Ranking every Illinois Football game on the 2026 schedule

Illinois football will kick off its season in less than a month. The Illini open on a Thursday night against UAB inside Gies Memorial Stadium, which should provide a great atmosphere to begin the year. The schedule ramps up immediately after that, as Duke travels to Champaign for Week 2.

The 12-game slate is loaded, so I ranked every Illinois football matchup for the upcoming season.

1. Oregon

The biggest home game of the year also takes the top spot on this list. The Ducks enter the season ranked No. 2 in the preseason polls after reaching the College Football Playoff semifinals last year, where they fell to Indiana. Illinois struggled in Eugene back in 2024, as Oregon cruised to a 38-9 victory.

This is one of only two games on the schedule where the Illini will be significant underdogs, but defending home turf and pulling off the upset would make a statement nationally.

2. Ohio State

The second game on the schedule where Illinois will be a heavy underdog comes in Columbus against preseason No. 1 Ohio State. Last year’s meeting at Memorial Stadium ended in a Buckeyes victory by multiple touchdowns, and this year’s challenge will be even tougher on the road.

Ohio State and Oregon are expected to be the two best teams in the Big Ten. Illinois has a realistic chance to enter this game at 3-0, and a road victory over the Buckeyes would rank among the biggest upsets in program history.

3. Iowa

Illinois and Iowa will renew their rivalry on Nov. 21 after not playing each other for the past two seasons. The Hawkeyes have dominated the series this century, but the last two meetings have been decided by a combined five points. Iowa won by two in 2023, while Illinois won by three in 2022.

This home matchup could go either way, but a victory in the second-to-last game of the regular season could help cap another memorable year for the Illini.

4. Nebraska

Nebraska and Illinois will meet under the lights on a Friday night for the second time in three years. Back in 2024, Illinois stunned the Cornhuskers in Lincoln with a 31-24 overtime victory.

Another close battle should be in store in 2026, and college football fans across the country should have their eyes on this matchup. If Illinois wants to reach nine wins for the third consecutive season, protecting home field against a team like Nebraska is essential.

5. Northwestern

Northwestern is always a must-win game during rivalry week, but this year’s matchup carries even more significance as the Wildcats open their brand-new stadium. Illinois opened as a 3.5-point road favorite, and Illini fans typically travel well to Evanston.

Illinois has won the last two meetings, and keeping the Land of Lincoln Trophy in Champaign makes this one of the most important games on the schedule.

6. Purdue

Every year, Purdue is a must-win rivalry game. Purdue and Northwestern are the two teams Illinois simply has to beat, and holding onto the Cannon Trophy is non-negotiable.

The Boilermakers are projected to be among the worst teams in the country again, but these rivalry games always seem to be closer than expected. As Illinois’ Homecoming game, this should be one of the most energetic Saturdays of the season in Champaign.

7. UCLA

Illinois will travel to UCLA for the first time since the Bruins joined the Big Ten. UCLA has not traditionally been a football powerhouse, but the Bruins should improve under first-year head coach Bob Chesney.

Cross-country road trips are never easy, but this is another game Illinois needs to win if it hopes to meet expectations. Expect a close point spread, but it’s a very winnable matchup for Bret Bielema’s team.

8. Duke

The lone Power Four non-conference game checks in at No. 8. Duke is sandwiched between games against UAB and Southern Illinois, so there is little excuse for Illinois not to defend home field and improve to 2-0 against the Blue Devils in as many seasons.

Duke lost its starting quarterback to the transfer portal and shouldn’t match up well with Illinois. Starting the season 3-0 before heading to Ohio State would be massive. A loss here, however, would cause fans to question just how many games this team can win.

9. Maryland

Maryland isn’t expected to contend near the top of the Big Ten, but this game has all the makings of a trap game. Winning on the road is never easy, and this matchup falls between two huge home games against Oregon and Nebraska.

Illinois should be favored, but it will be critical not to overlook the Terrapins on Halloween.

10. Michigan State

Like Maryland, this is a sneaky difficult road game during the heart of Big Ten play. Michigan State isn’t projected to finish near the top of the conference, but the Spartans are more than capable of pulling off big wins at home.

Games like this are often the difference between finishing 9-3 and 7-5.

11. UAB

UAB gets the edge over Southern Illinois simply because it’s the season opener. Thursday night at Gies Memorial Stadium should provide an outstanding atmosphere as another Illinois football season begins.

The Illini should handle business comfortably, but the excitement surrounding the opener always makes this game feel special.

12. Southern Illinois

Southern Illinois is an FCS opponent and should be no match for Illinois. As a buy game, it doesn’t generate much excitement, which lands it at the bottom of the rankings.

The Illini simply need to take care of business. If there’s one game on the schedule you can afford to miss, it’s probably this one.

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