Illinois Unveils Men's Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
August 21, 2026 | Men's Basketball
News
Ticket Information | Printable Schedule
CHAMPAIGN, Ill.– Illinois has unveiled its completed 2026-27 non-conference schedule, highlighted by five games against high-major opponents and totaling six contests against reigning NCAA Tournament teams.
Illinois will prep for the regular season with a trio of exhibition games, beginning Oct. 17 at Cincinnati. The Illini will host Baylor in an exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 23, the night before Illinois Football's home game against Oregon. The final exhibition game is set for Oct. 28, at home against UIC.
The Fighting Illini officially tip off the season on Nov. 2, hosting Fairleigh Dickinson on opening night. Illinois then welcomes Penn to State Farm Center on Nov. 5 in a rematch of last year's NCAA Tournament first-round game that saw the Illini defeat the Quakers, 105-70.
Illinois has its first road test set for Nov. 10 with a trip to Lubbock, Texas to face Texas Tech in a return game from last year's 81-77 Illini victory in Champaign. The Red Raiders are coming off an NCAA Round of 32 appearance.
Illinois returns to State Farm Center on Friday, Nov. 13 against Sam Houston. Another marquee road game follows as the Illini travel to Durham, North Carolina to face Duke on Nov. 17 at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight last season, and like the Illini, are receiving preseason recognition as a top-ranked team.
Illinois closes out November with three straight home games. Eastern Illinois will visit State Farm Center on Friday, Nov. 20, the night before the final football game at Gies Memorial Stadium vs. Iowa. The Illini then host Winthrop on Nov. 23 and have a Black Friday home game against Western Kentucky on Nov. 27.
Another one of the premier non-conference games of the 2026-27 college basketball season is set for Friday, Dec. 4, as reigning Final Four teams Illinois and UConn will meet at the United Center in Chicago. The Huskies defeated the Illini 71-62 in last season's National Semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Illini are in St. Louis on Sunday, Dec. 20, battling Missouri in the annual McBride Homes Braggin' Rights game at Enterprise Center. Illinois will look to retain the Braggin' Rights trophy for the fourth year in a row against the Tigers, who are coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Illinois closes out the calendar year at home against Seattle on Dec. 29.
The final non-conference game is set for Saturday, Jan. 30, as Illinois returns to Nashville to face 2026 NCAA Tournament participant North Carolina in the Nashville Hoops Showdown at Bridgestone Arena. Illinois also visited Nashville last season, defeating Tennessee.
Illinois' Big Ten home schedule includes the following 10 teams: Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin.
The Illini will make league road trips, meanwhile, to Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Northwestern, Oregon, Purdue, Rutgers, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The full Big Ten schedule will be released at a later date.
Head coach Brad Underwood welcomes back five rotation players while adding a top-15 recruiting class and impact transfer to this year's roster, as Illinois appears in the Top 5 preseason rankings for 2026-27.
Illinois is coming off a Final Four appearance, 28-9 record – the fourth-most wins in school history – and Big Ten runner-up finish. Illinois is the winningest team in Big Ten play this decade and is one of four programs nationally with seven straight 20-win regular seasons.
