CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (Chambana Today) – The Fighting Illini men’s basketball team has unveiled its complete 2025–26 non-conference schedule, featuring one of the program’s most competitive lineups in recent memory.
Illinois opens the season at home on November 3 against Jackson State, the first of four consecutive home games. Highlighting the early slate is a November 11 matchup against Texas Tech, an Elite Eight team from last season. The Illini will also host Florida Gulf Coast and Colgate before hitting the road.
A key marquee matchup comes November 19, when Illinois travels to Chicago’s United Center to face Alabama, another Elite Eight squad. Black Friday (Nov. 28) brings a nationally anticipated clash with UConn at Madison Square Garden. UConn, winners of back-to-back national titles in 2023 and 2024, will face Illinois in their fourth straight appearance at MSG.
The Illini head to Nashville on December 6 to take on Tennessee in the first of a new two-game series. The non-conference slate wraps up with the annual Braggin’ Rights game vs. Missouri on December 22 and a home game vs. Southern on December 29.
Illinois returns three starters from a 22-win campaign and enters the season as the winningest Big Ten program over the last six years under head coach Brad Underwood.
The full Big Ten schedule will be released at a later date.
