On Friday, Illinois released its full 2026-27 non-conference slate, which wound up filling out the maximum number of allotted contests (12). The Illini took full advantage of the NCAA allowing an extra game for each school next season: including Big Ten play, the Illini will have 32 regular-season outings. Below, we rank each non-conference clash on Illinois’ schedule:
Ranking Illinois basketball’s 2026-27 non-conference matchups
Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood reacts against the Connecticut Huskies in the second half during a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
No. 12: Fairleigh Dickinson (Nov. 2)
Fairleigh Dickinson, which pulled off the miraculous 16-over-1 upset against Purdue in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, has yet to surpass the .500 mark under coach Jack Castleberry, who is entering his fourth season at the helm.
No. 11: Eastern Illinois (Nov. 20)
In a similar boat as FDU, Eastern Illinois hasn’t finished the regular season above .500 since 2019-20 – and it hasn’t won 10 or more games in OVC play since 2009-2010.
Advertisement
No. 10: Winthrop (Nov. 23)
After rattling off two straight 20-win seasons (exactly 23-11 in back-to-back years), Winthrop returns just 9.9 percent of its total player minutes from 2025-26, per Bart Torvik.
No. 9: Sam Houston State (Nov. 13)
In three of the past four seasons, Sam Houston State has won at least 20 games. But it also brings back minimal production from 2025-26 (only 28.5 percent of its minutes).
No. 8: Seattle (Dec. 29)
Jan 2, 2026; Spokane, Washington, USA; Seattle U Redhawks head coach Chris Victor paces the sideline during a game against the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Chris Victor has overseen Seattle’s return to the WCC, and also four 20-win campaigns in just five seasons as Redhawks coach.
No. 7: Western Kentucky (Nov. 27)
Yet another consistently competitive mid-major club, Western Kentucky has finished under .500 just twice this century. The Hilltoppers, led by high-scoring guard Teagan Moore, appear poised to compete for an NCAA Tournament bid in 2026-27.
Advertisement
No. 6: Penn (Nov. 5)
Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood and Penn Quakers head coach Fran McCaffery greet each other after the first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Another Fran McCaffery-Brad Underwood showdown is on the docket for 2026-27. After Penn and Illinois met in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last season, the pair of programs will face off again in early November. The Quakers may make this one more competitive, as they return the vast majority of their squad from a year ago.
No. 5: North Carolina (Jan. 30 in Nashville)
The first year of the Michael Malone experiment will be interesting. Malone hasn’t coached at the college level in a quarter century – and never as a head coach. Working in his favor, though, is a pretty talented North Carolina squad.
Advertisement
Also, by the time the Illini and Tar Heels meet (not until late January), expect UNC to have worked out the unsavory kinks often associated with a new coach’s first season.
No. 4: Missouri (Dec. 20 in St. Louis)
Feb 21, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates during the second half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won 94-86. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Four of the past five Braggin’ Rights games have been decided by 22 or more points. This year’s matchup, for once, should be competitive. Missouri put together an excellent transfer portal haul, and freshman Jason Crowe Jr. will be a load for Illinois’ often perimeter-challenged defense.
No. 3: at Texas Tech (Nov. 10)
J.T. Toppin isn’t expected to be back for this contest – which will hurt the Red Raiders, who were almost single-handedly pushed to a win in Champaign this past season behind Toppin’s 35 points and 11 rebounds.
Advertisement
But that doesn’t change the fact that Lubbock is a very tough place to play (Texas Tech went 14-2 at home in 2025-26). And if both Darrion Williams and Donovan Atwell – a pair of standout fifth-year players recently added to the Red Raiders’ roster – are active, then the Illini may have a very long night in store in just their third outing of 2026-27. Side note: This matchup will be a reunion with former Illini fan-favorite Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn.
No. 2: UConn (Dec. 4 in Chicago)
Apr 6, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Dan Hurley reacts against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the national championship of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Dan Hurley seems to always have Illinois’ number. In the Final Four earlier this year, the Illini had the “better” team by practically any quantifiable standard. But the Huskies had Hurley. UConn is expected to be just as good – if not better – in 2026-27. The only encouraging news: This one, set for Chicago’s United Center, is a de facto home game for Illinois.
Advertisement
No. 1: at Duke (Nov. 17)
Illinois is 1-4 against Duke since 2000. That lone win, which came during Underwood’s tenure, actually was in Durham, but there were no fans allowed (game was in 2020). Will the Illini be able to withstand the Cameron Crazies and offseason transfer target John Blackwell? Blackwell, along with an unfathomably deep backcourt unit, will lead the charge for a Duke club projected by many to be the No. 1 team in the country.
Today’s best reads
This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/illinois as Ranking Every Game on Illinois Basketball’s 2026-27 Non-Conference Schedule.
