CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois Fighting Illini football team is gearing up for an exciting 2026 season, with the Big Ten releasing the full schedule for the upcoming year.
The season will kick off with three consecutive non-conference matchups at Gies Memorial Stadium before the Illini enter Big Ten play in week four.
The 2026 schedule for Illinois highlights are as follows:
– **September 5**: The Illini will host the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) Blazers in their home opener. UAB is a member of the American Conference and will aim to provide a competitive start to the season.
– **September 12**: Illinois will rematch against the reigning ACC Champion Duke Blue Devils, a game the Illini won last year by a significant margin. The upcoming matchup will bring a different challenge as Duke has a new quarterback following Darian Mensah’s transfer.
– **September 19**: In the final non-conference match, the Southern Illinois Salukis will head to Champaign for an in-state rivalry game. The Salukis come from the NCAA Division I FCS level and promise to be a formidable opponent.
– **September 26**: The Big Ten season opens with a road game against Ohio State, where the Illini will once again vie for the Illibuck trophy in Columbus.
– **October 3**: Illinois will play host to the Purdue Boilermakers, aiming to extend their winning streak against Purdue and retain The Cannon trophy.
– **October 10**: The team will travel to East Lansing for a matchup against Michigan State Spartans, marking a significant personal return for QB Katin Houser, who previously played there.
– **October 17**: The Illini will take a much-needed bye week.
– **October 24**: The highly anticipated Oregon Ducks will visit Champaign for the first time since 1993. This game is particularly intriguing as Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, projected to be a top NFL draft pick, announced his decision to return to school.
– **October 31**: The Illini will head to Maryland to face the Terrapins, returning to the East Coast after a successful outing last season where they achieved a convincing victory.
– **November 7**: A long-standing rivalry with Nebraska will reignite this season in Champaign. The last encounter ended in an electrifying overtime win for Illinois, adding anticipation to this historic matchup.
– **November 14**: Illinois will venture out West to play against the UCLA Bruins, who are stepping into a new era under head coach Bob Chesney after a notable College Football Playoff run.
– **November 21**: The Illini will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in a historic rivalry game, which marks their 80th meeting. Illinois hopes to maintain their lead in the all-time series at home.
– **November 28**: The season finale will be a special one, as Illinois is set to play Northwestern at their brand-new $850 million stadium, Ryan Field. This matchup will also determine the fate of the Land of Lincoln trophy.
As the 2026 season approaches, fans are eagerly looking forward to both the classic rivalries and the new challenges in what promises to be an action-packed year for the Illini football program.