The Drive with Lon Tay & Derek Piper

8/28/24 Hour 2: College Gameday Live from Pia's!

Lon and Derek are live at Pia's Sports Bar and Grill in Champaign previewing the Illini's season-opener against Eastern Illinois. The guys break down what EIU has on offense and defense and their confidence level in Barry Lunney's offense. Later, Hans Dee stops by for his award-winning segment "Who Ya Got?"

8/28/24 Hour 1: College Gameday Live from Pia's!

Lon and Derek are live at Pia's Sports Bar and Grill in Champaign previewing the Illini's season-opener against Eastern Illinois. The guys are joined by special guests J Leman and wrestlers from AEW's Dynamite.

8/27/24 Hour 2: What we're expecting for Illini offense & defense; Bielema shares final thoughts before season-opener

Lon and Derek discuss their expectations for both the offense and defense for Illinois and hear from both coordinators. Later, hear from Bret Bielema as he shares his final thoughts ahead of the season opener.

8/27/24 Hour 1: Would you trade a decade of MLB irrelevance for a Super Bowl?; Luke Altmyer talks offseason & Week 1

Lon, Derek and Kyle discuss a hypothetical of whether or not they'd trade a decade of irrelevance for their favorite MLB teams for a Super Bowl for their favorite NFL teams. Later, hear from Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer as he shares his thoughts on his offseason progress and preparing for Week 1.

8/26/24 Hour 2: How crucial is this season for Bret Bielema's Illinois tenure?; Game-by-game Illini football predictions

Lon and Derek discuss how they'd assess this point in Bret Bielema's Illini tenure and how crucial this upcoming season is for him. Later, the guys give their official game-by-game football season predictions for the Illini.

8/26/24 Hour 1: J LEMAN HOUR: It's Game Week!; What to watch for against Eastern Illinois

J Leman joins Lon and Derek in studio for his weekly hour to preview the Illini's season opener against Eastern Illinois including which guys he's most excited to see for the first time and what the first game of the season is like for a player.

8/23/24 Hour 2: Illini football position grades (Part 2); Bielema talks start of game week

Lon, Derek, and Kyle continue grading each Illini football position group. Later, hear from head coach Bret Bielema as he kicks off the start of game week against Eastern Illinois.

8/23/24 Hour 1: Lon and Derek share some life updates; Illini football position grades (Part 1)

Lon and Derek share some exciting life updates involving their sons from their off day on Thursday. Later, the guys grade some of Illini football's position groups.

8/21/24 Hour 2: Does this Illini hoops team have the highest ceiling during Underwood's tenure?

Brad Underwood told reporters that this Illini basketball team might have the highest ceiling of any that he's coached. Lon and Derek discuss whether they agree with him or not.

8/21/24 Hour 1: How will Underwood blend all of this talent?; Underwood talks summer workouts & noncon schedule

Lon and Derek begin the show talking Illini basketball and what will be key for Brad Underwood to get the most out of this team as they move towards the fall. Later, hear from Underwood, who spoke to the media at the Lou Henson Rebounders Golf Outing.

8/20/24 Hour 2: Illini hoops releases noncon schedule; What would a national title do for Illinois fans?

Lon and Derek break down the Illini basketball nonconference schedule, which was released on Tuesday. Later, Lon poses the question of what would be the impact on fans if Illinois would have won a national title in 2005.

8/20/24 Hour 1: MLB division races heating up (some); Lon's dissappointed in society

Lon and Derek start the show talking some baseball, including some exciting division races and some not-so-exciting ones. Later, Lon tells you why he's losing faith in society.

8/19/24 Hour 2: Can't contain the Caleb Williams buzz; What changes for Altmyer in Year 2 as starter?

Lon and Derek discuss what experience will mean for Luke Altmyer in his second year as the starter at Illinois. Later, Derek gushes over Caleb Williams and what his rookie season could look like with the Bears.

8/19/24 Hour 1: J Leman Hour! Expectations for Illini football this season; J's linebacker seminar

J Leman joins the guys for his first in-studio appearance of this season. The guys pick J's brain on his expectations for Bret Bielema's team this year on both sides of the ball. J also gives a deep dive on what linebackers are seeing on a given play.

8/16/24 Hour 2: Anything to read into Altmyer not being a captain?

Lon and Derek discuss what to take away from Luke Altmyer not being one of Illini football's six captains. How did that shake out for other former Illinois QBs?

8/16/24 Hour 1: Level of faith in Bret Bielema heading into Year 4; How will Lon & Derek screw up their fantasy drafts?

Lon and Derek discuss their level of faith in Bret Bielema going into the 2024 season. The guys also have fantasy football drafts this weekend. How will they screw it up?

8/15/24 Hour 2: Bright spots & causes for concerns within Aaron Henry's defense

Derek and guest co-host Joey Wagner focus on the Illini defense and discuss reasons for a step forward this year but also causes for concern. Later, hear from Bret Bielema as he spoke to the media at training camp on Thursday.

8/15/24 Hour 1: Joey Wagner in-studio talking Illini football training camp storylines

Derek and guest co-host Joey Wagner discuss storylines from Illini football training camp.

8/14/24 Hour 2: How big is the Illinois-Kansas game in Week 2?

Lon and Derek discuss what they believe to be a pivotal Week 2 game for Illinois against a ranked Kansas squad. Can the Illini pull off a sellout for that one?

8/14/24 Hour 1: Time for big changes within the Cardinals organization?

Lon and Derek discuss the boiling frustrations around the St. Louis Cardinals fan base and whether there should be a major teardown following this season.