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

Oct 23 2024 431 ep. 65 mins 43
The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter: A Fighting Illini Fan Podcast artwork

The 200 Level with Mike Carpenter is a podcast offering a fan’s perspective on Illinois Fighting Illini football and basketball.

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Duck Hunt (10/23/24)

Oct 23 2024 44 mins  
Fresh off a memorable home win against Michigan, #20 Illinois hits the road to take on top-ranked Oregon. Mike Carpenter discusses the tall task ahead of Bret Bielema's squad, currently 21.5-point underdogs, as they head to the West Coast. He also talks about how the 6-1 start eases the nerves heading into the marquee matchup, and opens the listener mailbag to see how other fans th

The Game of the Century (10/20/24)

Oct 20 2024 79 mins  
Illinois football celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Memorial Stadium in style, beating 24th-ranked Michigan 21-7 on a perfect Saturday afternoon in Champaign. Mike Carpenter reflects on the momentous win for Bret Bielema's squad, from the Red Grange-inspired throwback uniforms to the electric sold out crowd. He opens up the listener mailbag to discuss what the victory means not j

Ann Arbor is a What Now? (10/14/24)

Oct 14 2024 52 mins  
It's a big week for Illini football as Michigan comes to town for the 100th anniversary of Memorial Stadium. Mike Carpenter is chomping at the bit for Saturday and reflects on the journey through the Bret Bielema era to get to this point. He dives into reasons why both teams can come away with a win, but ultimately believes one has a few more advantages than the other.

Boiler Ugh! (10/08/24)

Oct 08 2024 55 mins  
Mike Carpenter returns after the bye week to preview Illinois football's matchup against Ryan Walters' struggling Purdue Boilermakers. He opens up the listener mailbag to see how Illini fans think their team will fare over the next four games, and discusses the different paths available for Bret Bielema's team to have a very good-to-great season. AVAILABLE NOW! The 200 Level: An Il

Book Release Event w/ Lon Tay . . . and Dee Brown! (10/03/24)

Oct 03 2024 81 mins  
Mike Carpenter welcomes old friend Lon Tay to help celebrate the release of The 200 Level book! They discuss the writing process, the last 30+ years of Illini basketball, and share memories and experiences along the way. Then, they are joined by an unplanned surprise guest - Dee Brown! - who helps to close things out. AVAILABLE NOW! The 200 Level: An Illinois Fighting Illini Basket

Not-So-Happy Valley (09/28/24)

Sep 28 2024 96 mins  
Illini football suffers their first loss of the season to 8th-ranked Penn State, 21-7. Mike Carpenter and Kenton Elmore react during the second half which saw Bret Bielema's squad hang around into the fourth quarter. Ultimately, too many ill-timed mistakes and Penn State's ability to run the ball doomed Illinois. Next up: lowly Purdue on October 12th after a bye week.

Fantastic Four . . . and Oh (09/23/24)

Sep 23 2024 66 mins  
Illinois football is 4-0, ranked #19, and has a primetime matchup Saturday at #8 Penn State. Mike Carpenter is still basking in the glow, opening up the listener mailbag to see what excites fans the most following Friday's big road win. He discusses the micro and macro positives, and how Bret Bielema's program is positioning itself for success in 2024 and beyond.

Every Lunney Wants to Rhule the World (09/20/24)

Sep 20 2024 127 mins  
Illinois football is 4-0 after a massive win at Nebraska! Mike Carpenter and Kenton Elmore react during the second half and overtime as Luke Altmeyer leads the Illini to victory. Bret Bielema's squad gets their second ranked W of the year, will head into Penn State with a top-20 ranking, and now have the nation's attention midway through September.

Halfway to a Bowl With Three Quarters to Go (09/17/24)

Sep 17 2024 50 mins  
Illinois football is 3-0 for the first time since 2011, and with it, halfway to bowl eligibility. Best of all? They appear to be just plain old good. Mike Carpenter discusses the team's fast start ahead of a tough pair of road games at Nebraska and Penn State, and opens up the listener mailbag to see how fans are feeling after the first quarter of the season.

It's (Already?) Homecoming Week! (09/10/24)

Sep 10 2024 49 mins  
Mike Carpenter is still basking in the glow of the Kansas win ahead of Saturday's Homecoming matchup against Central Michigan. He looks ahead at the rest of the season using Kelley Ford's predictive ratings, and discusses Illini football's chances at a winning season. Then, he opens up the listener mailbag to see if fans' expectations have changed since Saturday night's huge victor