Predicting every game on Illinois’ 2026 schedule

The Illini will open the year under the lights on the first Thursday of September, and the stadium should be packed with Illinois fans. Illinois will be one of three Big Ten teams in action that night and should take care of business.

The Illini will be looking to win at least nine games for the third consecutive season. The schedule features a mix of manageable opponents, national championship contenders, and everything in between. Let's take a closer look at the schedule and predict each game.