Illinois Finishes Nonconference Schedule Against Southern Illinois
September 14, 2026 | Football
PREVIEW
| Illinois (1-1) vs. Southern Illinois (2-1) | |
|---|---|
| Date | Time | Saturday, Sept. 19 | 1 p.m. CT |
| Location | Champaign, Ill. (Gies Memorial Stadium) |
| Tickets | FightingIllini.com/tickets |
| TV | Peacock |
| Radio | Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Listen | SiriusXM (113/232) | SXM App |
| Live Stats | illinois.statbroadcast.com |
| Illinois | Game Notes |
| SIU | SIUSalukis.com |
| Shop | Fighting Illini Store |
| Social Media | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |
| App | Fighting Illini App |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois takes on in-state foe Southern Illinois on Saturday at Gies Memorial Stadium to end its three-game nonconference homestand to start the 2026 season. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Peacock.
Illinois (1-1) looks to restart its nonconference winning streak after snapping a 10-game nonconference winning streak dating back to 2023 with last week's loss to Duke. Southern Illinois (2-1) is coming off a rivalry win over SEMO.
The Illini have been highlighted through two games by wide receiver Collin Dixon, who is tied for the national lead in receiving touchdowns (5) and tied for the Big Ten lead in receptions (17). Getting Dixon the ball is quarterback Katin Houser, who ranks seventh in the nation in ESPN's QBR metric (90.2) and ranks among the nation's top quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (14th, 6), passing efficiency (23rd, 178.6), and completion percentage (28th, 71.2).
Paul Bermeister (play-by-play), Ian Book (analyst), and Ashley ShahAhmadi (reporter) have the television broadcast streaming on Peacock. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the radio call with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), and Kevin Mitchell (sideline).
Press Conference
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema will host his game week press conference on Monday at 1 p.m. CT. Fans can watch for free at FightingIllini.com/live.
New Traffic Patterns
The University of Illinois Division of Public Safety and the Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) will implement a lot-specific traffic-routing system for the 2026 Illinois football season. The new routes are designed to ease traffic as much as possible, but fans are encouraged to arrive earlier than usual and review their designated gameday parking route on the Illinois Football 2026 Parking Updates website in advance.
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Notes
Illinois vs. SIU
• Illinois is 4-0 all-time against Southern Illinois.
• Illinois legend Howard Griffith produced one of the all-time great games in college football history against Southern Illinois when he ran for a record eight touchdowns against the Salukis on Sept. 22, 1990. Griffith was inducted into the Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame last weekend.
The Illinois Offense
• Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. is the longest tenured offensive coordinator in the Big Ten.
• WR Collin Dixon is off to one of the best starts for a wideout in program history through two games. He is tied for the Big Ten lead in receiving touchdowns (5) with Rutgers' KJ Duff and Indiana's Charlie Becker and tied for the Big Ten lead in receptions (17) with Duff. Dixon ranks third in the Big Ten in receiving yards (236), behind only Duff and Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith. Nationally, Dixon ranks tied for first in receiving touchdowns, sixth in receptions, and 13th in receiving yards. Dixon, Becker, Duff, and Buffalo's Chance Morrow are the only players in the nation with five receiving touchdowns.
• Illinois QB Katin Houser ranks seventh in the nation in ESPN's QBR metric (90.2) and ranks among the nation's top quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (14th, 6), passing efficiency (23rd, 178.6), and completion percentage (28th, 71.2).
• In the season-opening win over UAB, Houser had the eighth-best passing efficiency in a game in program history and the best ever in an Illini debut (224.6).
• WR Hudson Clement has caught a pass in 29 straight games, the sixth-longest active streak in the nation.
• The Illinois offensive line has yet to allow a sack this season.
• The Illinois offense has improved every year since Lunney's arrival. The Illini averaged 24.2 points per game in Lunney's first year in 2022, followed by 24.5 in 2023, 28.3 in 2024, and 29.4 in 2025.
• From Lunney's first season in 2022 through the 2025 season, Illinois ranked second in the Big Ten in completion percentage (65.1), fourth in passer rating (143.9), fifth in points (1,359), fifth in passing touchdowns (83), and fifth in passing yards (11,739) among the 14 teams that were in the league all four seasons (2022-25).
The Illinois Defense
• Illinois' defense is run by first-year defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck, the former Montana and UNLV head coach.
• DL Will Holmes ranks 20th in the nation with nine total pressures with a 27.3% pressure rate on pass snaps (data by PFF).
• LB Ismael Kante has the eighth-longest interception return for a touchdown in the nation this season (59 yards vs. UAB).
• 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 this season with 12.
