Illinois Football Schedule 2026: Games, TV and Results
Check Illinois football’s 2026 game dates, opponents, TV coverage and verified results, including the Maryland and UCLA road matchups.
Illinois Football Schedule 2026: Games, TV and Results
The 2026 Fighting Illini football season features 12 regular-season games, including Big Ten contests against Maryland, UCLA, Iowa and Northwestern. This calendar distinguishes verified final scores from games still to be played.
Quick reference
| Detail | Official schedule information |
| Matchup / topic | Illinois vs 2026 opponents |
| Date | September 3–November 28, 2026 |
| Time | Game times vary by opponent |
| Location | Champaign and conference road sites |
| TV / status | Networks vary by game |
Illinois football results and remaining games
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result / status |
| Sep 3 | UAB | Home | W 42–23 |
| Sep 12 | Duke | Home | L 27–31 |
| Sep 19 | Southern Illinois | Home | W 48–10 |
| Sep 26 | Ohio State | Away | L 19–42 |
| Oct 3 | Purdue | Home | L 17–24 |
| Oct 10 | Michigan State | Away | W 38–37 (OT) |
| Oct 24 | Oregon | Home | W 21–10 |
| Oct 31 | Maryland | Away | Result not verified |
| Nov 6 | Nebraska | Home | Scheduled |
| Nov 13 | UCLA | Away | Scheduled |
| Nov 21 | Iowa | Home | Scheduled |
| Nov 28 | Northwestern | Away | Scheduled |
The verified 2026 results through October 24
Illinois's 2026 football schedule includes seven completed games through October 24, followed by Maryland on October 31, Nebraska on November 6, UCLA on November 13, Iowa on November 21 and Northwestern on November 28. The Illinois athletics department lists the team at 4–3 through October 24, before the Maryland result has been confirmed. This is the season hub for the complete opponent list rather than a competing recap of one matchup.
November opponents and kickoff windows
The November finish includes two Friday games, one home and one away, before late-November contests against Iowa and Northwestern. Listing kickoff zones matters: the university shows Maryland at 11 a.m. Central and UCLA at 8 p.m. Central, even though the games take place in Eastern and Pacific cities respectively.
How to follow a live or completed game
The verified 2026 results include a 42–23 win over UAB, 27–31 loss to Duke, 48–10 win over Southern Illinois, 19–42 loss at Ohio State, 17–24 loss to Purdue, 38–37 overtime win at Michigan State and 21–10 win against Oregon. Those scores should be dated and separated from results that are still pending.
Why the season hub and matchup pages are separate
An annual schedule should make home/away status and broadcast information easy to scan. Fans can use the official team game center for late kickoff changes and box scores. This URL should stay focused on Illinois football's 2026 season, not swallow unique event intent for Maryland or UCLA.
Last updated against the Illinois schedule on November 1, 2026 (Asia/Jakarta). The status of October 31 at Maryland and later fixtures needs a fresh official final/TV check before publication.
The games that changed the October trajectory
Illinois's 38–37 overtime win at Michigan State did more than add a conference victory. It was decided by a one-point margin after extra time, so describing the game as a comfortable win would mislead readers. Two weeks later the Illini faced Oregon at home and won 21–10 after scoring 21 straight points. Taken together, the results show different paths to victories, but no direct forecast for Maryland or UCLA.
The September and early October results also include a loss at Ohio State and a home loss to Purdue. Those outcomes matter when a fan tries to interpret the season record: 4–3 is a snapshot through October 24, not a final 2026 record. Keep the seven confirmed final scores together and clearly differentiate every later result field until the school posts a completed box score.
What the November travel pattern means
November features a home Friday game against Nebraska, a Friday road trip to UCLA, a Saturday home date against Iowa and the final regular-season visit to Northwestern. That sequence crosses multiple time zones and changes venue each week. It explains why fans benefit from an opponent-by-opponent schedule table rather than a generic 'next Illinois game' sentence.
Frequently asked questions
How many games are on Illinois’s 2026 football schedule?
The listed regular-season schedule contains 12 games, seven with verified results through October 24.
Who does Illinois play on November 13, 2026?
Illinois visits UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Friday, November 13, with an 8 p.m. Central start.
Is the Maryland final score included?
Only confirmed final results are included; the October 31 contest requires a fresh box-score check.