Illinois Football: Big Ten releases future Illini opponents

The Illinois football future Big Ten opponents schedule was released on Thursday afternoon.

With the Big Ten expanding, it was always a question of which programs the Illini would be playing moving forward. This season was the last of the regular Big Ten schedule, and in 2024, things will get crazy.

To put any speculation about conference opponents aside, the Big Ten mapped out what the conference schedule would look like for each team.

Illinois football Big Ten opponents from 2024 through 2028

Illinois football 2024 Big Ten opponents

Home

• Michigan
• Michigan State
• Minnesota
• Purdue

Away

• Nebraska
• Northwestern
• Oregon
• Penn State
• Rutgers

Thoughts: I think the biggest eye-opener is that one game on the West Coast. Illinois has to travel to Eugene to take on the Oregon Ducks. I am a little terrified and excited all at the same time.

Illinois football 2025 Big Ten opponents

Home

• Maryland
• Northwestern
• Ohio State
• Rutgers
• USC

Away

• Indiana
• Purdue
• Washington
• Wisconsin

Thoughts: There are some huge games in there for the Illini. Honestly, this is a brutal schedule. USC, Ohio State, and Washington is daunting. Hopefully, Bret Bielema will have Illinois in a really good spot by 2025.

Illinois football 2026 Big Ten opponents

Home

• Iowa
• Nebraska
• Oregon
• Purdue

Away

• Maryland
• Michigan State
• Northwestern
• Ohio State
• UCLA

Thoughts: This schedule is a bit easier than the year prior. It is fun to play a game on the West Coast against UCLA. I think that the Oregon game is going to draw a huge crowd in Champaign as well.

Illinois football 2027 Big Ten opponents

Home

• Indiana
• Northwestern
• Penn State
• UCLA
• Wisconsin

Away

• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Purdue
• USC

Thoughts: Illinois gets to go back to the Rose Bowl. That should be a fun game to watch. It is nice not having Ohio State on the schedule, but Illinois still has to travel to USC and Michigan in 2027, yikes.

Illinois football 2028 Big Ten opponents

Home

• Michigan State
• Ohio State
• Purdue
• Washington

Away

• Indiana
• Iowa
• Northwestern
• Oregon
• Rutgers

Thoughts: Illinois plays Oregon in three out of the next five seasons. That is going to be an adjustment. These big games force the Illini to take their game to another level. To me, that is what is exciting about this expansion.