If it wasn't bad enough losing to Purdue, the Illinois football program is now going to be without our starting running back in the future.

Sep. 16—Select offensive players and assistant coaches were available after Illinois' Tuesday practice at Gies Memorial Stadium. Here's some of what they had to say as the Illini prepare to face Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon, courtesy Illinois beat writer Scott Richey: Looking for greater gains The read on Illinois' ability to run the ball through two games has been mostly positive. ...

Sep. 9—CHAMPAIGN — For Illinois fans in the stands and at home, the highlight of Ca'Lil Valentine's opening game seemed obvious: his 51-yard first-quarter dash for a touchdown. It gave Illinois a 14-3 lead against UAB, was the longest play from scrimmage for Valentine in his three seasons with the Illini and helped Illinois defeat the Blazers 42-23. "He can take one of those inside zones and ...

Can Ca'Lil Valentine be the first Illini running back to surpass 1,000 yards since 2022, and what are the factors that will decide it?

Aug. 19—CHAMPAIGN — Ca'Lil Valentine had a breakout sophomore season for Illinois in 2025, setting career-highs in carries, rushing yards and touchdowns. Valentine finished his second season in Champaign as Illinois' rushing leader, with expectations of more of the same from the 5-foot-11, 205-pound running back this fall. Expectations that got a little more fuel on Tuesday with Valentine ...

Illinois' run-heavy offense will be on full display in 2026, and Ca'Lil Valentine is poised to be the bell-cow on the ground in Champaign.

Illinois football is coming off big back-to-back seasons, and now we have our leading rusher back in Ca'Lil Valentine, who is ready to take the world by storm.