Illinois football’s 2026 schedule announced

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — After tonight’s Big Ten Football schedule release, the Illini’s 2026 schedule has officially been set.

To kick off the season, there will be three straight non-conference games at Gies Memorial Stadium, with Big Ten games beginning in week four.

Illinois’ 2026 season will look like this:

SEPT. 5 – v.s. UAB

For the 2026 home opener at Gies Memorial Stadium, the Illini will host the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) Blazers, a member of the American Conference.

SEPT. 12 – v.s. Duke

Next comes a rematch with the reigning ACC Champion Duke Blue Devils, whom the Illini beat by 26 points at Wallace Wade Stadium last season. Illinois will see a different quarterback in this year’s matchup, however, as it was announced on Tuesday that Darian Mensah and Duke University reached an agreement that would allow him to transfer and enroll at a new school. 

SEPT. 19 – v.s. Southern Illinois

In the last non-conference game of the season, the Southern Illinois Salukis will be making the trip up I-57 to Champaign for an in-state showdown. The Salukis are in the Missouri Valley Conference and compete at the NCAA Division I FCS level.

SEPT. 26 – @ Ohio State

The Illini’s Big Ten opener will be on the road. For the second year in a row, the Illini will get a chance to take back the Illibuck trophy against the Ohio State Buckeyes. This year, the game will be in Columbus at historic Ohio Stadium.

OCT. 3 – v.s. Purdue

Up next is another trophy game, this one being for The Cannon against the Purdue Boilermakers. Illinois will look to retain the trophy for a third straight season, this time at Gies Memorial Stadium.

OCT. 10 – @ Michigan State

Head coach Bret Bielema and his Illini will be hitting the road to take on the Michigan State Spartans, who will be starting year one of the Pat Fitzgerald era. It will be a homecoming of sorts for the Illini’s new QB1 Katin Houser, who started his college career and spent two years in East Lansing.

OCT. 17 – BYE WEEK

OCT. 24 – v.s. Oregon

The Oregon Ducks will be making the over 2,000-mile trip to Champaign for a tilt with the Illini at Gies Memorial Stadium for the first time since 1993. Oregon is coming off a College Football Playoff run and will have a familiar face under center, as QB Dante Moore announced that he would be returning to school, despite being the projected #2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

OCT. 31 – @ Maryland

The Illini will hit both coasts in 2026, with their East Coast trip coming on Halloween as they journey to College Park to take on the Maryland Terrapins. Last season, the two teams faced off in Champaign, where Illinois rushed for an impressive 225 yards as a team en route to a 24-6 victory. 

NOV. 7 – v.s. Nebraska

Illinois and Nebraska have been clashing since October of 1892, and the next installment of the rivalry will be in Champaign. The last time these two faced off was in 2024, and it ended in a thrilling Illini victory in overtime.

NOV. 14 –  @ UCLA

Illinois will be making its only trip out to the West Coast to play a new look UCLA Bruins team in their first year under head coach Bob Chesney, who’s coming off a College Football Playoff season with James Madison University. 

NOV. 21 – v.s. Iowa

One of the most historic rivalries that the Illini have is with the Iowa Hawkeyes. The two programs will play for the 80th time in 2026, as Illinois looks to hold onto its one-game lead in the head-to-head series on its home turf.

NOV. 28 – @ Northwestern

Northwestern’s brand-new $850 million stadium, Ryan Field, is set to open before the 2026 season. If that date holds up, the Illini will be one of the first ever teams to play in the new venue, as they fight to hold onto the Land of Lincoln trophy in the regular season finale.