University of Illinois
UCLA
November 9, 2026 | Football
PREVIEW
| Illinois (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) at #4 UCLA (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) | |
|---|---|
| Date | Time | Friday, Nov. 13 | 8 p.m. CT/6 p.m. PT |
| Location | Pasadena, California (Rose Bowl) |
| Tickets | UCLABruins.com |
| TV | FOX |
| Radio | Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Listen | SiriusXM (271) | SXM App |
| Live Stats | illinois.statbroadcast.com |
| Illinois | Game Notes |
| UCLA | UCLABruins.com |
| Shop | Fighting Illini Store |
| Social Media | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |
| App | Fighting Illini App |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Big Ten's longest winning streaks will be on the line Friday night when Illinois, winners of four straight, take on undefeated and #4-ranked UCLA at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT/6 p.m. PT on FOX.
Illinois (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) is playing its second straight Friday night game on FOX after a 24-13 win over Nebraska last week. The Illini scored the most points (24) and had the most passing yards (292) against Nebraska's defense this season behind 292 passing yards and three passing touchdowns from Katin Houser and 129 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions from Collin Dixon.
UCLA (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) is one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the nation, along with Utah. First-year head coach Bob Chesney has led the Bruins to a 9-0 start for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 1998. The Bruins have dominated opponents with a +14 turnover margin, including a national-leading 27 takeaways and 17 interceptions.
Illinois makes its first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 2008 Rose Bowl Game following the 2007 season, a 49-17 loss to #6 USC. The Illini last played UCLA in a regular season game at the Rose Bowl in 2003, a 6-3 loss. Illinois is 5-4 all-time at the Rose Bowl — 3-2 in the Rose Bowl Game and 2-2 in regular season games against UCLA.
Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), and Josh Sims (reporter) have the the national television broadcast on FOX. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the state-wide radio call with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), and Kevin Mitchell (sideline).
Press Conference
Notes
Big Ten's Longest Winning Streaks Meet in Pasadena
- Illinois and UCLA have two of the top four longest winning streaks in Power-4: Utah (W15), UCLA (W9), Wake Forest (W6), Illinois (W4), South Carolina (W4).
- Illinois' four-game Big Ten winning streak includes victories over Michigan State, #-/23 Oregon, Maryland, and Nebraska. Only the undefeated Bruins are on a longer winning streak in the Big Ten.
- Illinois' trip to Pasadena is the Illini's only trip west of Champaign this season.
- Illinois makes its first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 2008 Rose Bowl Game following the 2007 season, a 49-17 loss to #6 USC. The Illini last played UCLA in a regular season game at the Rose Bowl in 2003, a 6-3 loss.
- Illinois is 5-4 all-time at the Rose Bowl — 3-2 in the Rose Bowl Game and 2-2 in regular season games against UCLA.
- Last Friday, Illinois scored the most points (24) and had the most passing yards (292) against Nebraska's defense this season in a 24-13 win at home.
- Illinois had a walk-off win at Maryland, 20-17, on Oct. 31 to extend its winning streak to three. The Illini finished the game on a 13-play, 67-yard drive covering the final 5:45, ending in Ethan Moczulski's 26-yard game winner. Jordan Anderson had 43 yards on seven touches on the game-winning drive.
- Illinois handed Oregon its first Big Ten road loss since the Ducks joined the Big Ten in 2024. The Illini scored 21 straight points to come back and win, 21-10, and break the Ducks' streak of 61 straight games scoring more than 10 points.
- Illinois pulled off a thrilling 38-37 (OT) win on Oct. 10 to spark the four-game winning streak. Michael Clayton II threw a 25-yard TD to Hudson Clement in OT, then the Illini stopped the Spartans' two-point conversion attempt to seal the game.
Illinois Offense Notes
- WR Collin Dixon is one of the top wide receivers in the nation:
- One of only four players in the nation to rank in the top 10 in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, along with Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Malachi Toney (Miami), and Easton Messer (FAU)
- Fourth in the nation in receiving touchdowns (12), behind Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Oregon State's Jesse Legree, and Miami's Malachi Toney
- Broke Illinois' single-season receiving touchdowns record with 12
- Broke Illinois' Gies Memorial Stadium record for receiving touchdowns
- Sixth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in receptions (68)
- Eighth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in receiving yards (910)
- Dixon and Hudson Clement are No. 2 among B1G duos in receiving yards (1,450), behind only Indiana's Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh (1,544). Clement is No. 18 in the Big Ten in receptions (37) and No. 14 in receiving yards (540).
- QB Katin Houser ranks 24th in the nation in ESPN's QBR metric (77.4).
- Illinois running backs have three touchdown rushes over 60 yards this season: Aidan Laughery has two and Javari Barnett has one. Both of Laughery's are over 75 yards.
- Laughery has 100+-yard games against two ranked opponents - Ohio State (113) and Oregon (123). He ran for 113 yards at OSU, the first opposing player to rush for 100+ at Ohio Stadium since Michigan's Kalel Mullings (116 yards) on Nov. 30, 2024.
- Illinois' offensive line ranks among the best in the nation:
- 11th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in fewest tackles for loss allowed (29)
- 15th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed (10)
- Illinois has started four different offensive lines through nine games, primarily due to injuries. The Illini have started the same offensive line group during the current four-game winning streak.
Illinois Defense Notes
- Illinois has held three straight Big Ten opponents under 20 points for the first time since 2022 (four straight).
- Illinois is holding opponents to 19.3 points per game during the current four-game winning streak.
- DB Matthew Bailey is the only player in the nation returning after leading his team in tackles in 2024 and 2025. Bailey is Illinois' leading tackler again this season with 66, including a career-high 14 at Ohio State.
- DL Will Holmes' 26 pressures ranks 11th in the Big Ten, according to PFF.
- CB Juice Clarke ranks fifth in the nation and is tied for the Big Ten lead in pass breakups (10). He is tied for the Big Ten lead with Audavion Collins of Penn State.
- In the last three games, Clarke has allowed only 20.1 completion yards allowed per game (61 total yards) on 16 targets and 132 coverage snaps (per PFF).
- In the last three games, Xavier Scott has allowed only 19.3 completion yards allowed per game (58 total yards) on 15 targets and 135 coverage snaps (per PFF).
- In the last four games, DB Tanner Heckel has allowed only 18.3 completion yards allowed per game (73 total yards) on 17 targets and 161 coverage snaps (per PFF). Heckel's snaps have more than doubled during the winning streak.
Ranked Wins
- Illinois is 7-5 against ranked opponents (AP, Coaches, and/or CFP rankings) since 2024. From the 2008 Rose Bowl game through the 2023 season, Illinois went 5-41 against ranked teams and two of those wins were under Bielema in 2021 (at #7/8 Penn State; at #20 Minnesota).
- Illinois' ranked wins since 2024:
- 2026: #-/25 Oregon
- 2025: #21/22 USC, #-/23 Tennessee (Music City Bowl)
- 2024: #19/20 Kansas, at #22/22 Nebraska, #24/22 Michigan, vs. #14/14 South Carolina (Citrus Bowl)
- All seven of Illinois' ranked wins since 2024 have come as underdogs.
- Illinois has beaten at least one ranked team in three straight seasons for the first time since an eight-year run from 1988-95.
