The Illinois basketball team now has dates and opponents for the Big Ten schedule in 2025-26.
We all know who the Big Ten teams are, well, kind of. I am still getting used to UCLA, Washington, Oregon, and USC, but you will still see the same faces matched up against the Illini as the calendar turns.
Even with the same teams, some Big Ten schedules look easier than others. Honestly, I think Illinois got a pretty good draw this season.
Here are three important thoughts on the Illinois basketball Big Ten schedule
- Illinois got it easy with the double opponents
There are some seasons when Illinois has a tougher Big Ten schedule than others. We can sometimes play teams like Michigan State and Indiana twice in a season. That isn’t the case for the 2025-26 campaign.
It looks like Illinois got off pretty easy when it comes to the double opponents. There are only three teams we will play twice in the Big Ten slate, which include Nebraska, Northwestern, and Maryland.
Nebraska is always an annoying team and can give the Illini problems. The Wildcats are average to below average every season. Maryland is the scariest team. Illinois is 8-17 lifetime vs the Terrapins, and we have dropped our last two, the most recent was a loss by 23 points.
Even with the tough history against Maryland, I like Illinois’ three double opponents. That could have been much worse, but we got let off the hook this season.
- West coast back-to-back is always tough
The Big Ten is at least aware that there are four teams on the West Coast, and they schedule around that in a way. They don’t make USC play a game at Rutgers, then come back home, and then travel back out to Minnesota. The travel setup is smart.
Last season, Illinois got a glimpse of that with the start of the Big Ten season. We played No. 9 Oregon and stayed on the West Coast, and played Washington three days later.
A similar setup is happening in 2025-26 as well. Illinois goes to USC on February 18 and then plays at UCLA on February 21. Even though the travel is set up well, that has to be tough for players being away from home that long, and then staying focused. I’ll be interested in seeing how Illinois fares in that little stretch.
- Soft start to the Big Ten schedule
The Big Ten is never easy. Every game is winnable and losable if you don’t show up. But there are also softer teams in the conference when it comes to the schedule construct.
Looking at the Illini schedule for 2025-26, I think it is pretty clear that the start of the Big Ten slate is much softer than the back half. Illinois has to take care of business early because the stretch run from mid-January on looks pretty brutal.
In the final 12 games of the Big Ten schedule, Illinois has six road games. Our home games are against Washington, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan, and Oregon.
That is a tough way to end the Big Ten season. That is why the Illini will have to pounce on the start of the Big Ten slate. Take care of business early, and I think we can have a good season.