Illinois Football: Illini Big Ten schedule dates released for 2024

The scheduled dates for the Illinois football 2024 schedule have been released.

Everyone knew that the Big Ten was getting a shake-up starting in 2024. It was kind of crazy when the Illini had to start playing teams like Nebraska, Rutgers, and Maryland on a regular basis back in the early 2010s. More teams are now joining the conference and it will cause some interesting matchups moving forward.

On Thursday afternoon, the Big Ten released the dates for each conference game. The release also shows where the gaps are in each schedule, so you kind of can guess where the non-conference games will go.

Illinois doesn’t play a Big Ten game until week four when we head to Nebraska. So, the first three weeks are likely the non-conference games. I believe Kansas, Central Michigan, and Eastern Illinois are the non-conference games, according to Shehan Jeyarajah of CBS Sports.

2024 Illinois football schedule

8/31 – Kansas, Central Michigan, or Eastern Illinois

9/7 – Kansas, Central Michigan, or Eastern Illinois

9/14 – Kansas, Central Michigan, or Eastern Illinois

9/21 – at Nebraska

9/28 – at Penn State

10/12 – Purdue

10/19 – Michigan

10/26 – at Oregon

11/2 – Minnesota

11/16 – Michigan State

11/23 – at Rutgers

11/30 – at Northwestern

The Illinois football schedule seems decently favorable in 2024

When I look at the Illini schedule for 2024, my first thought is that it doesn’t look too bad. There are obviously some tough games, but overall, I am pretty pleased.

Illinois is going to have a talented and experienced team returning in 2024. We only have 13 seniors on the roster right now. I expect big things out of the Illini next season.

Kansas is going to be tough in the non-conference, but I could see, at worst, a 2-1 non-conference start. Nebraska, Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan State, Rutgers, and Northwestern are all beatable teams. I could see knocking off Nebraska, Purdue, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Northwestern. I have us dropping a game to Rutgers on the road. That moves Illinois to 7-2 overall.

The really tough games are at Penn State, Michigan, and at Oregon. I think the Nittany Lions are going to be one of the best teams in the country with an experienced Drew Allar. J.J. McCarthy probably comes back for his senior year at Michigan. Oregon is also going to be tough, as always. These are probably three losses.

I have Illinois finishing something like 7-5 in 2024. The potential is there to finish better than that, but this is a conservative early projection. Another bowl game would be a nice sight.