
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.
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. 🎙️
Episodes

Monday Sep 15, 2025
Monday Sep 15, 2025
The great J Leman is in the studio for the first hour! We're discussing the Illini's dominant win over Western Michigan, and what to watch for against Indiana this weekend.
Plus, J's favorite sports movies. There's a bevy of them!

Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
Patrick Sojka is the Senior Associate Athletics Director for the Illini and is behind your Gameday Experience. We talk about what fans can expect for this weekend and beyond.
Plus, a chat about the best & worst sports movies and our Friday Toasts!

Friday Sep 12, 2025
Friday Sep 12, 2025
The #9th ranked Fighting Illini take on Western Michigan tomorrow night and we're hyped!
Plus, the Packers look like they're on another level after crushing the Commanders on Thursday Night Football.
And the great Bears play-by-play man Jeff Joniak calls the show!

Thursday Sep 11, 2025
09/11/25 Hour 2: Etched In Stone moneylines, Cards talk, and good news for the Bears
Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Etched in Stone is back! Evan has 5 picks for you, plus a bonus bet for our social media followers.
Also, some Cardinals chatter and good news for the Bears before they play Detroit!

Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Thursday Sep 11, 2025
Our guy Ravi Lulla from Hurrdat Sports calls in to talk B1G Ten Football. Ravi was one of the few analysts that had the Illini blowing out Duke last week. How does he feel things will go Saturday at Gies Memorial Stadium? Plus, we take a look at other games in the conference.
Also, Jared White from the Prairieland Counsil BSA is in-studio with details on Brad Underwood being recognized with the "Distinguished Citizen Award." Brad will be honored on Monday night at State Farm Center and you can be a part of it.

Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
09/10/25 Hour 2: Robert Rosenthal In-Studio to Talk Illini Football
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
IlliniBoard.com publisher Robert Rosenthal joins us in-studio to talk about Illini Football history, his favorite memories, and what he expects for the rest of this season. It's a great conversation with one of the ultimate Illini fans!

Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
We're a day removed from Larry Gies' $100 million donation. We chat more about fans' reactions. Also, Tristan Thomas from WCIA calls in with a preview of Friday Football Fever.

Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
It's a big news day for Fighting Illini Athletics after the largest monetary donation in school history. Gies Memorial Stadium is now the home for Illini Football. The reactions from fans have been all over the spectrum and the conversation is great.
Plus, is it "same ol Bears" after dropping the Ben Johnson debut on Monday Night Football? We dive in!

Tuesday Sep 09, 2025
Tuesday Sep 09, 2025
The conversation about what the Gies donation means for Illinois athletics continues. The text lines were lit up!
Also, we dive into the recent history of Illinois vs Western Michigan.
And have you ever purchased some bootlegged merch of your favorite team? It turns out Illinois is the #1 state for the fake stuff.

Monday Sep 08, 2025
Monday Sep 08, 2025
The Bears take on the Vikings in Monday Night Football, but before kickoff Kevin Warren dropped a bomb.
The Bears President of Football Operations says the team is officially moving to Arlington Heights. It's The Drive!

Monday Sep 08, 2025
09-08-25 Hour 1: The J Leman Hour and an Illini Victory Monday!
Monday Sep 08, 2025
Monday Sep 08, 2025
J Leman is in studio to discuss the Illini's big win over Duke, the upcoming Western Michigan game, Hyenas, Haircuts, and more!

Friday Sep 05, 2025
Friday Sep 05, 2025
Evan Stone and Kyle Tausk run through every NFL division and give their picks, including a few bold takes. The guys also preview the weekend ahead in college football.

Friday Sep 05, 2025
Friday Sep 05, 2025
Kyle Tausk stops back by the studio with Evan Stone to react to the first game of the NFL season between the Cowboys and Eagles and break down a huge game for Illinois against Duke.

Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
"The busiest man in all of media" and the PA guy for your favorite sports teams, Tim Sinclair, joins the show. It's a great conversation!
Plus, Evan has the bets you need "Etched in Stone!"

Thursday Sep 04, 2025
09-04-25 Hour 1: Evan Stone vs Bo Jackson, Ravi Lulla talks B1G TEN and Illini
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Thursday Sep 04, 2025
Why did Evan Stone's open tabs on his phone lead to a HEATED discussion about Bo Jackson? The text lines lit up for this one!
Plus, Ravi Lulla from HurrDat Sports calls in to chat about B1G TEN football and why he expects the Illini to beat Duke by double digits this weekend!

Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Evan made a few BOLD predictions before last week's Illini game. How did he do? Not to shabby.
Plus we're ready for the NFL season to officially kick off tomorrow night.

Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
Wednesday Sep 03, 2025
It's a full first hour on The Drive! Dave Harding is a former Duke Blue Devil team captain, O-Lineman, and current play-by-play man for the team. He joins us to talk about this weekend's Illinois vs Duke game.
Plus, WCIA 3's Tristan Thomas is in-studio to break down the local high school games happening this Friday night.

Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
09-02-25 Hour 2: Illini Women's Basketball Coach Shauna Green joins The Drive!
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Shauna Green joins the fellas to talk about the upcoming Ties & Tennies event with the Champaign Parks Foundation. Plus we chat about the upcoming Illini women's basketball season, Shauna's Halloween birthday, and more.

Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
09-02-25 Hour 1: The J Leman Hour, recapping the Illini's win
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
J Leman is back! We're discussing the Illini's big win on Friday night, plus a look ahead to Duke this weekend.

Friday Aug 29, 2025
08-29-25 Hour 2 - Illini Football is back tonight part 2!
Friday Aug 29, 2025
Friday Aug 29, 2025
The betting line has moved for tonight's game. The Illini are now favored at -48.5. We'll make our score predictions, gameday traditions, tailgating fun, our Friday toasts and Evan gets everyone HYPED!
