is there still a piece of Illinois that feels under the surface compared to where he sits on some rankings?
I had Bret at 20th on my ballot, and I think there are debates about how Arkansas is viewed in the past, but the key is that he's taken an Illinois program that wasn't on the map and elevated it to a position where they're consistently competitive and respected in the Big Ten; the differences in perception often reflect past context more than current reality.
Ep. 1169 - Adam Finkelstein on Keaton Wagler's NBA Draft stock, Illini basketball's highly-rated additions
Q: What are the biggest questions Wagler must answer in the pre-draft process?
Defensively, athleticism, and the ability to defend his position at the NBA level, along with whether his shooting and off-ball gravity hold up under high-level competition and in different system contexts.
Ep. 1169 - Adam Finkelstein on Keaton Wagler's NBA Draft stock, Illini basketball's highly-rated additions
Q: Where do you rank Wagler among the top prospects and what is his range?
He's typically viewed around five to seven on many boards, with a tear break among the top four; teams will decide based on how the final workouts and interviews align with their needs.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show centered on Illinois Fighting Illini athletics, balancing in-depth basketball and football analysis with recruiting, roster strategy, and program news. Episodes frequently feature host-led discussions, interviews with recruiting analysts, former players, and national scouts, plus roster and NIL considerations, making it a go-to for Illini fans who want practical context on rosters, schedules, and Big Ten dynamics. A notable strength is its continuity and depth across multiple sports, with regular sponsor reads interwoven into thoughtful analysis and occasional banter that keeps the tone approachable for long-time supporters and newcomers alike.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. I on the Illini
2. The Drive on ESPN 93.5
3. Locked On Illini - Daily Podcast On Illinois Fighting Illini Football & Basketball
4. Inside Illini Basketball
5. Light The I

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 1200 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Kendall Gill
2. Jenna Hall
3. CJ Moore
4. Scott Dochterman
5. J Leman
6. Kyle Tausk
7. Ryan Easterling
8. Andrej Stojakovic

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