Illinois' football stadium will be known as Gies Memorial Stadium after alumnus and philanthropist Larry Gies made a $100 million donation to the school's athletic department. He is making the gift in memory of his late father, Larry Gies Sr., a United States Army veteran. The 2024 team won 10 games, including the Citrus Bowl. The men's basketball team reached the 2024 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and recorded its sixth straight 20-win regular season in 2025. "Larry Gies is a visionary leader who invests in people and organizations that impact the world around them," athletic director Josh Whitman said.