The daily pitch from Sports Editor Matt Daniels: Feb. 14, 2026

Champaign-Urbana—On the Monday edition of The News-Gazette Sports Page radio show, listeners can expect a burst of Illini spirit: the University of Illinois cheerleading squad will be in-studio guests, bringing energy and behind-the-scenes stories from the Orange and Blue sidelines.

The program will also spotlight Illini football’s evolving tight-end room, where the arrival of Feagin is expected to inject both athleticism and positional versatility into the unit. Host Matt Daniels will break down what that flexibility could mean for the team’s upcoming schemes.

In area prep action, the Class 3A girls’ basketball regional semifinals take center court early next week. Daniels will flag three specific matchups worth monitoring as teams jockey for a berth in the next round of the postseason.

Additional segments will catch up on recent local sports developments, rounding out a packed Monday lineup for central Illinois sports fans.