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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 Basketball
Illinois Football
Big Ten
NCAA Tournament
Keaton Wagler
Illinois
Brad Underwood
College Basketball
Transfer Portal
Football
College Football
Uconn
David Mirkovic
Bret Bielema
Kylan Boswell
Brett Bielema
Andrej Stojakovic
Basketball

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1196Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FootballSports

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

Latest Episodes

Illini Inquirer’s Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner react to Illinois landing commitments from four-star Geneva (Ill.) wide receiver Bennett Konkey and three-star Florida running back Steven Alexis. The guys discuss what they bring to the offense, how Il... more

Illini Inquirer's Kyle Tausk joins Jeremy Werner to break down what he learned at the Riverside-Brookfield Shootout watching and talking with Illini Class of 2028 targets Brody Pettigrew and Cole Kelly as well as 2027 commit Mason Martin. Werner then... more

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner and Joey Wagner discuss the latest commitments for Illinois football, including 2026 Unity QB Dane Eisenmenger and four Class of 2027 prospects: QB Sladen Shack, TE Cade Newman, OL Gavin Ericson-Staton and DL Ryan Paul... more

Illini Inquirer's Jeremy Werner talks about the latest commitments for Illini football: DL Ryan Paulsen and QB Sladen Shack. Kyle Tausk then joins Werner to discuss why three-star 2026 wing Lincoln Williams is an intriguing late signing for Illinois ... more

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Recent Guests

Tom Fornelli
CBS Sports College football writer, Illinois alumnus
CBS Sports
Episode: Ep. 1181 - Tom Fornelli on the state of Illini football
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
Andrej Stojakovic
Basketball player, Illinois guard/forward
Illinois
Episode: Ep. 1172 - Illini football recruiting momentum; Stojakovic's stay-or-go decision
Mike Small
Illini Golf Coach
University of Illinois
Episode: Ep. 1164 - Kyle Tausk on strengths & flaws of Illini hoops' offseason; Illini golf coach Mike Small on postseason play
Kyle Tucker
Director of College Basketball Content, 247Sports; CBS Sports analyst
247Sports, CBS Sports
Episode: Ep. 1161 - 247Sports' Kyle Tucker on Illini MBB's offseason
Shauna Green
Illinois women's basketball coach
Illinois Women's Basketball
Episode: Ep. 1158 - Illini WBB coach Shauna Green; Lopati decommits; Spring football names to know
Rob Doster
UConn and national college basketball commentator
Field of 68
Episode: Ep. 1152 - Final Four roundtable with Isaac Trotter & Trevor Vallese
Trevor Vallese
Content Manager for Field of 68; Illinois graduate
Field of 68
Episode: Ep. 1152 - Final Four roundtable with Isaac Trotter & Trevor Vallese
Cam Crocker
Coach/Player interviewed postgame, defender and strategist
Illinois Illini (as coach/staff contact)
Episode: Ep. 1148 - Illini advance to Elite Eight with 65-55 win over Houston!

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 States10 months 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
#94
United States/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#152
Canada/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#82
Hong Kong/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#191
Netherlands/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#244
Japan/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Ep. 1161 - 247Sports' Kyle Tucker on Illini MBB's offseason
Q: How does retention interact with the portal in building a title-contending roster?
Retention is the foundation; keeping core pieces gives you continuity and chemistry, while smart portal additions fill gaps and upgrade talent, creating a blend that can sustain success across multiple years.
Ep. 1161 - 247Sports' Kyle Tucker on Illini MBB's offseason
Q: What do you make of Illinois' backcourt and how the new pieces fit with returning players?
The backcourt is a challenge to replicate, but the staff has earned trust because of their track record; the returnees like Vox and Coleman help anchor the system, and the freshmen and transfers are brought in to plug specific holes without forcing anyone to carry the load.

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 1196 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. Tom Fornelli
2. Scott Dochterman
3. Andrej Stojakovic
4. Mike Small
5. Kyle Tucker
6. Shauna Green
7. Rob Doster
8. Trevor Vallese

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