The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini Fan Podcast

All Right on the Western Front (08/30/25)

Illini football kicked off their 2025 season with a 52-3 blowout over Western Illinois. Mike Carpenter reacts to the team's performance, including a dominant Gabe Jacas, star turn by Hank Beatty, and efficient quarterback play from Luke Altmyer. Next up: a crucial non-conference road game at Duke.

Tay & Carp Rides Again! (08/25/25)

It's Game Week! To wrap up all the preseason prognostications, Mike Carpenter welcomes Lon Tay onto the show for a wide-ranging discussion about all things Illini football. In Bret Bielema's fifth season at the helm, can Illinois take advantage of a favorable schedule and experienced roster to nab a spot in the College Football Playoff?

Feel the Wern (08/23/25)

We're less than a week away from the 2025 Illini Football season! Mike Carpenter is joined by Jeremy Werner for a wide-ranging discussion on Bret Bielema's team, what it's like to cover a winning Big Ten program, and how sustained success may finally be within reach for long-suffering Illinois fans.

Vallese the Kraken (08/18/25)

Mike Carpenter and Trevor Vallese discuss the upcoming Illinois football season, including a deep dive on the schedule and which games will be the most consequential. They also talk about Bret Bielema's five-year reclamation project, taking the Illini program from Big Ten bottom-feeders to College Football Playoff contenders.

Return of the 'saac (08/11/25)

Mike Carpenter is joined by The 200 Level contributor Isaac Ambrose for a wide-ranging discussion of the upcoming Illini football season. They discuss the team's lofty expectations, reasons for optimism and concern, and which games on the schedule will make or break their CFP aspirations.

Bret Hot American Summer (08/04/25)

Illinois football season is just around the corner, and with the latest coaches' poll slotting Bret Bielema's team at #12, expectations are high. Mike Carpenter discusses how the Illini program has been transformed under Bielema - from Big Ten basement dwellers to a sexy pick for the College Football Playoff.

Scratch That 'ic (04/28/25)

One, two, three, four . . . FIVE BALKANS?! Illinois basketball lands its biggest portal addition of the offseason, adding junior wing Andrej Stojakovic to the team. Mike Carpenter discusses the marquee addition, just two days after Serbian point guard Mihailo Petrovic signed with the Illini. Brad Underwood's 2025-26 roster looks to be (nearly?) complete, so how will all these mostly-veteran new faces gel together?

BasketBalkans (04/09/25)

The European Pipeline continues to produce for Brad Underwood's Illini with the addition of Tomi's twin brother Zvonimir and 6'9" David Mirkovic. Mike Carpenter recaps the last week-plus of offseason craziness, including the returns of Kylan Boswell, Ty Rodgers, and Jake Davis. He also discusses some of the general stupidity with the portal era, including Morez Johnson's commitment to Michigan, and how the non-stop player movement impacts fandom.