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

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes177Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
FootballSportsBasketball

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Drive on ESPN 93.5

Latest Episodes

Did the Bears exercise some demons against the Commanders last night? It was a stunning victory, followed by a fired up Ben Johnson.

Illini basketball is back! Who is the player Brad Underwood "wouldn't want to fight?" Kurtis runs through the early ... more

The Bears are coming off a bye week to play a Monday Night game against the Commanders. Find out why the bye week has been bad for the Bears and if Ben Johnson can turn things around.

The NCAA preseason Top 25 basketball rankings are out. The Illini... more

It's The J Leman Hour on the Drive and the man is PUMPED today! We get J's thoughts on the Illini's performance against Ohio State.

Plus, J's son joins us with the inside scoop on how he got ON STAGE at Big Noon Kickoff.

And is it time for the Illi... more

We talk more scheme and how Illinois can beat Ohio State.

Plus Kurtis' Curveballs, Etched in Stone, Big Ten Plus 2, and our Friday toasts!

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

Ravi Lulla
Sports analyst from Hurdat Sports
Hurdat Sports
Episode: 10/10/25 Hour 1: Illini defensive matchups with Ohio State; Ravi Lulla talks Big Ten Football; Cubs force Game 5 vs Brewers
Theresa Grentz
Hall of Fame inductee in women's basketball with a storied coaching career.
Illinois Hall of Fame
Episode: 10/09/25 Hour 1: Illini Hall of Fame Inductee Theresa Grentz joins The Drive!
Katie Hultin
Head coach of Illini Women's Soccer
University of Illinois
Episode: 10/08/25 Hour 2: Illini Soccer's Head Coach Katie Hultin; Cubs vs Brewers Game 3; News on Illini Hall of Fame Inductees Kiwanee Garris & Theresa Grentz
Scott Spiezio
Illini Hall of Fame inductee and former MLB player
St. Louis Cardinals
Episode: 10/07/25 Hour 2: Illini Hall of Fame inductee and Cardinals great Scott Spiezio joins the show
Scott Spezio
Illini Hall of Fame inductee and notable baseball player
Episode: 10/07/25 Hour 1: Illini meet with press ahead of OSU game; Cubs down 2-0 to Brewers; Kurtis' Curveballs
Evan Stone
Sports commentator and co-host
Episode: 10/06/25 Hour 1: The J Leman Hour! We talk Illini's win over Purdue, OSU coming to town, Big Noon Kickoff, and more
Kevin Mitchell
Former Illini player and captain of the 2008 Rose Bowl team
University of Illinois
Episode: 09/25/25 The Drive Live From Pia's in Champaign!
Robert Rosenthal
Publisher of aligniboard.com
Episode: 09/24/25 Hour 2: Robert Rosenthal in-studio; Tristan Thomas w/ a Friday Football Fever Preview; Your Texts
Bart Miller
Offensive line coach for the Illinois Fighting Illini
University of Illinois
Episode: 09/23/25 Hour 1: Illini OL Coach Bart Miller addresses media; Dan Wetzel's article; Cubs concerns?

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 States10 months 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
#151
United States/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#138
Hong Kong/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#146
Austria/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#162
Mexico/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#243
Japan/Sports/Basketball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

10/10/25 Hour 1: Illini defensive matchups with Ohio State; Ravi Lulla talks Big Ten Football; Cubs force Game 5 vs Brewers
Q: What do you think this weekend is going to look like in the Illinois vs Ohio State game?
Ravi believes that Illinois will keep the game close and is not surprised by Ohio State's higher betting line.
10/02/25 Hour 1: Bret Bielema Press Conference Ahead of Purdue; Cubs vs Padres Game 3; Kurtis' Curveballs
Q: How do you feel about you, Darvish coming back to face the Cubs?
As a sports fan, you never feel great about the former guy coming up against you in a big moment.
10/01/25 Hour 1: Illini vs Purdue w/ Jimmy Sobeski; Cubs & MLB Playoffs; Barry Lunney's next coaching job
Q: Do you think Barry Lunney will remain at Illinois for next season?
I doubt it; he has too much potential to take on head coaching positions elsewhere.
10/01/25 Hour 1: Illini vs Purdue w/ Jimmy Sobeski; Cubs & MLB Playoffs; Barry Lunney's next coaching job
Q: What do you think about the Illinois-Purdue football rivalry?
It's tough, especially with Illinois being seen as a Kryptonite for Purdue, but the confidence levels are higher this year for Purdue.
10/03/25 Hour 1: Kyle Tausk talks Brad Underwood's presser & Illini hoops; Preview Cubs vs Brewers Game 1; Kurtis' Curveballs
Q: What are you looking forward to seeing in the upcoming basketball season?
Kyle Tausk mentions he's excited about the changes in player physicality and overall team dynamics as they prepare for the season.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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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?

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?

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 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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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.

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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. Ravi Lulla
2. Theresa Grentz
3. Katie Hultin
4. Scott Spiezio
5. Scott Spezio
6. Evan Stone
7. Kevin Mitchell
8. Robert Rosenthal

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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