
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

Tuesday Apr 21, 2026
Tuesday Apr 21, 2026
Brian Teague from Chicago State of Mind Sports joins the show to break down the latest surrounding the Chicago Bears and preview the upcoming NFL Draft.
The hour also features a fun Tuesday Draft with listener Lindy, as the guys make their picks for the best Minor League Baseball team names.

Tuesday Apr 21, 2026
Tuesday Apr 21, 2026
Jeff Jones from the Belleville News-Democrat joins the show to break down the early-season success of the Cardinals and what’s fueling their strong start.
Dave Wishnowsky also stops by to discuss the latest developments in the Illini basketball offseason and what it means for the program moving forward. The hour wraps up with a look at the latest Illini headlines.

Monday Apr 20, 2026
Monday Apr 20, 2026
Hour 2 dives into how the National League Central has emerged as one of baseball’s most competitive divisions early in the season. The show also hits key headlines from the NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the upcoming NFL Draft.
Plus, listeners get a chance to win tickets to see Kylie Morgan live at The City Center in Champaign!

Monday Apr 20, 2026
Monday Apr 20, 2026
Quentin Coleman officially commits to the Illini and Brandon Lee has entered the Transfer Portal, sparking the question of whether the roster is now fully set heading into next season? The text line lights up.
Meanwhile, Evan "Stone Cold" steals the spotlight by dominating the show’s WrestleMania prediction contest with an impressive performance.

Friday Apr 17, 2026
Friday Apr 17, 2026
Sunny Verma from Locked On Illini joins the show to break down Andrej Stojakovic’s return and what to expect from Illinois’ incoming freshman class. The guys also have some fun with Evan “Stone Cold’s” WrestleMania predictions, plus another edition of Around the Bases. And as always, they wrap things up with Friday Toasts.

Friday Apr 17, 2026
Friday Apr 17, 2026
Big news for Illinois basketball as Andrej Stojakovic is officially back with the Illini, giving the roster a major boost heading into next season. Brad Sturdy joins the show to break down what Stojakovic’s return means, along with insight on newcomer Zavier Zens and how he fits into the program. Plus, more reaction and analysis on what this all means for Illinois moving forward.

Thursday Apr 16, 2026
Thursday Apr 16, 2026
Tristan Thomas joined the show to break down the returning Illini players and the impact they’ll have heading into next season. He also reflected on Ty Rodgers’ legacy, emphasizing his role as a true “culture guy” during his time at Illinois, while touching on Illini spring football storylines.
The hour rounded out with NFL Draft discussion, what is the best fit for Luke Altmyer in the NFL, and the latest “Etched in Stone” bets.

Thursday Apr 16, 2026
Thursday Apr 16, 2026
Big news for Illinois as the Ivisic twins and Jake Davis are officially returning, giving Brad Underwood a strong core heading into next season. The announcement came last night at Underwood’s “Kickin’ Cancer” event. The trio join a returning David Mirkovic, but what will Andrej Stojakovic do? How could John Blackwell fit into the equation?Â
Meanwhile, Ty Rodgers has entered the transfer portal, adding an interesting wrinkle to the Illini’s offseason outlook. We break it all down this hour.

Wednesday Apr 15, 2026
Wednesday Apr 15, 2026
Carson Gourdie joined the show to preview Brad Underwood’s “Coaches vs. Cancer” event, highlighting its importance to the community and the continued support from the Illinois basketball program. Gourdie also shared the latest football recruiting nuggets, offering insight into prospects and the direction of the Illini’s future roster.
The hour also features additional discussion on David Mirkovic’s return to Illinois and how his presence strengthens the team heading into the 2026 season.

Wednesday Apr 15, 2026
Wednesday Apr 15, 2026
llinois basketball got a major boost as David Mirkovic announced his return to Champaign, adding experience and stability to the Illini frontcourt for the 2026 season. Brian Teague of Chicago State of Mind Sports joined the show to discuss the impact of the news and how it strengthens Illinois’ outlook in the Big Ten.
The hour also featured Bill Koch of The Providence Journal, who broke down transfer Stefan Vaaks and what his skill set and Big East experience will bring to the Illini.

Tuesday Apr 14, 2026
Tuesday Apr 14, 2026
Evan and Kyle discuss a wide variety of topics including trending sports headlines, Illini spring football, the college basketball transfer portal and much more.

Tuesday Apr 14, 2026
Tuesday Apr 14, 2026
Illini Inquirer's Kyle Tausk is in studio filling in for Kurtis to discuss Illini basketball's offseason and retention & transfer portal efforts. Later, Illinois women's basketball head coach Shauna Green joins the show to talk about her team's offseason.

Monday Apr 13, 2026
Monday Apr 13, 2026
Ravi Lulla of Hurrdat Sports joins the show to break down the latest movement in the Big Ten Transfer Portal and what it means for teams across the conference.
Alex Kyi from Armchair Illini also stops by to discuss Stefan Vaaks’ transfer to Illinois, along with insights on John Blackwell and Quinten Coleman. The conversation wraps up with expectations and outlook for Illinois basketball heading into the 2026 season.

Friday Apr 10, 2026
Friday Apr 10, 2026
WCIA Sports Director Glenn Kinley joins the show to break down the latest developments in the Transfer Portal, including what it could mean for Illinois basketball. He also shares insight on the potential impact of John Blackwell, Keaton Wagler's future, and more. The conversation shifts to Illinois football, highlighting key storylines to watch this offseason.
The hour wraps up with our Friday Toasts! Follow The Drive on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Friday Apr 10, 2026
Friday Apr 10, 2026
New Illinois basketball commit Quentin Coleman joins the show to discuss his decision to become an Illini and what he brings to the program.
The hour also features the latest Illini headlines, keeping fans up to date on all the news surrounding the university.
In addition, the show debuts a brand-new segment, “Around the Bases,” highlighting key storylines from the world of baseball. It’s a packed opening hour filled with insight, news, and exciting new content for listeners.

Thursday Apr 09, 2026
Thursday Apr 09, 2026
WCIA 3 Sports' Tristan Thomas breaks down the latest developments in the college basketball transfer portal. He discussed key Illini-related storylines, including the potential impact and future of Keaton Wagler, as well as the buzz surrounding John Blackwell.
The hour wrapped up with the results of The Masters Draft. Kurtis needed A LOT of help from the text line, but was it enough to beat Evan and Coop?Â

Thursday Apr 09, 2026
Thursday Apr 09, 2026
Principia high school head coach Jay Blossom is a multi-time state champion and has sent several players to the NCAA. He joined the show to discuss Illini recruit Quentin Coleman, calling him “the best player he’s ever coached” and highlighting what makes Coleman such a special talent.
The conversation then shifted to the gridiron, as Carson Gourdie provided updates and insights on both Illinois and Eastern Illinois spring football. Carson covers key storylines, player development, and what fans should watch as the spring progresses.
Dr. Daniel Thompson shared his perspective on 5-star transfer Divine Bourrage and the impact the highly touted addition could have on the Illinois women's basketball program.Â

Tuesday Apr 07, 2026
Tuesday Apr 07, 2026
The Great Kyle Tausk from Illini Inquirer joins the show to break down the latest on Keaton Wagler’s future and what lies ahead for Illinois in the Transfer Portal. The conversation dives into potential roster movement and how the Illini could reshape the team this offseason. Tausk provides insight into key targets and overall expectations for the program moving forward.
Later, the guys switch gears for their Tuesday Draft, selecting golfers competing in The Masters. Kurtis has no idea who to draft. Will the text line come through to save him? Or is this a two man race between Evan and Cooper?

Tuesday Apr 07, 2026
Tuesday Apr 07, 2026
Illinois head coach Brad Underwood joins the show to reflect on the Illini’s Final Four run, discuss plans for the Transfer Portal, and promote the upcoming Coaches vs. Cancer event. The conversation highlights both the success of the season and the challenges of maintaining momentum heading into the offseason.
Brad Sturdy also joins to provide insight and analysis on the current state of the program. The guys dive into roster questions, including whether Keaton Wagler could return. It’s a packed hour focused on the future of Illinois basketball.

Monday Apr 06, 2026
Monday Apr 06, 2026
The Transfer Portal officially opens tonight at Midnight. How will Illinois and Brad Underwood approach the portal and what areas the Illini need to address most? Will the Ivisic Twis, David Mirkovic, and Andrej Stojakovic be on the roster next year? We also explore the possibility of Wisconsin's John Blackwell making his way to Champaign and how he could fit into the roster.
Plus, we react to a heated debate between Jay Bilas and John Calipari over the NCAA and the impact of NIL money. It’s a forward-looking hour packed with roster speculation and big-picture conversation around the future of college athletics.
