Champaign, ILL. – The Big Ten announced the conference basketball schedule live on BTN Thursday, completing the 2025-26 Illinois Men's Basketball schedule. Illinois previously released its non-conference schedule on Aug. 18.
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Illinois is the winningest team in Big Ten play over the last six years of the Brad Underwood era and has won Big Ten championships in three of the last five seasons. During this stretch the Illini are one of only four teams nationally with six-straight 20-win regular seasons, one of 13 teams in the country to make five-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, and the only Big Ten team to post a winning league record in each of the last six years.
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Fighting Illini Basketball has high expectations once again in 2025-26, with the team returning three starters from a 22-win campaign, NCAA Tournament Second Round appearance, and final kenpom ranking of 17th last season.
A very limited number of general public season tickets remain, while student season tickets sold out in a record time of 18 minutes.
Mini plans will go on sale to I FUND members beginning on Sept. 30, based on membership level, prior to the mini plan public sale date of Oct. 2.
Single game tickets will go on sale to I FUND members starting on Oct. 20, ahead of the Oct. 24 public on-sale date.
Illinois Big Ten Schedule Notes
• For the eighth straight year, Big Ten teams will compete in a 20-game conference schedule.
• The 18-team scheduling format calls for each school to play three teams both home and away, and 14 teams once (seven home and seven away).
• Three teams Illinois plays twice (home and away): Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern
• Seven teams Illinois plays only at home: Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Rutgers, Washington, Wisconsin
• Seven teams Illinois plays only on the road: Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, USC
• Illinois plays eight league games against teams that participated in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
• Illinois opens Big Ten play on the road for the fourth straight season, Dec. 9 at Ohio State.
• The Illini's second early season conference game is home on Saturday, Dec. 13 vs. Nebraska.
• Illinois starts the new year by playing Penn State on Jan. 3 in Philadelphia at the famed Palestra. It will be the UI's first trip to The Palestra since defeating Temple on Nov. 29, 2003.
• Illinois will put its eight-game home winning streak against Rutgers on the line Jan. 8 at State Farm Center, before going back on the road for consecutive games at Iowa (Jan. 11) and at Northwestern (Jan. 14).
• The Illini then have consecutive home games against Minnesota on Saturday, Jan. 17 and Maryland on Jan. 21. Illinois has won eight straight over the Gophers, including five in a row in Champaign.
• The Illini head to Purdue on Jan. 24 and close out the month by hosting Washington on Jan. 29. It will be the Huskies first visit to Champaign since Dec. 7, 1991.
• After opening February at Nebraska (Feb. 1), the Illini host Northwestern on Feb. 4 at State Farm Center, where the Illini have won nine straight over the Wildcats.
• Illinois plays the fifth of its seven weekend league road games on Feb. 7 at defending Big Ten champion Michigan State.
• The Illini return to Champaign for back-to-back games Feb. 10 vs. Wisconsin and Sunday, Feb. 15 vs. Indiana.
• Illinois will travel to California following the Indiana game, playing at USC on Feb. 18 followed by at UCLA on Feb. 21. The Illini will play at USC for the first time since Dec. 13, 1975 and make its first appearance to Pauley Pavilion since Dec. 30, 1997.
• A Friday night showdown against Michigan awaits after returning from the west coast, with the Illini putting their nine-game win streak against the Wolverines on the line in Champaign on Feb. 27.
• Senior night at State Farm Center will be held on March 3 when Oregon makes its first-ever trip to Champaign.
• Illinois closes out the regular season at Maryland on March 8.
• The Big Ten Tournament is set for March 10-15 at the United Center in Chicago, marking the first field to feature all 18 teams.
