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Artwork for The Drive on ESPN 93.5

The Drive on ESPN 93.5

ESPN 93.5
Illinois Basketball
Coleman Hawkins
College Athletics
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Indy 500
Illinois Fighting Illini
NIL (name, Image, Likeness)
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Baseball
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Illinois Baseball
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NBA Draft
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Football
Basketball

The Drive airs weekdays 3-6pm on ESPN 93.5 in Champaign-Urbana!

PublishesDailyEpisodes177Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for The Drive on ESPN 93.5

Latest Episodes

It's Draft Day! Kurtis and Evan are drafting The Best TV Sitcoms of All Time.  Vote for who wins on Instagram & Twitter @TheDrive935 or text your vote to 217-359-2255.

Who will be the next head coach for Penn State? It's a mess of a situation and ca... more

It's a busy day for Illini men's & women's basketball, and Illini football. We dig in with today's Illini headlines.

Also, Evan is about to do a deep dive of Illini football over 5 year periods. But before he does that we want to know...What's your ... more

The Illini men's basketball team competed, but ultimately fell to UConn at Madison Square Garden. What went right and what went wrong? Where will Brad Underwood & Co do ahead of their trip to Nashville before playing Tennessee?

Da Bears are Da Numbe... more

The All-American J Leman is back after an Illini W! We break down Saturday's win at Geis Memorial Stadium over Northwestern, the defense's bounce-back performance, and much more.

How would J sum up the 2025 campaign? How does the coaching carousel i... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Chris Kwiezinski
Sports reporter covering Northwestern and the Bears
Fox32 Chicago
Episode: 11/26/25 Hour 1: Illinois vs Northwestern Preview & Weather Update; Bielema Presser; Ravi Lulla talks Big Ten Football; Chris Kwiezinski from Fox32; Thanksgiving Sides Draft
Tony Reetz
Head Coach of the Tolono Rockets
Tolono Unity Rockets
Episode: 11/21/25 Hour 2: Eastern Illinois' play-by-play man Mike Bradd talks Panthers vs Alabama; Tolono Rockets Head Coach Tony Reetz; Illini score predictions & Friday Toasts
Mike Bradd
Longtime play-by-play announcer for Eastern Illinois University Athletics
Eastern Illinois University Athletics
Episode: 11/21/25 Hour 2: Eastern Illinois' play-by-play man Mike Bradd talks Panthers vs Alabama; Tolono Rockets Head Coach Tony Reetz; Illini score predictions & Friday Toasts
Tony Reitz
Head coach of Tolono Unity Rockets
Tolono Unity
Episode: 11/21/25 Hour 1: Joey Wagner from Illini Inquirer talks Illini vs Wisconsin, Barry Lunney's future, Bears vs Packers, and more; Lucas Morillo signs with Illini Hoops
Mike Brad
Longtime play-by-play man for EIU football
Eastern Illinois University
Episode: 11/21/25 Hour 1: Joey Wagner from Illini Inquirer talks Illini vs Wisconsin, Barry Lunney's future, Bears vs Packers, and more; Lucas Morillo signs with Illini Hoops
Mark Stewart
Covers Wisconsin Badgers football
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Episode: 11/20/25 Hour 1: Our reactions to the Illini's loss to Alabama; Ravi Lulla talks Big Ten Football; Mark Stewart of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel talks Illini vs Badgers Football
Alex Martin
Sports writer covering Florida Gulf Coast
News Press, Naples Daily News
Episode: 11/07/25 Hour 1: Illini Men's Basketball vs FGC Tonight; Alex Martin talks tonight's game; Kurtis' Curveballs
Daniel Thompson
Basketball analyst and contributor
Basketball Society
Episode: 11/05/25 Hour 2: Tristan Thomas talks IHSA Playoffs; Daniel Thompson talks Bulls & Illini hoops; Our Roadside Snack Draft Results
Zack Pearson
Covers the Bears for BearReport.
BearReport, part of 247Sports
Episode: 11/04/25 Hour 2: Zack Pearson from BearReport joins us to talks the Bears so far; Cardinals & Cubs Gold Gloves; Roadside Snacks Draft

Hosts

Curtis Allen
Host on ESPN 93.5 with extensive experience discussing sports analysis and engaging with audiences over various sports topics.
Evan Stone
Co-Host on The Drive, known for insightful sports commentary and engaging discussions on local and professional sports.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 178 ratings
  • Chiefs

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

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bullsfan1991
    United Statesa year 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 States2 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 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 clue that keeps this show going for so many years…..Hopefully for many more years to come!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Illini 29
    United States3 years ago
  • No thanks

    Derek is solid. The Tay guy is a gargling mumble jumble hack who likes to hear himself talk while saying nothing insightful or intelligent. Hard pass.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Treerollins
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

A portion of listeners feels critical of certain hosts, pointing out moments they find less engaging or insightful.
The chemistry between the hosts is often highlighted as a strong point of the show, enhancing the listening experience.
Some audience members express loyalty to the program over the years, noting it as a staple in their daily routines.
Listeners appreciate the engaging discussions and insights into local sports, particularly the high-quality commentary on the Illinois teams.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#145
United States/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#170
Hong Kong/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#173
Austria/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#231
Mexico/Sports/Basketball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

11/25/25 Hour 1: Illini vs UTRGV Recap; Underwood calls Illinois' performance "Doo Doo"; The Great Kyle Tausk from Illini Inquirer; Kurtis' Curveballs
Q: What do you think about UConn taking advantage of the Illini's struggles?
Tausk highlighted UConn's potential to exploit Illinois' defensive weaknesses, particularly with their intricate offensive sets.
11/25/25 Hour 1: Illini vs UTRGV Recap; Underwood calls Illinois' performance "Doo Doo"; The Great Kyle Tausk from Illini Inquirer; Kurtis' Curveballs
Q: What did you make of last night's game?
Kyle Tausk described it as a low-energy game with a lack of focus from the Illinois players, despite securing a win.
11/18/25 Hour 1: Barry Lunney's future; Illini men's basketball injury report update & game preview; A LOUD Field Trip Day for Illini Women's Basketball; Why Don't Teams Practice at State Farm Center
Q: What are your thoughts on Barry Lunney's future with the Illini?
Barry Lunney will have plenty of head coaching opportunities if he wants to pursue them, but the right opportunity is crucial.
11/21/25 Hour 1: Joey Wagner from Illini Inquirer talks Illini vs Wisconsin, Barry Lunney's future, Bears vs Packers, and more; Lucas Morillo signs with Illini Hoops
Q: Are we going to see more red shirt candidates get on the field?
Things are set for now, with no injuries pushing them to utilize more freshmen.
11/21/25 Hour 1: Joey Wagner from Illini Inquirer talks Illini vs Wisconsin, Barry Lunney's future, Bears vs Packers, and more; Lucas Morillo signs with Illini Hoops
Q: What's Joey Wagner's take on Barry Lunney's future?
He believes Lunney's name will come up for head coaching interviews, depending on what he wants for his career.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

Featuring a dynamic combination of sports discourse and insightful commentary, this podcast focuses on various aspects of American football and basketball, with a pronounced emphasis on local teams in the Champaign-Urbana area. The hosts engage in lively discussions about game previews, player performances, and the evolving fan experiences at major events, particularly relating to the University of Illinois. Unique perspectives are offered by a variety of guests, encompassing expert analysts and sports commentators, which enriches the conversation around both professional and college sports.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Drive on ESPN 93.5?

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How many listeners does The Drive on ESPN 93.5 get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Drive on ESPN 93.5?

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How many subscribers and views does The Drive on ESPN 93.5 have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Drive on ESPN 93.5 has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini Fan Podcast
3. I on the Illini
4. Inside Illini Basketball
5. We Love No Other

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

The Drive on ESPN 93.5 launched 6 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for 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. Chris Kwiezinski
2. Tony Reetz
3. Mike Bradd
4. Tony Reitz
5. Mike Brad
6. Mark Stewart
7. Alex Martin
8. Daniel Thompson

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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