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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
NCAA Settlement
College Basketball
Indy 500
Illinois Fighting Illini
NIL (name, Image, Likeness)
Cubs
Arkansas
North Carolina
Revenue Sharing
Baseball
Illinois Baseball
NCAA Draft
NBA Draft
NCAA
NCAA Tournament
Football
Basketball

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes177Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsBasketballFootball

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Artwork for The Drive on ESPN 93.5

Latest Episodes

More highlights rolled in from Bobby Hauck’s press conference, where he mixed serious football talk with a few personality-filled moments.

We also dove into another edition of Etched in Stone, tossing around takes, predictions, and a little friendly... more

Bobby Hauck’s introductory press conference highlighted his vision for Illinois’ defense and the culture he wants to build moving forward. Cooper O’Kelly shared key updates and takeaways from the event, including early reactions from players and staf... more

Ravi Lulla of Hurrdat Sports joins the show to break down the remaining Big Ten basketball schedule and which teams have the clearest path to a conference title. We look at key matchups that could decide the race down the stretch.

The conversation a... more

Colleen Kane from the Chicago Tribune joins the show to break down Illinois’ tough 92–90 loss to Wisconsin. The narrow defeat had head coach Brad Underwood visibly frustrated as the Illini search for answers late in the season.

We discuss key moment... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Cooper O'Kelly
Intern at The Champagne Room, sports writer
The Champagne Room
Episode: 02/10/26 Hour 2: J Leman discusses new Illini Defensive Coordinator Barry Hauck's hire and scheme, Tuesday Draft - Best Illini Basketball Players Post-2000
Kyle Tausk
Sports analyst from Illini Inquirer
Illini Inquirer
Episode: 02/10/26 Hour 1: Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer previews Illinois vs Wisconsin, Bobby Hauck's 3-3-5 Defense, What are some Olympic athletes injecting into themselves?
Brad Sturdy
Illini expert and analyst from Illini Guys
Illini Guys
Episode: 02/09/26 Hour 1: Brad Sturdy of Illini Guys talks Illinois' loss vs MSU & upcoming game with Wisconsin; Devon Witherspoon shows out at the Super Bowl
Chris Solari
Reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering Michigan State sports
Detroit Free Press
Episode: 02/06/26 Hour 2: Carson Gourdie of WICS-TV and Chris Solari from the Detroit Free Press talk Illini vs Spartans, Super Bowl prop bets, Friday Toasts
Doug Bucshon
Publisher of Orange and Blue News
Illinois Rivals, part of On3 network
Episode: 02/06/26 Hour 1: Doug Bucshon of Orange and Blue News discusses Illinois vs Michigan State, Illini Football coaching changes
Roman Tomashoff
Covers Washington Huskies Athletics for Huskie Wire
Huskie Wire
Episode: 01/28//26 Hour 2: Illini basketball vs WU Huskies with Roman Tomashoff, Illini football schedule part 2, Etched in Stone, Tuesday Draft Results
Sarah Warren
Olympic speed skater and U of I alum.
U of I
Episode: 01/28/26 Hour 1: Illini updates from the Senior Bowl with Brian Teague, US Olympian & U of I grad Sarah Warren, Illini Football Schedule
Brian Teague
Editor for Chicago State of Mind Sports, reporting from the Senior Bowl.
Chicago State of Mind Sports
Episode: 01/28/26 Hour 1: Illini updates from the Senior Bowl with Brian Teague, US Olympian & U of I grad Sarah Warren, Illini Football Schedule
Zane Richards
Two-time All-American and Illinois wrestling legend
University of Illinois
Episode: 01/22/26 Hour 2: Illini wrestling legend Zane Richards, Etched in Stone, What should the Bears do with their 1st Draft Pick?

Hosts

Curtis Allen
Host and sports commentator, providing engaging discussions about college sports, particularly focusing on the Fighting Illini.
Evan Stone
Co-host and sports analyst, known for his insights into college basketball and engaging with various guests.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 185 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 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
  • 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.

Many listeners feel a strong connection to the hosts and their discussions, especially concerning their support for the Fighting Illini.
The chemistry between hosts creates a lively atmosphere that resonates well with fans of local sports.
Listeners enjoy the engaging and humorous exchanges between the hosts, appreciating their insights into Illinois sports.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

02/10/26 Hour 1: Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer previews Illinois vs Wisconsin, Bobby Hauck's 3-3-5 Defense, What are some Olympic athletes injecting into themselves?
Q: Do you think Illinois has the edge in the game tonight?
Wisconsin can be dangerous, but Illinois will likely edge out a win, albeit not by a huge margin due to missing key players.
02/10/26 Hour 1: Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer previews Illinois vs Wisconsin, Bobby Hauck's 3-3-5 Defense, What are some Olympic athletes injecting into themselves?
Q: How does this translate to good offensive efficiency numbers?
The coaching staff likely has an internal evaluation system to track offensive efficiency metrics, focusing more on shot quality than the final score.
02/11/26 Hour 1: Colleen Kane from the Chicago Tribune discusses Illinois' 92-90 loss to Wisconsin
Q: What was the biggest factor in last night's loss?
All factors combined: free throw shooting, turnovers, and fatigue from using just six players contributed to the loss.
02/12/26 Hour 1: Updates From Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference, Kaden Feagan moves from RB to TE, Carson Gourdie talks Illini basketball
Q: What does Indiana do well? Are there concerns?
Indiana is scoring 81 points per game and Illinois has struggled to guard opposing teams as their defense weakened in recent games.
02/06/26 Hour 2: Carson Gourdie of WICS-TV and Chris Solari from the Detroit Free Press talk Illini vs Spartans, Super Bowl prop bets, Friday Toasts
Q: How big of a loss is this for the Spartans?
Losing Divine Uga-chokwu is substantial as he was positioned to be Jeremy Fears' backup, leaving the team with inexperienced options.

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?

Content covers a wide array of topics related to college sports, particularly focusing on the Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball teams. The discussions include game previews and recaps, player injury updates, and insights into coaching strategies, with notable emphasis on recruitment processes. The hosts frequently engage with various sports journalists and analysts to provide expert opinions and entertaining commentary, creating a lively atmosphere that combines analysis with humor. Noteworthy is the podcast's strong listener engagement through discussions that not only analyze sports events but also incorporate personal anecdotes and broader sports culture, making it a relatable experience for fans.

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. 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 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. Cooper O'Kelly
2. Kyle Tausk
3. Brad Sturdy
4. Chris Solari
5. Doug Bucshon
6. Roman Tomashoff
7. Sarah Warren
8. Brian Teague

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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