Head coach Bret Bielema leads the Illinois Fighting Illini football team into the 2026 college football season with high expectations across Big Ten play. The program represents the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in NCAA Division I FBS competition.
Memorial Stadium in Champaign hosts seven home contests this fall, highlighted by visits from non-conference opponents and major Big Ten rivals. Fans are watching closely as the Illini build on recent roster growth and recruiting wins.
Following the complete Illinois football slate helps you plan every Saturday from opening kickoff through rivalry week. Below is the full Illinois Football schedule 2026 with dates, kickoff times in Eastern Time, broadcast networks, and streaming destinations.
What channel is the Illinois football game on?
Illinois Football games air on Big Ten broadcast partners, including FOX, FS1, and Big Ten Network (BTN). Select non-conference matchups stream exclusively on Peacock, while afternoon or primetime kickoff windows on CBS and NBC are announced six to twelve days in advance.
Illinois Football Schedule 2026
Check the complete 2026 Illinois Fighting Illini football schedule below, featuring confirmed kickoff windows and television networks.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | TV |
| Thu, Sep. 3 | UAB Blazers | 9:00 PM | BTN |
| Sat, Sep. 12 | Duke Blue Devils | 3:30 PM | FS1 |
| Sat, Sep. 19 | Southern Illinois Salukis | 2:00 PM | Peacock |
| Sat, Sep. 26 | at Ohio State Buckeyes | TBA | TBA |
| Sat, Oct. 3 | Purdue Boilermakers (HC) | TBA | TBA |
| Sat, Oct. 10 | at Michigan State Spartans | TBA | TBA |
| Sat, Oct. 17 | OPEN DATE | — | — |
| Sat, Oct. 24 | Oregon Ducks | TBA | TBA |
| Sat, Oct. 31 | at Maryland Terrapins | TBA | TBA |
| Fri, Nov. 6 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | 8:00 PM | FOX |
| Fri, Nov. 13 | at UCLA Bruins | 9:00 PM | FOX |
| Sat, Nov. 21 | Iowa Hawkeyes | TBA | TBA |
| Sat, Nov. 28 | at Northwestern Wildcats | TBA | TBA |
| Sat, Dec. 5 | Big Ten Championship (Indianapolis) | 8:00 PM | FOX |
Where to watch Illinois football?
Cord-cutters can stream every televised Illinois game live through popular subscription services carrying FOX, FS1, CBS, and BTN. Platforms such as YouTube TV, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Sling TV carry the required sports tiers.
Streaming-only broadcasts require separate direct-to-consumer apps. Matchups selected for Peacock or Paramount+ need active standalone subscriptions, while games on FOX and FS1 stream through the FOX Sports app with valid provider login credentials.
Local sports bars across Illinois, Chicago, and the Midwest routinely broadcast Fighting Illini games on gamedays. Radio listeners can tune into the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network, SiriusXM satellite radio, or the Varsity Network app for live audio play-by-play coverage.
Editorial Disclaimer: Game dates, start times, and broadcast networks remain subject to change based on Big Ten television selections and NCAA scheduling adjustments.
