Carson Gourdie

1 week ago | newschannel20.com | Carson Gourdie

Over the weekend, a couple Central Illinois ESports programs left the area for Chicago. The Springfield Capitols of District 186 and Charleston High School competed in the IHSA state finals for competitive video gaming. Students face off against over a dozen schools in games like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros and Rocket League. ESports has seen a surge in recent years. And you can even earn scholarships for playing video games.

2 weeks ago | newschannel20.com | Carson Gourdie

The annual Illinois Marathon in Champaign saw a 10-year-old dog crash the race. Chex snuck away from his Urbana home and ran three miles, and crossing the finish line at Memorial Stadium. The Illinois Marathon has a no animal policy at races, but Chex stole the show on Saturday, and made everyone smile. "We’re going to find his owner," said an organizer after a crew found Chex's collar. "Yeah, we expected a phone call, " said Ed Weiskamp, Chex's owner. The 10 year old dog likes his Urbana home.

2 weeks ago | newschannel20.com | Carson Gourdie

Illinois head coach Brad Underwood has finally landed his big fish from the 2025 transfer portal. On Tuesday, Illinois announced Andrej Stovakoich has signed with the team. The 6-foot-7-inch wing played at Cal last season and scored 18 points per game. A majority of his shots came inside the arc, and but did shoot above 30% from three. The junior has two years of college eligibility, and picked Illinois over Stanford and North Carolina.

2 weeks ago | foxillinois.com | Carson Gourdie

Illinois poised for NFL draft surge in 2026 as top prospects return for another season

2 weeks ago | newschannel20.com | Carson Gourdie

This season, wide receiver Pat Bryant was the only NFL player selected in the NFL Draft. But in 2026, Illinois could hear many more Illini names called, as potential draft prospects opted to return for one more season in Champaign. That’ll surely help Illinois build off a 10-win campaign. And it’ll help them achieve their NFL Dreams.