2026 Illinois football schedule: Illini goes perfect 3-0, clash with Ohio State looms originally appeared on Sports news. Add The Sporting News as Favorite source by clicking here.
Before Bret Bielema arrived in Champaign ahead of the 2021 season, it was tough to watch Illinois battles the Illini football like anything but an afterthought. An irrelevant program, to say the least, that simply had no clear identity.
Advertisement
More than five years later, that no longer matters thanks to Bielema’s leadership of the program. Several A-list stars have played for him since his arrival, including Seattle Seahawks safety Devon Witherspoon (who will play in Super Bowl 60 next Sunday), Denver Broncos wideout Pat Bryant and Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph, to name a few.
However, Illinois is entering a new era this fall. A large part of the transferred team or chose to declare for the NFL Draft next April. The Illini lost arguably their most important player, regardless of position, in quarterback Luke Altmyer after three years at center and two bowl victories to show for it.
With new faces, including old ones East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser the Illini will need to adapt fairly quickly to find success in a schedule that features two College Football Playoff teams from last season (Ohio and Oregon State), plus Bielema’s alma (Iowa Hawkeyes) and a team that never fails to get up for rivalry weekendespecially at home (Northwestern Wildcats).
MORE:Inside Music City Bowl: How Illinois-Tennessee drew 5.4 million people to watch an instant classic
Advertisement
If Illinois can enter its Big Ten opener against the Buckeyes undefeated, it will have a chance to show it. AP votes for its 19 wins over the last two seasons was no accident and deserves to be considered among the conference’s elite.
So far, under Bielema, there has been a trend. In the two years that ended with an even number, Illinois won eight or more games. In 2022 he finished 8-5, while in 2024 he finished 10-3. In contrast, the 2021 and 2023 seasons saw the Illini finish 5-7, as losses to the Hawkeyes (2021) and Wildcats (2023) derailed their bowl hopes.
Of course, last season the Illini won nine games and were ranked in the AP poll for much of the season. They even had an outside shot at a College Football Playoff berth before losing to the Washington Huskies. and the Wisconsin Badgers dampened what was an otherwise successful nine-win year.
Illinois draws seven home games and five away games, with four Big Ten games taking place at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
Advertisement
The schedule was finalized Tuesday in coordination with the conference, with kickoff times and television programs to follow.
Below is the game-by-game breakdown, including team-specific themes.
Illinois Fighting Illini 2026 Schedule
|
Date |
Opponent |
Location |
|---|---|---|
|
Sat. September 5 |
UAB |
Gies Memorial Stadium |
|
Sat. September 12 |
Duke (Hall of Fame Weekend/Family Day) |
Gies Memorial Stadium |
|
Sat. September 19 |
Southern Illinois |
Gies Memorial Stadium |
|
Sat. September 26 |
in the state of Ohio |
Columbus, Ohio |
|
Sat. October 3 |
Purdue (Homecoming) |
Gies Memorial Stadium |
|
Sat. October 10 |
in the state of Michigan |
East Lansing, Mich. |
|
Sat. October 17 |
DISABLED |
|
|
Sat. October 24 |
Oregon (Foundation Weekend) |
Gies Memorial Stadium |
|
Sat. October 31 |
in Maryland |
College Park, MD. |
|
Sat. November 7 |
Nebraska (Dad’s Day/Military Appreciation) |
Gies Memorial Stadium |
|
Sat. November 14 |
at UCLA |
Pasadena, California. |
|
Sat. November 21 |
Iowa (Senior Day) |
Gies Memorial Stadium |
|
Sat. November 28 |
to the northwest |
Evanston, IL. |
