Game-by-game prediction for the Illinois basketball 2025-26 season

The Illinois basketball season tips off on Monday, November 3, at home against Jackson State.

I can’t believe the season is actually starting. This is a newer Illini squad, but you will still see some of the familiar faces from last season.

Kylan Boswell will be a main cog in the Illinois offense and defense once again. Big man Tomislav Ivisic will also be gliding up and down the court. But the new names are what should get you pumped for the potential of the 2025-26 campaign.

Here is the game-by-game prediction for the Illinois basketball 2025-26 season

#17 Illinois vs Jackson State – Monday, November 3

Jackson State was a below-average team last season, winning just 16 games. Illinois might not be at full strength yet for this contest, but we should be able to put the Tigers away easily.

Final: Illinois 86 – Jackson State 50 (W) (1-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Florida Gulf Coast – Friday, November 7

This isn’t your Florida Gulf Coast of 10 years ago. They are a decent team, but they only managed to win 19 games last season. Much like the Jackson State contest, Illinois shouldn’t have a problem here despite likely missing a piece or two.

Final: Illinois 92 – Florida Gulf Coast 66 (W) (2-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs #10 Texas Tech – Tuesday, November 11

This game all depends on if Illinois is healthy. It is being played in Champaign, so that helps greatly. Texas Tech returns JT Toppin, who could end up being the best player in basketball. They did lose two out of their top three scorers, though. I think, just because it is a home game, Illinois still manages to come away with the win.

Final: Illinois 87 – Texas Tech 82 (W) (3-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Colgate – Friday, November 14

Colgate is a bad team. They registered 14 wins last season, and Illinois shouldn’t play with our food here. Put the toothpaste back in the tube and move on.

Final: Illinois 98 – Colgate 58 (W) (4-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs #15 Alabama – Wednesday, November 19

Alabama lost some big pieces like Mark Sears and Grant Nelson, but they do have some good returning pieces, and they loaded up in the transfer portal. I think the Crimson Tide is going to be ranked No. 1 at some point this season. They have a stacked roster. This game is up in Chicago on a Wednesday, too. I think it will be close, but I have Illinois losing this contest.

Final: Illinois 81 – Alabama 91 (L) (4-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Long Island – Saturday, November 22

Illinois gets a chance to rebound in a big way against Long Island. The Sharks won 17 games last season, and they shouldn’t be a problem for Illinois in 2025-26.

Final: Illinois 80 – Long Island 42 (W) (5-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs UT Rio Grande Valley – Monday, November 24

Another around .500 team last season, UT Rio Grande Valley won a total of 16 games. This should be another victory in easy fashion, as Illinois heads into a tough stretch of the schedule.

Final: Illinois 101 – UT Rio Grande Valley 65 (W) (6-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs #4 UConn – Friday, November 28

UConn returns nearly all of their top playmakers from last season. I think Solo Ball could be on the short list for best player in college basketball. The Huskies are probably national title favorites right now. This game is in Madison Square Garden in New York, so that provides another challenge for the Illini. This could be a tough outing.

Final: Illinois 78 – UConn 85 (L) (6-2 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs #18 Tennessee – Saturday, December 6

A week after the tough UConn game in New York, Illinois heads to Nashville for a “Neutral” game against Tennessee. I think this is a depleted Vols program, but they did reload a bit in the offseason. They lost their top four scorers from last season, and that will hurt. Illinois has already played some tough teams leading up to this game, and I think we know what it will take to get past Tennessee.

Final: Illinois 81 – Tennessee 70 (W) (7-2 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois at Ohio State – Tuesday, December 9

Ohio State should be a better team this season than the 17 wins we saw last year. Their top players are back in the fold, and this is a road game, the final of a three-game road trip for Illinois. The Illini might be pretty tired by then, and it is only a few days after the Tennessee game. Look for Illinois to potentially struggle in this contest.

Final: Illinois 70 – Ohio State 82 (L) (7-3 overall, 0-1 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Nebraska – Saturday, December 13

I think there is a strong chance Nebraska takes a step back this season. They lost their top two players from a 21-win team in 2024-25. Illinois can struggle against the Cornhuskers, but this game is at home, and Illinois is coming off a loss. Look for a nice rebound game.

Final: Illinois 84 – Nebraska 65 (W) (8-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Missouri – Monday, December 22

The yearly Braggin’ Rights game should be interesting. Missouri returns Mark Mitchell, and he has talent through the roof. Their depth isn’t great, though. Illinois has the size to really give the Tigers trouble. Look for this to be another victory in this fun game.

Final Illinois 78 – Missouri 65 (W) (9-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Southern – Monday, December 29

Despite Southern being the SWAC regular season champs last season, the Jaguars aren’t that good. Illinois has the firepower to put Southern away early, and this should be a nice tune-up heading into the full Big Ten slate.

Final: Illinois 98 – Southern 62 (W) (10-3 overall, 1-1 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois at Penn State – Saturday, January 3

Penn State lost so much talent from the 16-win team last season. They do have a great freshman in Kayden Mingo, who could win the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. But if you have a freshman leading a squad that struggles with talent, that is a recipe for a bad season.

Final: Illinois 88 – Penn State 68 (W) (11-3 overall, 2-1 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Rutgers – Thursday, January 8

There is a pretty good chance that Rutgers is the worst team in the Big Ten this season. They lost their top three players, and they were the only good players on the team. Don’t be shocked if the Scarlet Knights finish with fewer than 12 wins this season.

Final: Illinois 78 – Rutgers 55 (W) (12-3 overall, 3-1 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois at Iowa – Sunday, January 11

I was shocked by how bad Iowa was last season. They cleaned house, and all of their good talent transferred. They are in for a rough 2025-26 campaign. I fully expect the Hawkeyes to be down there with Rutgers at the bottom of the conference.

Final: Illinois 85 – Iowa 60 (W) (13-3 overall, 4-1 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois at Northwestern – Wednesday, January 14

Northwestern is a pretty top-heavy team this season. They return Nick Martinelli, who is a thorn in Illinois’ side. That is pretty much all the Wildcats have, though. They did add Phoenix Gill, the son of former Illini great Kendall Gill. But he probably won’t be able to save Northwestern.

Final: Illinois 73 – Northwestern 65 (W) (14-3 overall, 5-1 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Minnesota – Saturday, January 17

Illinois gets the easiest start to a Big Ten schedule I have ever seen. I think Minnesota is going to be another train wreck of a team this season, as they lost all of their top talent from a .500 squad. Look for the Golden Gophers to be at the bottom of the Big Ten once again.

Final: Illinois 86 – Minnesota 60 (W) (15-3 overall, 6-1 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Maryland – Wednesday, January 21

Illinois usually struggles against Maryland, but this is a different Terrapins squad. They are trying to replace a couple of NBA players, but they didn’t do a great job of that in the offseason. Maryland is definitely going to take a step back this season and be on the bubble, at best.

Final: Illinois 77 – Maryland 61 (W) (16-3 overall, 7-1 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois at #1 Purdue – Saturday, January 24

And here is the first huge game of what will be a gauntlet finish to the Big Ten season. Purdue won 24 games last season and got to the Sweet 16, where they nearly knocked off Houston. The Boilermakers return all of the important pieces from that team, and they enter 2025-26 as the No. 1 team in the country. Going on the road against an experienced team like Purdue will be tough.

Final: Illinois 69 – Purdue 75 (L) (16-4 overall, 7-2 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Washington – Thursday, January 29

Washington was the worst team in the Big Ten last season, and while they might be able to get off the mat in 2025-26, they should still be pretty bad. The Huskies have to travel to Illinois for this game, so it should be a nice rebound for the Illini.

Final: Illinois 81 – Washington 62 (W) (17-4 overall, 8-2 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois at Nebraska – Sunday, February 1

I have Illinois beating Nebraska soundly at home, but Big Ten road games are always tough. The Cornhuskers always seem to play us close, and this one will be no exception. Look for Nebraska to hang with us until the end, but Illinois should be able to emerge victoriously.

Final: Illinois 67 – Nebraska 65 (W) (18-4 overall, 9-2 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Northwestern – Wednesday, February 4

After taking down Northwestern on the road, the Wildcats travel to Champaign in February. The Wildcats just don’t have enough firepower to handle Illinois. In both games, they will keep up, but at some point, the depth will get the best of Northwestern.

Final: Illinois 76 – Northwestern 63 (W) (19-4 overall, 10-2 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois at #22 Michigan State – Saturday, February 7

Michigan State was at the top of the Big Ten last season. They made it all the way to the Elite 8, too. This team was hit with departures, though. Their top three scorers are all gone. They also lost some depth in the transfer portal. The additions for the Spartans are nothing to write home about either. I like Illinois’ chances of a tough road win.

Final: Illinois 71 – Michigan State 66 (W) (20-4 overall, 11-2 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs #24 Wisconsin – Tuesday, February 10

Wisconsin had a good team last year, logging 27 wins on the season. They lost two out of their top three scorers, though. I am not too impressed with what the Badgers added in the offseason, either. The Badgers will always be a decent team, but I think they take a step back this season. With this game being in Champaign, I give the Illini the edge.

Final: Illinois 78 – Wisconsin 70 (W) (21-4 overall, 12-2 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Indiana – Sunday, February 15

There has been a big change in Bloomington. Indiana was about as average as you could get last season, and now they have revamped their team. The Hoosiers are trying to buy a good team this season, as they have a new roster filled with 10 transfer portal additions. It will be interesting to see how quickly or if those transfers gel. If they do, Indiana could be pretty good. I still like Illinois at home in this contest.

Final: Illinois 81 – Indiana 76 (W) (22-4 overall, 13-2 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois at USC – Wednesday, February 18

USC is going to be better than their sub-.500 record last season. They hit the transfer portal hard, and this could mean a better team than what we are used to. The Trojans landed a five-star in Alijah Arenas, but he has an injury that will keep him out for most of the season. There is a chance he will be back for this game, but even if he does return, the ramp-up period will be long.

Final: Illinois 75 – USC 70 (W) (23-4 overall, 14-2 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois at #12 UCLA – Saturday, February 21

I think you are looking at a UCLA team that I would put among my top five favorites to win the national title. They return their top two scorers from a 23-win campaign last season. The Bruins also did a great job in the transfer portal, landing one of the best players in Donovan Dent and also plucking Xavier Booker from Michigan State. This is going to be a really good UCLA team, and going on the road is going to be extremely tough for the Illini.

Final: Illinois 74 – UCLA 88 (L) (23-5 overall, 14-3 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs #7 Michigan – Friday, February 27

Michigan has a good coach, and it is annoying. The Wolverines made the Sweet 16 last season, and they return most of their depth on the roster. Michigan did lose their top three scorers, but a great haul in the transfer portal should fill all of the gaps on the floor. I expect Michigan to be at the top of the Big Ten once again. This game will be intense with Morez Johnson Jr. returning to Champaign for the first time. It is going to be a really close game.

Final: Illinois 71 – Michigan 70 (W) (24-5 overall, 15-3 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois vs Oregon – Tuesday, March 3

There are going to be a few sneaky teams in the Big Ten this season, and I think Oregon is one of those squads. They return their top two scorers from a team that almost made the Sweet 16. The Ducks then added a few key pieces to fill in any holes. This Oregon team will be in the top 25 when this game rolls around. After the emotional win over Michigan, Illinois could have a letdown game for sure.

Final: Illinois 68 – Oregon 75 (L) (24-6 overall, 15-4 Big Ten)

#17 Illinois at Maryland – Sunday, March 8

The last game of the season shouldn’t be too tough. I have Illinois dominating Maryland in Champaign, but the game on the road will be a little tougher. Needing a win to potentially take home a Big Ten regular season crown, Illinois comes through in a big way.

Final: Illinois 84 – Maryland 81 (W) (25-6 overall, 16-4 Big Ten)

This article was originally published on www.writingillini.com as Game-by-game prediction for the Illinois basketball 2025-26 season.

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