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Artwork for The Drive on ESPN 93.5

The Drive on ESPN 93.5

ESPN 93.5
Illinois
Illinois Fighting Illini
Illinois Basketball
Chicago Bears
NCAA Tournament
Illinois Football
Basketball
St. Louis Cardinals
Big Ten Conference
World Cup
NFL Draft
Michigan
Bobby Hauck
UCLA
Big Ten
Cardinals
USC Basketball
Houston Cougars
Keaton Wagler
NFL Combine

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
FootballSportsBasketball

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Drive on ESPN 93.5

Latest Episodes

Hour 2 kicked off with Sunny Verma of Locked On Illini, who joined the show for an in-depth look at the Illinois football schedule and what it means for Bret Bielema's team entering the 2026 season. Verma highlighted the most challenging stretches on... more

Hour 1 featured a loaded conversation with Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer, who joined the show to discuss one of Illinois basketball's biggest recruiting targets, five-star prospect NaVorro Bowman Jr. Tausk explained what makes Bowman one of the natio... more

Chris Kwiecinski from FOX 32 Chicago joins The Drive to discuss which Chicago Bears rookies have made the biggest impression early in training camp, who could make an immediate impact this season, and how Caleb Williams is developing chemistry with h... more

Doug Bucshon of Orange & Blue News joins The Drive to discuss why Illinois Football could be poised for another successful season in 2026, highlighting the Illini's biggest strengths heading into training camp. He also shares his thoughts on Athletic... 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

Scott Spiezio
Former MLB player, Cardinals/Illini
Chicago area sports figure
Episode: 07/16/26 Hour 1: Scott Spiezio Talks Cardinals, New Book & Documentary; Brian Teague Breaks Down Illini in NBA Summer League, Bulls, and Caitlin Clark vs WNBA Officiating
Jeff Jones
Cardinals beat writer covering Cardinals for the Belleville News-Democrat
Belleville News-Democrat
Episode: 07/14/26 Hour 1: Jeff Jones from Belleville News Democrat Cardinals Midseason Check-In, Jordan Walker's Home Run Derby & Spain Reaches World Cup Final
Ravi Lula
Sports commentator introduced as a guest on Herdad Sports
Herad Sports
Episode: 07-01-26 Hour 2 More World cup talks, NBA offseason updates and Lebron, and NFL upcoming season
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
Anuk Karunaratne
President/Executive leader at Cardinals (Business Operations)
Cardinals
Episode: 06/24/26 Hour 1: Keaton Wagler Drafted No. 5 Overall by Clippers; Cardinals Announce Major Front Office Changes
Dirk Nowitzki
Hall of Fame basketball player, former Dirk Nowitzki video message recipient
Basketball, Dallas Mavericks
Episode: 06/23/26 Hour 2: Illinois Football Lands DB Tyrone Howard Jr., Brody Knowles Gets A Greeting From Dirk Nowitzki & Biggest NBA Draft Busts Ever
Christopher Hine
Timberwolves beat writer for Minneapolis Star Tribune
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Episode: 06/23/26 Hour 1: Chris Hine Breaks Down Ayo Dosunmu’s $112 Million Timberwolves Deal, NBA Draft Night for Keaton Wagler & Cardinals-Diamondbacks Game 2 Preview

Hosts

Kurtis Allen
Host of The Drive on ESPN 93.5
Evan Stone
Co-host of The Drive on ESPN 93.5

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 States6 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.

Some episodes show a polarizing take on teams like the Chiefs; fans either love the banter or dislike the bias.
Kurtis and his team introduce new voices and diversify the show's perspectives.
Listeners appreciate strong host chemistry and entertaining, insightful Illini-focused content.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#149
United States/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#126
India/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#128
Hong Kong/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#145
Spain/Sports/Basketball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

07/09/26 Hour 2: Kyle Tausk Talks Illinois Basketball Summer Workouts, Illini vs. UConn & Top Freshmen to Watch; Draft Day - Best Summer Blockbusters of All Time
Q: How important is the TV exposure in shaping Illinois' non-conference schedule?
Kyle and the hosts agree TV deals are a major driver in scheduling marquee neutral-site games and exposure, often prioritizing national stages over campus games.
07/09/26 Hour 2: Kyle Tausk Talks Illinois Basketball Summer Workouts, Illini vs. UConn & Top Freshmen to Watch; Draft Day - Best Summer Blockbusters of All Time
Q: Which network is going to carry this particular non-conference game?
Kyle indicates he isn't sure if the official network was announced, but notes it will be nationally televised and depends on who holds the rights; Fox, CBS and other affiliates are part of the landscape.
07/16/26 Hour 1:Illinois Headlines Josh Whitman Extension, Kylan Boswell's NBA Summer League Breakout & David Mirkovic's Wooden Award Buzz With Cooper O'Kelly
Q: What stood out in Kylan Boswell's Summer League performance?
Boswell's 11 points, four-for-seven shooting, and seven rebounds showed he can contribute off the bench and in multiple facets, indicating a promising rookie impact for the Illini in the summer circuit.
07/16/26 Hour 1:Illinois Headlines Josh Whitman Extension, Kylan Boswell's NBA Summer League Breakout & David Mirkovic's Wooden Award Buzz With Cooper O'Kelly
Q: What does the contract extension mean for the Illinois athletic program?
The extension signals confidence in Josh Whitman's leadership and suggests stability and long-term planning across multiple sports, aligning football, basketball, and other programs under a shared strategic direction.
07/10/26 Hour 1: Keaton Wagler's NBA Summer League Debut & Brian Ames Talks Illini ReBounders Golf Outing
Q: From college to the NBA, which sport presents the biggest jump and why do you think so?
The discussion suggests baseball has the steepest path due to the farm system, but also notes the NBA has a unique challenge with limited roster spots and immediate professional demands, making the jump a function of both the sport's structure and individual development.

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?

Two hosts deliver a fast-paced, locally flavored sports show focused on Illinois Fighting Illini basketball and football, plus Bears, Cardinals, Cubs, and wide Champaign-Urbana coverage. Episodes blend headlines, in-studio banter, guest expert analysis, and crowd-sourced fan interaction, with occasional light-hearted segments and an intern feature that adds fresh perspectives. Noteworthy are the frequent cross-sport discussions, deep dives with regional reporters and national writers, and a humor-forward style that keeps the conversation accessible to a broad Illinois sports audience. This mix likely appeals to listeners seeking timely team updates, insider takes, and entertaining banter tied to local sports culture.

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

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Drive on ESPN 93.5. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Drive on ESPN 93.5 and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

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. 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?

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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View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts 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. Scott Spiezio
2. Jeff Jones
3. Ravi Lula
4. Marcus Domask
5. Sonny Verma
6. Pierre Neuhain
7. Anuk Karunaratne
8. Dirk Nowitzki

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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