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Artwork for The Drive on ESPN 93.5

The Drive on ESPN 93.5

ESPN 93.5
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois
Chicago Bears
NCAA Tournament
Cardinals
Illinois Football
Illinois Basketball
St. Louis Cardinals
Cubs
World Cup
NFL Draft
Chicago Cubs
Big Ten Conference
Lebron James
Houston Cougars
Basketball
Big Ten
Illinois (university)
Timberwolves
Keaton Wagler

The Drive is your daily Illini sports podcast from ESPN 93.5. Kurtis Allen and Evan Stone cover Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball, Illinois Fighting Illini football, the Chicago Bears, Cardinals, Cubs and the biggest sports stories in Champaign-Urbana with interviews, analysis, and a lot of laughs. New episodes every weekday. 🎙️

Follow The Drive on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

PublishesDailyEpisodes177Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BasketballFootballSports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Drive on ESPN 93.5

Latest Episodes

Hour 2 of The Drive dives into a packed day of Chicago and St. Louis sports.

The Cardinals and Cubs are both struggling at the worst possible time, leading to a discussion about whether either team can turn things around and make a late-season push.... more

The Drive kicks off Hour 1 with WCIA Sports Director Glenn Kinley joining the show to discuss the latest developments surrounding Illinois football, including the Illini’s major partnership with Caterpillar and what the relationship could mean for th... more

The Drive's second hour features an emotional conversation with Illini wrestling great Danny Pucino, who is raising money for pancreatic cancer research while honoring his late father. Pucino's father, Scott, was himself a Division I All-American wre... more

The Drive dives into a major new Big Ten eligibility rule as the conference unanimously approved a ban preventing football players who have signed professional contracts, appeared on an NFL roster, or declared for the NFL Draft without withdrawing fr... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Quinntern the Intern
Intern guest who participates in the show and draft/segments
ESPN 93.5 The Drive
Episode: 08/13/26 Hour 2: Cardinals-Cubs Weekend Series, Illini in the NFL Preseason & A Toast to Quinntern
Eddie McGee
Random Illini of the Day segment guest (former Illini quarterback)
Illinois
Episode: 08/10/26 Hour 1: Dog Days of Summer for Illini Football; Strangest Teams Big Ten Schools Played in Football; Random Illini Players of the Day; Cubs Keep Rolling
Matt Sinclair
Random Illini of the Day segment guest (former Illini linebacker)
Illinois
Episode: 08/10/26 Hour 1: Dog Days of Summer for Illini Football; Strangest Teams Big Ten Schools Played in Football; Random Illini Players of the Day; Cubs Keep Rolling
Alex Patt
Cubs beat writer for ChiCity Sports; covers Cubs, Hawks, and Illini
ChiCity Sports
Episode: 08/07/26 Hour 2: Alex Patt of ChiCity Sports Talks Cubs Surging After Trade Deadline, Alex Bregman Heating Up; Illini Linebackers Preview; Friday Toasts
Austin Burklund
Alumnus of ESPN 93.5 and host of Armchair Illini
Armchair Illini
Episode: 07/31/26 Hour 1: Illinois Football Expectations for 2026 | Austin Burklund Talks Illini, Washington & Big Ten Surprises; Cubs Win Cardinals Series; Evan's Random Illini Players of the Day
Tristan Thomas
In-studio guest, WCIA3 Sports
WCIA3 Sports
Episode: 07/13/26 Hour 1: WCIA's Tristan Thomas Breaks Down Keaton Wagler's Summer League Breakout, Cardinals Reach Midseason & Conor McGregor's UFC 329 Nightmare
Marcus Domask
Former Illinois/Illini basketball player, mentor pioneer
VIP Sports LLC Core Three Mentorship
Episode: 06/25/26 Hour 1: Former Illini Marcus Domask Joins the Show; Brian Teague Talks Bulls & NBA Draft Breakdown
Sonny Verma
Analyst from Locked on Illini
Locked on Illini
Episode: 06/24/26 Hour 1: Keaton Wagler Drafted No. 5 Overall by Clippers; Cardinals Announce Major Front Office Changes
Pierre Neuhain
Analyst familiar with Timberwolves era
Minnesota market
Episode: 06/24/26 Hour 1: Keaton Wagler Drafted No. 5 Overall by Clippers; Cardinals Announce Major Front Office Changes

Hosts

Kurtis Allen
Host of The Drive; long-running Illinois sports commentator with ESPN 93.5 affiliations; prominent in Champaign-Urbana sports coverage.
Evan Stone
Co-host on daily Illini sports show; involved in in-studio discussions and local sports coverage; part of ESPN 93.5 network.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 188 ratings
  • Senior Bowl Content

    Kurtis and his team do a great job of introducing new voices to the audience. I’ve enjoyed the relaunch of this show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SovereignWoody
    United States7 months ago
  • Chiefs

    I’m so sick of the chiefs hate on this show

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bullsfan1991
    United States2 years ago
  • Fun show

    Living in Atlanta this show is a lifeline that keeps me connected to IL sports. Love the sports content but so enjoy when the guys get down a rabbit hole on other topics too. Good chemistry between Lon and Derek keeps it fresh. And have to say for an 18 year old Kyle more than holds his own on air. Keep it going guys!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Atlanta Illiniman
    United States3 years ago
  • The best show!

    I have listened to nearly every show ever done. I have streamed it for years and was my go to for my commute home in Indy. Very entertaining plus great talk about sports. Lon is the glue that keeps this show going for so many years…..Hopefully for many more years to come!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Illini 29
    United States4 years ago
  • The best show!

    I have listened to nearly every show ever done. I have streamed it for years and was my go to for my commute home in Indy. Very entertaining plus great talk about sports. Lon is the clue that keeps this show going for so many years…..Hopefully for many more years to come!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Illini 29
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show's energy, chemistry, and willingness to bring in new Illini voices.
Overall, fans appreciate approachable, insider-style Illini coverage with local flavor.
Several reviews note the hosts' strong Illini focus and entertaining banter.
Some criticisms mention repetitive topics or preferences for different guest dynamics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#151
United States/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#146
Hong Kong/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#158
India/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#193
Spain/Sports/Basketball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

08/07/26 Hour 1: Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer on David Mirkovic's Foot Injury, Illinois Basketball Depth; Evan's Random Illini Football Player of the Day; & Purdue's New AD Misstep
Q: What is the outlook for Illinois in the coming season, and how does the backcourt look?
The guest is high on Illinois, ranking them among the top five nationally with strong returning players and a talented backcourt, suggesting they could be preseason Big Ten favorites and aim for a deep NCAA run.
08/07/26 Hour 1: Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer on David Mirkovic's Foot Injury, Illinois Basketball Depth; Evan's Random Illini Football Player of the Day; & Purdue's New AD Misstep
Q: Who might step up off the bench in Mirkovic's absence?
The guest points to Stefan Vox, Lincoln Williams, Quintin Coleman, and Lucas Murillo as players who could take on larger roles or increased minutes as the rotation adjusts.
08/07/26 Hour 1: Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer on David Mirkovic's Foot Injury, Illinois Basketball Depth; Evan's Random Illini Football Player of the Day; & Purdue's New AD Misstep
Q: How long is the estimated recovery for David Mirkovic and will it affect the season?
The guest indicates optimism that the injury will not heavily impact the regular season and that Illinois hopes he can return within approximately six to eight weeks, with potential lingering effects kept minimal.
08/04/26 Full Show: J Leman returns and talks upcoming Illini Football Season; Jacob Infante talks Bears Camp, Coby Bryant's Injury; Cubs Dominate MLB Trade Deadline; Cardinals Trade Nootbaar
Q: Why was the Wright extension considered a big move for the Bears at this point?
It locked down their top offensive lineman at a crucial position, giving stability to the line and preventing Wright's price tag from rising too high, while maintaining flexibility with the rest of the roster.
07/28/26 Hour 1: Bret Bielema Kicks Off Big Ten Media Days in Chicago & Mentions "SEC want to live in 2005 forever." Sunny Verma Live From Media Day & Random Illini Players of the Day
Q: What was the vibe in the room when Bret Bielema made the SEC live-in-2005 jab?
The room reacted with a mix of amusement and curiosity, signaling Bret's reputation for off-the-cuff one-liners and the media's readiness to amplify his comments for broader national audiences.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Drive on ESPN 93.5

What is The Drive on ESPN 93.5 about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A Midwest sports-focused daily show delivering quick-hitting Illini football and basketball coverage alongside broader local sports chatter. Episodes typically blend in-depth analysis of Illinois teams (and often Bears, Cardinals, Cubs), guest interviews from Illini media, and banter-rich banter with listeners that keeps discussions casual yet insightful. Notable strengths include on-site reporting from Big Ten media days, sponsorship and business context around Illinois athletics, and a steady stream of guest perspectives that connect college sports to national narratives. This mix makes it useful for listeners who want actionable college and regional sports insight with a light, entertaining tone. The show's informal, community-oriented v... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Drive on ESPN 93.5?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Drive on ESPN 93.5:

1. Illini Inquirer Podcast: An Illinois Fighting Illini athletics podcast
2. I on the Illini
3. Inside Illini Basketball
4. IlliniGuys Sports Spectacular
5. Illini Pella Saturday SportsTalk

How many episodes of The Drive on ESPN 93.5 are there?

The Drive on ESPN 93.5 launched 7 years ago and published 177 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Drive on ESPN 93.5?

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What guests have appeared on The Drive on ESPN 93.5?

Recent guests on The Drive on ESPN 93.5 include:

1. Quinntern the Intern
2. Eddie McGee
3. Matt Sinclair
4. Alex Patt
5. Austin Burklund
6. Tristan Thomas
7. Marcus Domask
8. Sonny Verma

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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