CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) - Spring football practice is full-steam ahead this week at the University of Illinois.
The Illini are coming off a remarkable two-year stretch, in which the team won back-to-back bowl games and won at least nine games in those seasons for the first time in program history.
This year's team will look much different, with new faces on both sides of the ball and a new quarterback in Katin Houser.
One room relatively similar is the running backs with Aidan Laugher and Ca'Lil Valentine both returning. Laughery said as a veteran, he's working to make sure new faces understand the standard, which is championship-level football on a day-to-day basis.
Illinois opens the season at home Sept. 5 against UAB.
Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.