The school year is about to begin, which means fall sports are around the corner. The focus typically is on football, but there is also volleyball and soccer to keep an eye on as well. With a new sports year about to begin, here are some of the top news stories you may have missed about the Illini midway through the week.
Freshman Quentin Coleman is finding his footing in Champaign
Illinois basketball has been busy with summer workouts as head coach Brad Underwood prepares for another season after a Final Four run last season. While Illinois has been hit with some unfortunate injury news, with the update on David Mirkovic's foot surgery, he is expected to make a full recovery and return, hopefully before the season begins.
Mirkovic was in the gym all summer with the Illini and some new faces like Stefan Vaaks, who transferred from Providence in the offseason, and five-star freshman Quentin Coleman. Coleman has been one of the most anticipated players for Illinois this upcoming season, coming in at the perfect time with Keaton Wagler now in the NBA.
Coleman has said this summer has been great in terms of settling into Champaign and learning a lot from and about his teammates, like Mirkovic. Coleman is expected to be a key piece in this Illinois frontcourt with Andrej Stojakovic and Vaaks, with Underwood saying he will be a leader in pushing the tempo offensively.
Illinois receives votes on USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll
The first official Preseason Poll was released on Tuesday with the USA Today Coaches Poll, and of the eight teams ranked in the Big Ten, Illinois was not one of them. Now, this isn't a huge surprise with the level of talent that didn't return this season, and some questions surrounding the Illini's sustained success.
The good news, however, is that even though Illinois isn't ranked, it received many votes for a Top 25 ranking, technically coming in at No. 29 with 62 votes behind Louisville, Florida, and TCU.
Illinois is outside the top 25 in the College Football preseason coaches poll, but just barely.
— Jake Bedell (@JakeBedellTV) August 4, 2026
The #Illini rank #29 with 62 votes, behind Louisville at #26, Florida, and TCU.
8 Big Ten programs begin in the rankings
It would be great to see Illinois ranked in the Top 25, but this feels like a good starting point for the Illini, with a little less pressure to perform at the level of a ranked team. Illinois will, however, take on three ranked teams as of right now on their schedule with No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon, and No. 22 Iowa.
More: Updates from Illinois fall camp as the Fighting Illini get ready for 2026
Illinois began fall camp this week as they prepare for the start of the 2026 season on September 3 when the Illini take on UAB. There have been a few changes with players moving positions, but the biggest changes come on the defense.
The defense is under the new coaching of defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck, who is implementing a 3-3-5 defensive scheme. That will be the focus for the defense throughout camp will be getting comfortable in the new scheme. Players like Matthew Bailey feel this defense will work well with the player personnel available to Hauck.
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