Illinois Men's Basketball Schedule Fully Released for 2026-27 Season

The Fighting Illini are generating high expectations for the upcoming season, recognized in the Top 5 of several preseason polls. Head coach Brad Underwood brings back five key players from last season’s NCAA Final Four run: David Mirkovic, Andrej Stojakovic, Tomislav Ivisic, Zvonimir Ivisic, and Jake Davis, along with a top-15 recruiting class and an impactful transfer.

Last season, Illinois posted a 28-9 record, marking the fourth-most victories in the program's history and finishing as Big Ten runners-up. The team remains the most successful in Big Ten play this decade, with seven consecutive 20-win regular seasons.

Illinois Big Ten Schedule Highlights:

• For the ninth consecutive year, Big Ten teams will participate in a 20-game conference schedule.

• Each school will play three teams home and away, along with 14 teams once (seven at home and seven away).

• Illinois will face Northwestern, Purdue, and Wisconsin twice.

• The Illini will host Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, UCLA, and USC, while traveling to Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Rutgers, and Washington.

• The schedule includes an equal number of games on weekends (five) and weeknights (five).

• Ten of Illinois’ conference games will be against teams that participated in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

• The Illini kick off Big Ten play on the road against Minnesota on December 8. Illinois enters this match on a nine-game winning streak against the Golden Gophers.

• The team’s second conference game is a home match against Penn State on December 12.

• Resuming Big Ten action in the new year, Illinois will compete against Wisconsin on January 2.

• Home games against Purdue and Ohio State are set for January 5 and 9, respectively.

• The following week includes away games at Northwestern on January 13 and Maryland on January 16.

• Illinois will host Nebraska on January 19, coinciding with the start of the spring semester at the university.

• A trip to Indiana is scheduled for January 24, where Illinois previously achieved a notable victory.

• From January 27 to February 5, Illinois will have three consecutive home games, including a non-conference match against North Carolina on January 30.

• The Illini will face Michigan State at State Farm Center on February 5, concluding five games in 13 days.

• The team will then head out for road games against defending champions Michigan and Purdue on February 9 and 12.

• Illinois will host Northwestern on February 16 in its only home game over a five-game stretch.

• A road trip to Oregon and Washington follows on February 20 and 23.

• The Illini will welcome Wisconsin to Champaign on February 28 before finishing the regular season at Rutgers on March 3.

• Illinois concludes its regular season at home against Iowa on March 6, a rematch from the 2026 Elite Eight.

• The Big Ten Tournament is scheduled for March 9-14 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, featuring all 18 conference teams.