CHAMPAIGN — Illinois will open the 2025-26 men’s basketball season with a home exhibition against a Missouri Valley Conference opponent, followed by 11 nonconference games scheduled across two months.
Illinois on Monday unveiled its full nonconference schedule for the regular season, including previously announced games against reigning Elite Eight teams Alabama and Tennessee, plus another Elite Eight opponent Texas Tech.
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Illinois also faces two other NCAA Tournament teams in Missouri and UConn, the latter a Black Friday game Nov. 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York. Illinois played Duke last season at MSG.
The Fighting Illini open with an exhibition home game Oct. 19 against Illinois State, followed by the true season opener on Nov. 3 at home vs. Jackson State.
Dates and times for Big Ten Conference games have yet to be announced but are expected in September. Big Ten opponents and locations were announced in April.
Illinois won 22 games last season and advanced to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. The Illini and coach Brad Underwood return three starters and a host of anticipated international players as they try for their seventh straight 20-win season.
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2025-26 Illinois basketball nonconference schedule
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Oct. 19 — Exhibition vs. Illinois State
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Nov. 3 — vs. Jackson State
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Nov. 7 — vs. Florida Gulf Coast
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Nov. 11 — vs. Texas Tech
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Nov. 19 — vs. Alabama, United Center, Chicago
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Nov. 22 — vs. Long Island
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Nov. 24 — vs. Texas-Rio Grande Valley
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Nov. 28 — vs. UConn, Madison Square Garden, New York
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Dec. 6 — vs. Tennessee, Bridgestone Arena, Nashville
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Dec. 22 — vs. Missouri, Enterprise Center, St. Louis
2025-26 Illinois basketball schedule: Big Ten opponents
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Home: Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oregon, Rutgers, Washington and Wisconsin.
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Away: Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, UCLA and USC.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois basketball: Nonconference schedule set for 2025-26 season
