The Drive on ESPN 93.5
Channel Details
The Drive on ESPN 93.5
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...
Recent Episodes
458 episodes
06/26/26 Hour 2: Cardinals vs. Marlins Weekend Preview, Chris Hightower Talks NBA Draft & Chicago Bears Hallmark Movie, Friday Toasts
On Hour 2, Chris Hightower stays in studio to continue breaking down an exciting NBA Draft for Illinois basketball and what it means for the Illini mo...
06/26/26 Hour 1: Morez Johnson Breaks Silence on Illinois Exit as Chris Hightower Talks Illini in the NBA Draft
Former Illini forward Morez Johnson explains why he transferred, saying he "didn't feel comfortable with my future being" at Illinois, and we break do...
06/25/26 Hour 2: Illinois vs. North Carolina Set for Nashville; Breaking Down the Illini Basketball Schedule & Team USA's Historic World Cup Bid
The guys react to Illinois Fighting Illini and North Carolina Tar Heels announcing a matchup in the 2027 Nashville Hoops Showdown, then take a deep di...
06/25/26 Hour 1: Former Illini Marcus Domask Joins the Show; Brian Teague Talks Bulls & NBA Draft Breakdown
Former Illini star Marcus Domask joins the show to discuss his basketball journey, life since Illinois, the excitement surrounding the NBA Draft, and...
06/24/26 Hour 2: Sunny Verma on Wagler-to-Clippers & Bulls Big Night; Pierre Noujaim Breaks Down Ayo's Massive Payday; Biggest Draft Bust Results; Intern Pierce vs. A Map
Illinois basketball insider Sunny Verma from Locked On Illini joins the show to discuss Keaton Wagler's selection by the Los Angeles Clippers with the...
06/24/26 Hour 1: Keaton Wagler Drafted No. 5 Overall by Clippers; Cardinals Announce Major Front Office Changes
Illinois star Keaton Wagler officially became the second-highest NBA Draft selection in program history Tuesday night when the Los Angeles Clippers se...
06/23/26 Hour 2: Illinois Football Lands DB Tyrone Howard Jr., Brody Knowles Gets A Greeting From Dirk Nowitzki & Biggest NBA Draft Busts Ever
Hour 2 of The Drive opened with Illinois football adding another piece to its 2027 recruiting class, securing a commitment from defensive back Tyrone...
06/23/26 Hour 1: Chris Hine Breaks Down Ayo Dosunmu’s $112 Million Timberwolves Deal, NBA Draft Night for Keaton Wagler & Cardinals-Diamondbacks Game 2 Preview
Hour 1 of The Drive features an in-depth conversation with Minnesota Star Tribune reporter Chris Hine on former Illinois star Ayo Dosunmu and his mass...
06/22/26 Hour 2: Cardinals Face Critical Stretch Before All-Star Break; Messi Sets Another World Cup Record; Intern Pierce Takes on MLB All-Star Voting and Canada
The Cardinals enter a pivotal point in their season as they begin a six-game stretch against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Miami Marlins, two series th...
06/22/26 Hour 1: Dusty May Leaves Michigan for Dallas Mavericks; Alex Kyi Discusses Big Ten Fallout and Keaton Wagler's NBA Draft Range
Michigan basketball was rocked by the stunning news that national championship-winning head coach Dusty May is leaving for the Dallas Mavericks, creat...
06/19/26 Hour 2: Ravi Lulla Breaks Down Big Ten Football Risers and Fallers, how Illini will fare; Team USA Beats Australia; Friday Toasts Close the Week
Hour 2 featured a deep dive into the ever-changing Big Ten football landscape with Ravi Lulla of Hurrdat Sports. Ravi examined which conference progra...
06/19/26 Hour 1: Illinois Basketball vs Texas Tech Home-and-Home Series Is A Go; Team USA Shuts Out Australia; Cardinals Crushed by Royals
The Fighting Illini continue to build one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules as Illinois and Texas Tech officially move forward with a...
06/18/26 Hour 2: Illinois Football 3-3-5 Defense Breakdown - Safeties & "Chief" Position, USA vs Australia World Cup Preview & Best Smells Draft Results
Hour 2 of The Drive featured a deep dive into Illinois football's evolving 3-3-5 defensive scheme, with a special focus on the safety positions and th...
06/18/26 Hour 1: Illinois Football Recruiting Update: Brian Teague Compares Bennett Konkey to Pat Bryant, Thiago Splitter Intro Bulls Presser, Keaton Wagler NBA Draft Buzz, and Illini Headlines
On Hour 1 of The Drive, Brian Teague of Chicago State of Mind Sports joined the show to discuss Illinois football's newest commitments and recruiting...
06/16/26 Hour 2: Illinois Basketball Adds EIU and Penn to Schedule; Cardinals, Cubs Face Trade Deadline Decisions; Tuesday Draft - Best Smells of All Time
Illinois basketball's non-conference schedule continued to take shape as the Fighting Illini added matchups against in-state foe Eastern Illinois and...
06/16/26 Hour 1: Illinois Football Lands 4-Star WR Bennett Konkey, Flips RB Steven Alexis; Dustin May Shines for Cardinals, Cubs' PCA Hits for the Cycle
Illinois football continued its strong 2027 recruiting momentum by securing a commitment from 4-star wide receiver Bennett Konkey and flipping 3-star...
06/15/26 Hour 2: Cardinals vs Padres & Cubs vs Rockies Preview | Hurricanes Win Stanley Cup, Team USA World Cup Outlook & Ty Rodgers Injury Update
Hour 2 of The Drive is packed with major headlines from across the sports world. The guys preview a crucial series for the St. Louis Cardinals against...
06/15/26 Hour 1: St. Joseph-Ogden Wins IHSA 2A State Championship | Coach Josh Haley Joins The Drive, Knicks Capture NBA Title & Latest Illini Headlines
The Drive kicks off the week with a championship celebration as St. Joseph-Ogden baseball head coach Josh Haley joins the show to discuss the Spartans...
06/12/26 Hour 2: Tristan Thomas from WCIA3 talks St. Joe-Ogden baseball, Dane Eisenmenger to Illini, & his basketball showdown against Evan Stone; Cards v Twins & Cubs v Giants preview; Friday Toasts!
Tristan Thomas joins the show to discuss St. Joseph-Ogden's run in IHSA baseball, the impact of quarterback commit Dane Eisenmenger on the future of I...
06/12/26 Hour 1: Dane Eisenmenger meets the Illini Media; Jordan Sigler from Chi City Sports explains the next steps in Bears stadium move, talks Minicamp, Caleb Williams vs Michah Parsons, and more
Illinois quarterback commit Dane Eisenmenger meets the media for the first time and discusses why he chose the Illini, his fit in Barry Lunney Jr.'s o...
06/11/26 Hour 2: Sunny Verma says Keaton Wagler to the Bulls could be a good thing, and Illini football & basketball recruitment news; Top 10 players from the Tim Beckman Era; Meet our intern Quinn
Sunny Verma from Locked On Illini joins the show to discuss why former Illinois star Keaton Wagler potentially landing with the Chicago Bulls could be...
06/11/26 Hour 1: Knicks stun Spurs with Greatest Comeback in NBA Playoff History; Carson Gourdie talks Illinois Football QB Room, Illini & Lincoln Williams, St. Joe-Ogden in IHSA Final Four Baseball
The New York Knicks are one win away from their first NBA title since 1973 after completing the largest comeback in NBA Finals history Wednesday night...
06/10/26 Hour 2: NBA Finals Game 4 preview, why Wemby will win; Cards vs Mets and Cubs vs Rockies preview; Evan goes Hulk Hogan on The World Cup, Brother!
The 2026 NBA Finals shift into a pivotal Game 4 tonight as the New York Knicks look to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs. A...
06/10/26 Hour 1: Kyle Tausk from Illini Inquirer tells us why Lincoln Williams was perfect timing, reviews Quintin Coleman's Team USA Performance; Tolono Unity QB Dane Eisenmenger to Illinois
Kyle Tausk of Illini Inquirer breaks down why the addition of Lincoln Williams was perfect timing for Brad Underwood and Illinois Basketball after the...
06/09/26 Hour 2: Alex Kyi from Armchair Illini breaks down Sladen Shack's game, Lincoln Williams' recruitment process, and more; Tuesday Draft - Best Sports Video Games of All Time; World Cup Tweets
Alex Kyi from Armchair Illini joins the show to break down what Illinois is getting in newly-committed quarterback Sladen Shack, why the coaching staf...
06/09/26 Hour 1: Illinois Football lands 3-Star Quarterback Sladen Slack - what you need to know; Cardinals vs Mets and Cubs vs Rockies Preview
06/09/26 Hour 1: Illinois Football lands 3-Star Quarterback Sladen Shack - what you need to know; Cardinals vs Mets and Cubs vs Rockies Preview
...
06/08/26 Hour 2: Brian Teague from Chicago State of Mind Sports tells us why the Bears WON'T be going to Indiana, Lincoln Williams to the Illini, and Quentin Coleman's performance for Team USA U8
Brian Teague from Chicago State of Mind Sports joins the show to break down the latest developments in the Bears stadium saga and explains why he beli...
06/08/26 Hour 1: Illinois Basketball lands Kankakee star Lincoln Williams, Football lands 3 new recruits, and more Illini Headlines; Tribute to Stacey King
The future continues to look bright in Champaign as Illinois basketball adds one of the state's rising stars, Kankakee standout Lincoln Williams. Will...
06/05/26 Hour 2: Chris Kwiecinski from Fox32 with the latest from Halas Hall & The Bears, Kurtis teaches Evan about baseball stats; Friday Toasts!
The Bears-to-Indiana conversation continues as Chris Kwiecinski from Fox 32 joins us with the latest from Halas Hall following Thursday's bombshell an...
06/05/26 Hour 1: Are you ready for the Hammond Bears? George McCaskey & Kevin Warren announce Bears are Indiana-Bound; Cardinals vs Reds Preview; Giants smoke the Cubs
The Chicago Bears took their biggest step yet toward leaving Illinois, as Chairman George McCaskey and President/CEO Kevin Warren announced that the t...
06/04/26 Hour 2: HOF'er Rob Rains talks Cardinals & why this team plays so relaxed, which player is his surprise star; Aaron Donald back to the Rams?; Draft Winner - Most Hateable Athletes
Hall of Fame baseball writer Rob Rains joins the show to discuss the Cardinals' recent surge and why this team appears to be playing with a loose, con...
06/04/26 Hour 1: Isaac Ambrose talks Bielema calling out Pete Bevecqua, and is Underwood the GOAT Coach in Illini history?; Knicks stun the Spurs
Isaac Ambrose joins the show to break down Bret Bielema's recent comments directed toward Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua and what they rev...
6/03/26 Hour 2: Who are your picks for the MLB All-Star Team; Draft Day - Most Hated Athletes in Sports History
It's never too early to talk All-Stars! With the season approaching the midway point, we reveal our picks for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. Who deserves...
06/03/26 Hour 1: Cardinals & Cubs both skidding; Illini Headlines; Who are the players from Rival Teams that you respected?
The baseball season is a grind, and both the Cardinals and Cubs are feeling it right now as each club tries to stop recent losing stretches and stay i...
06/02/26 Hour 2: More on Quentin Coleman's big game for Team USA; Evan vs Texters World Cup Part 2; Should Brendan Sorsby be banned?
More discussion on Quinten Coleman's standout performance for Team USA and what it could mean for Illinois basketball moving forward.
Plus, Evan...
06/02/26 Hour 1: Chris Kwiecinski from Fox32 Chicago on the Bears' Stadium Situation; Illini Headlines - Quinten Coleman's big game, HOF'er Jenna Hall takes over Softball; Evan vs Texters - World Cup
Chris Kwiecinski joins the show to break down the latest on the Chicago Bears' stadium saga as Illinois lawmakers failed to approve a stadium financin...
05/29/26 Hour 2: Glenn Kinley from WCIA3 Sports talks IHSA Track & Field State Championships & Illini basketball's Andrej Stojakovic; Cards vs Cubs Predictions; Friday Toasts
Glenn Kinley from WCIA 3 Sports joins the show to discuss the IHSA Track & Field State Championships and what Andrej Stojakovic's return means for Ill...
05/29/26 Hour 1: Brian Teague from Chicago State of Mind Sports talks Illini basketball, Andrej Stojakovic, Football schedule; Brian Walton from The Cardinal Nation previews Cards vs Cubs Series
Brian Teague from Chicago State of Mind Sports talks Illini basketball, Andrej Stojakovic, football schedule; Brian Walton previews Cards vs Cubs Seri...
05/28/26 Hour 2: Tristan Thomas from WCIA3 talks Andrej Stojakovic's return, IHSA State Track Meet, & showdown with Evan Stone; Can Spurs win 2 vs Thunder?; Evan runs afoul of the Law
Tristan Thomas joins the show to discuss Andrej Stojakovic officially returning to Illinois, previews of the IHSA State Track Meet, and his latest sho...
05/28/26 Hour 1: Illini Headlines - Andrej Stojakovic is officially BACK with the Illini; Cubs vs Cards series preview; MLB's Proposed Salary Cap - who's affected?; Evan ranks Illini football games
Illini Headlines - Andrej Stojakovic is officially BACK with the Illini after withdrawing from the NBA Draft, giving Brad Underwood and Illinois anoth...