The Drive on ESPN 93.5

The Illinois vs. UAB season opener gets an inside look from the other side as UAB play-by-play broadcaster David Crane joins The Drive to preview the Blazers, their strengths and weaknesses, and what Illinois fans should expect Thursday night at Gies Memorial Stadium. The Illini and Blazers kick off Thursday at 8 p.m. CT.

Then it's time for the Tuesday Draft, and this week's topic is one every football fan can debate: the best foods at Gies Memorial Stadium!

Illinois has expanded its concessions lineup for 2026, adding options including Burrito King, Chick-fil-A, Jersey Mike's, Crumbl Cookies and Dippin' Dots, while bringing back favorites such as Smith Burger, Big Grove Tavern and Papa John's.

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Illinois football is officially in game week, and Dave Wischnowsky joins The Drive to preview Thursday night's season opener against UAB. The Illini begin the 2026 season Thursday at 8 p.m. CT at Gies Memorial Stadium, with new quarterback Katin Houser and defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck's revamped defense among the biggest storylines.

Plus, it's time for another edition of the Random Illini Players of the Day, highlighting some memorable names from Illinois football history.

And the Chicago Cubs absolutely exploded against the Milwaukee Brewers, winning 17-3 while setting a franchise record with nine home runs. Alex Bregman led the way with three homers as the Cubs opened September with one of their most dominant offensive performances of the season.

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Hour 2 of The Drive covers plenty of Illini, MLB and NFL news, starting with the Random Illini Player of the Day.

The guys discuss former Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer’s NFL future after the Detroit Lions waived him as part of their roster cuts. Altmyer lost the backup quarterback battle to veteran Josh Dobbs, but his next opportunity could come quickly. After clearing waivers, Altmyer is eligible to sign with Detroit’s practice squad or another team.

Then it's a look at the Cubs and Cardinals after a frustrating weekend, including what's gone wrong for both teams and whether either club can turn things around as the MLB regular season enters its final stretch.

The hour wraps up with a Chicago Bears roster breakdown following NFL cutdown day. The Bears have finalized their initial 53-man roster, setting the stage for a new season with Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson leading the way. The guys examine the roster, position groups, surprises from cutdown day, and the biggest questions facing the Bears heading into the regular season.

Plus: Who gets today's Random Illini Player of the Day?

The All-American is back! J Leman returns to The Drive to break down the 2026 Illinois Fighting Illini football team ahead of Thursday night's season opener against UAB.

Leman takes an in-depth look at the Illini offense and defense, including the biggest strengths, concerns, position battles, and players he's watching closely as Illinois enters a season with plenty of new faces and new pieces.

On offense, the conversation includes Katin Houser taking over at quarterback, the revamped offensive line, the running game, and the challenges facing an Illinois receiving corps dealing with injuries. On defense, Leman breaks down Bobby Hauck's new 3-3-5 scheme, the rebuilt defensive front, linebacker play, and what the Illini need to do to get off to a strong start.

Plus, J gives his thoughts on Thursday's matchup with UAB, what Illinois needs to accomplish in Game 1, and what would make for a successful opening night.

It's the return of J Leman — and the 2026 Illini football season is finally here!

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Hour 2 of The Drive kicks off the college football season with plenty to discuss.

• Etched In Stone returns for Week 0, as we get back into the weekly tradition of making our bold college football picks and predictions. The 2026 FBS Week 0 slate features eight games on Saturday, August 29.
• We break down the new rules coming to college football, including changes to the targeting penalty and the adoption of the NFL-style fair-catch kick.
• It's time for a Cardinals vs. Pirates preview as St. Louis begins a crucial weekend series against Pittsburgh. The Cardinals enter the series at 67-68, just two games ahead of the Pirates, with Quinn Mathews scheduled to face Jared Jones on Friday night.
• And, of course, we wrap up the week with Friday Toasts!

Listen to Hour 2 of The Drive for college football, Cardinals baseball and the usual Friday fun!

Hour 1 of The Drive gets you ready for another big football weekend in Central Illinois.

• Carson Gourdie joins the show to break down Bret Bielema's latest press conference ahead of Illinois' season opener against UAB and discuss what we're learning about the 2026 Fighting Illini.
• Carson also previews Week 2 of the high school football season, including the biggest storylines and matchups to watch around Central Illinois.
• Illini wrestling great Zac Braunagel calls in to talk about RAF Wrestling's trip to Moscow, his co-main event on the card, and more.
• Plus, it's time for another Random Illini Player of the Day, featuring another memorable name from Illinois football history.

Listen to the full first hour of The Drive for Illini football, Central Illinois high school football, wrestling and plenty more.

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.

The show then shifts to the Chicago Bears, including the latest injury updates heading into the regular season. Plus, the Bears have unveiled their new 2026 Rivalries uniforms, which they will wear on Christmas Day against the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field. The uniforms draw inspiration from several eras of Bears history, including the Monsters of the Midway look.

Finally, it's time to crown the winner of Tuesday's Draft: Biggest Sports Scandals. The guys revisit the entries and determine which scandal takes the top spot.

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 the program, the university, and the Champaign-Urbana community.

With Illinois football entering a highly anticipated 2026 season, the conversation also looks at the growing connection between Illinois Athletics and major corporate partners. Caterpillar already has a significant relationship with the University of Illinois, including connections through research, engineering and student opportunities.

Glenn also provides his perspective on the current state of Illini football as the season opener against UAB approaches September 3 at Gies Memorial Stadium. Illinois enters the season with season tickets sold out for a second consecutive year and expectations for another huge home crowd.

Plus, it wouldn't be an episode of The Drive without Random Illini Players of the Day, highlighting another memorable name from Illinois sports history.

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 wrestler, and Danny has used his own wrestling platform to help raise awareness and funds for cancer research through Pin Cancer.

The guys also break down the latest injury news surrounding Illinois wide receiver Jayshon Platt. Head coach Bret Bielema said Platt's injury initially had an unknown timeline, but the team has received encouraging news. Bielema couldn't rule out a Week 1 absence, saying Platt could potentially return anywhere from Week 1 to Week 3 or Week 4.

Plus, it's Tuesday Draft time! The guys put together their lists of the Biggest Sports Scandals of All Time, leading to plenty of debate over which controversies deserve a spot at the top.

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 from returning to compete at a Big Ten school. The decision comes amid the ongoing eligibility chaos surrounding players attempting to return to college football after brief NFL stints.

Illini great Fred Wakefield joins the show to look back on his Illinois career and his unique eight-year NFL journey. Wakefield played for the Cardinals from 2001-06 before joining the Raiders in 2008, and his career included playing on both sides of the football. Plus, what happened when Fred and Evan Stone played basketball against each other?

Plus, it's time for another round of Random Illini Players of the Day, highlighting some of the lesser-known and forgotten names from Illinois football history.

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The St. Louis Cardinals suffered one of the most painful losses of the season Sunday, blowing a 4-0 lead in the ninth inning before Kyle Schwarber's two-run walk-off homer gave Philadelphia a 6-4 victory. The loss capped a disappointing 5-6 road trip and dropped the Cardinals to 66-66.

So, is the NL Wild Card still realistically in play? Absolutely—but the margin for error is getting smaller. The Cardinals entered the weekend only 3½ games behind the final Wild Card spot, but they're now sitting at .500 while teams such as Arizona, San Diego and Philadelphia remain ahead of them in the race. Arizona's win over Cincinnati kept the Diamondbacks firmly in the mix at 69-62.

The bigger concern may be whether St. Louis can survive its pitching situation. Andre Pallante is on the injured list with elbow inflammation, while Hunter Dobbins is also dealing with a forearm issue. The Cardinals will need their pitching depth—and their offense—to hold up over the final weeks.

Then it's time for our 2026 NFL Divisional Winners Predictions. We go division by division and make our picks—not necessarily just taking the betting favorite. The current market has Buffalo favored in the AFC East, Baltimore in the AFC North, Houston in the AFC South and Kansas City among the AFC West favorites, while Philadelphia is favored in the NFC East and the NFC West remains particularly interesting after the Rams' offseason addition of Myles Garrett.

The fun debate: Which division winner are we most confident in, and which favorite is most likely to get knocked off? The 2026 NFL futures market shows just how tight some of these races could be.

Illinois football is only 10 days away from opening the 2026 season against UAB, and there are some major changes coming to the gameday experience at Gies Memorial Stadium. Illinois Athletics is implementing a new lot-specific traffic-routing system beginning approximately 3½ hours before kickoff. Fans will have designated routes based on their parking lots, with the goal of reducing congestion and getting fans into the stadium more efficiently.

We also take a look at the new additions inside Gies Memorial Stadium, including the massive new video board, upgraded audio system, stadium-wide Wi-Fi, new LED lighting, enhanced concessions and new in-game hosts. The 17,000-plus-square-foot video board will be unveiled when Illinois hosts UAB on September 3.

The Illini soccer team remains unbeaten after playing UIC to a 0-0 draw Sunday night at Demirjian Park. Illinois is now 1-0-2 on the season after also drawing No. 19 Georgia and defeating Cincinnati. The defense has been excellent, but the question becomes whether the Illini can generate enough offense as the schedule gets tougher.

Then it's time to ask the question Bears fans are probably debating after Saturday night's 27-9 loss to Cincinnati: should anyone actually be panicking? The Bears' first-team offense struggled, Caleb Williams went just 2-for-5, the team committed 11 penalties for 81 yards, and Chicago failed to score a touchdown. That's certainly not what fans wanted to see—but it's still the preseason, and there are legitimate reasons to pump the brakes before declaring the season doomed.

Finally, we unveil another Random Illini Football Player of the Day, digging into an Illini name that deserves a little more attention as the countdown to the 2026 season continues.

Carson Gourdie from ABC20 joins The Drive to preview opening night of high school football across Central Illinois, including the teams, storylines, players and matchups worth watching as the 2026 season gets underway.

Carson also breaks down the latest bombshell in the NCAA's eligibility battle. The U.S. Tenth Circuit granted the NCAA's request to stay the nationwide injunction in Wisne v. NCAA, putting the potential fifth season for qualifying Class of 2022 athletes on hold while the appeal continues.

The ruling is particularly complicated for college football players because the decision comes just days before the season begins. While the nationwide protection has been stayed, athletes who obtained separate state-court restraining orders may still have eligibility protection. That creates a confusing patchwork where some players can potentially play while similarly situated players cannot.

Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer joins The Drive to break down Illinois basketball's non-conference schedule, including the biggest challenges on the slate, which games should matter most for the Illini's NCAA Tournament résumé, and what the schedule tells us about Brad Underwood's program.

The conversation also turns to Illinois' recruiting pipeline in Chicago — how important the city remains to the Illini, the talent Illinois is targeting, and whether the program can continue strengthening its presence in one of the state's most important basketball recruiting markets.

Plus, a major development in the NCAA's ongoing eligibility battle: the U.S. Tenth Circuit granted the NCAA's request to stay the nationwide injunction in Wisne v. NCAA. The ruling temporarily puts the fifth-season opportunity for qualifying Class of 2022 athletes on hold while the appeal continues.

Brian Teague from Chicago State of Mind Sports joins The Drive for a packed second hour covering Illinois football and the Chicago Bears.

Teague breaks down why Jake Renfro and Xavier Scott could be critical pieces for the Illini in 2026, and what their health and production could mean for Illinois' hopes this season.

The conversation then shifts to the Bears, including Ben Johnson's intense approach at training camp and whether that physical, demanding style is exactly what Chicago needs to take the next step. The Bears have already had some heated practices, while Johnson continues to emphasize competition and preparation.

And with the Bears heading to Cincinnati for a joint practice and Saturday night's preseason matchup, there's extra intrigue surrounding Bears-Bengals after Joe Burrow made it clear that Cincinnati believes this is a Super Bowl-or-bust type of season. Burrow has compared the 2026 Bengals to his 2019 LSU championship team and says the team expects to compete for the Super Bowl.

Topics include:

• Jake Renfro's importance to Illinois football
• Xavier Scott's role and impact on the Illini defense
• Illinois' 2026 football expectations
• Ben Johnson's intensity at Bears training camp
• What Chicago is trying to establish under Johnson
• Caleb Williams and the Bears offense
• Bears-Bengals joint practices
• Joe Burrow's Super Bowl expectations
• Why Saturday's preseason game feels more interesting than a typical August matchup
• What to watch for when the Bears face Cincinnati

The Bears and Bengals meet Saturday, August 22 at 6 p.m. CT in Cincinnati.

Illinois basketball legend Deon Thomas joins The Drive for a wide-ranging conversation about his legendary Illini career, his transition from player to Illinois Athletics Director of Major Gifts, and his continued role as a voice of Illini basketball.

Thomas reflects on his career at Illinois, where he remains the program's all-time leading scorer with 2,129 points, before discussing his work helping grow the Fighting Illini donor network and support current and future student-athletes.

He also looks back at the evolution of Illinois basketball from 2020 through 2026, including Brad Underwood's transformation of the program, the recent Final Four run, and what makes the current era so exciting for Illini fans.

Plus, Thomas reveals his Starting Five of Illinois players from 2020-2026 and explains why he selected each player.

Topics include:

• Deon Thomas' legendary Illinois basketball career
• His 2,129 career points and place in Illini history
• His role as Director of Major Gifts for Illinois Athletics
• What it's like working with Illini donors and alumni
• His perspective on Brad Underwood's program
• Illinois' 2026 Final Four run
• His favorite Illini memories
• Deon Thomas' Starting Five from 2020-2026
• The future of Illinois basketball
• Much more from one of the greatest players in Fighting Illini history

Thomas joined the Illinois Athletics development team in 2019 and continues to serve as a radio analyst for Fighting Illini basketball.

The Drive's second hour dives into a busy night of Chicago and St. Louis baseball before turning to some of the strangest quirks in the 2026 Illinois and Big Ten football schedules.

The Cardinals enter Wednesday's matchup with Cincinnati having taken two of the first three games of the series. Matthew Liberatore gets the start for St. Louis against Reds rookie Chase Burns, who has emerged as one of Cincinnati's most impressive young pitchers.

Meanwhile, the White Sox salvaged their series against the Cubs with a 3-0 shutout at Wrigley Field. Jose Urquidy delivered six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, while Chicago's offense couldn't generate a run.

The hour also takes a closer look at the unusual quirks and anomalies hiding in the Illinois Fighting Illini and Big Ten football schedules. Which matchups stand out? What scheduling oddities could impact the season? And are there any patterns that could help—or hurt—the Illini?

Sunny Verma of Locked On Illini joins The Drive to break down the latest surrounding Illinois athletics. Verma discusses why Illinois wide receiver Jayshon Platt could be a special player for the Illini, the importance of special teams, and what role Platt could play as both a receiver and return specialist. Platt is coming off a 2025 season at Florida Atlantic in which he recorded 46 receptions for 720 yards and five touchdowns while also providing a major boost in the return game.

The conversation also turns to Illinois basketball and the expected role of Providence transfer Stefan Vaaks. The 6-foot-7 guard averaged 15.8 points and 3.2 assists per game last season and is expected to be one of Illinois' primary playmakers.

Plus, Evan's Random Illini Players of the Day!

Pete Crow-Armstrong put together one of the most memorable nights in Cubs history, becoming just the sixth player in MLB history to hit both a leadoff homer and a walk-off homer in the same game. PCA went 4-for-5 with two home runs in the Cubs' 7-5, 10-inning win over the White Sox, while his second homer gave him 30 home runs and secured his second straight 30-30 season.

The Cardinals and Reds split Monday's doubleheader, with St. Louis taking Game 1 before Cincinnati rallied for a walk-off win in Game 2. The focus turns to the series finale Tuesday, including the latest on Joshua Báez after his historic three-homer MLB debut. Báez went 0-for-9 in Monday's doubleheader, but his incredible start has Cardinals fans wondering if they've found another major piece for the future.

Then it's time for another Illini Football positional breakdown, with the spotlight on the offensive line. Illinois is working through a major overhaul up front, with new faces and limited continuity making the O-line one of the biggest questions heading into the 2026 season.

Doug Bucshon of On3’s Orange & Blue News joins The Drive to break down the latest Illinois football storylines as the Illini inch closer to the 2026 season. The conversation covers the team's injury situation, key position battles still being decided in training camp, and whether the revamped offensive line is starting to develop the chemistry it needs. Illinois is replacing four starters up front, making the O-line one of the biggest areas to watch heading into the season.

Plus, Kurtis and Evan bring back Random Illini Football Players of the Day, highlighting some names from Illinois football history that deserve another look.

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