The Illinois basketball program is poised to make big strides in 2026, and they will do it against a bevy of non-conference opponents with interesting backstories.
The Illini, who retained over 60% of their offense from a year ago, will have plenty of interesting matchups against teams from outside of the Big Ten. They will be tested on multiple occasions, especially when they face Duke on November 17 and UConn on December 4.
It will be an interesting season for Brad Underwood and Co., as they try to make a run for the mountain top. But when it comes to their journey, what are some non-conference games to keep an eye on throughout their 2026-27 campaign?
Illinois basketball vs UConn Huskies - December 4, 2026 - United Center (Chicago)
There are plenty of games on the calendar this upcoming season that can bring about some kind of emotion from Illini fans, but when it comes to playing Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies, this series has become a little personal.
It has been a tough stretch for the Illinois basketball program, as we have fallen to the Huskies on three separate occasions. They haven't been able to solve the mystery of Hurley's squad, with their most embarrassing defeat being 77-52 in the 2024 NCAA tournament.
The Illini need to right the ship in 2026 against this program, especially with all of the momentum they have behind them leading up to the start of the season. If Illinois truly wants to be title contenders come March, then they need to show it against one of the top programs in the nation.
Illinois basketball at Duke Blue Devils - November 17, 2026 - Cameron Indoor Stadium
The Duke Blue Devils are one of the most storied programs in all of college sports, with five national titles on their resume, which were won on legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski's watch. They are a powerhouse both on the floor and in the stands, with Cameron Indoor Stadium being named one of the toughest places to play in the country.
When Illinois comes to town, it's going to be a loud and hostile environment. The Cameron Crazies are going to show the Illini what it's like playing in Durham, North Carolina, and they will most likely be reminding Illinois about their 110-67 loss from a few years ago.
If the Illini truly want to test themselves before the tournament, then this will be the place to do it. They don't have the same history with Duke that they do with UConn, but if Underwood can knock off a powerhouse like the Blue Devils, then they will surely be on the right track for a title run.
Illinois basketball vs Missouri Tigers - December 22, 2026? - Enterprise Center (St. Louis)
The Braggin' Rights game has become a yearly tradition for Illinois and Missouri. It has become a non-conference rivalry that has spanned generations, dating back to its inception on December 10, 1980, at the St. Louis Arena.
Throughout the past number of years, the Braggin' Rights series has been rather fruitful for the Illinois faithful, with Underwood's unit taking four of their last five meetings vs. Missouri. This season, Illinois will look to keep this tradition going, as they will travel to enemy territory to take on the Tigers at a neutral site.
It will be an interesting matchup to say the least, especially with the amount of recruiting that Missouri has done this offseason. The Illini should still pull out ahead, but with Braggin' Rights on the line, don't be surprised if this gets interesting down the stretch.
Illinois basketball vs Penn Quakers - November 5, 2026 - State Farm Center
Illinois will face another familiar foe this upcoming season, as former Iowa head coach Fran McCaffery and the Penn Quakers will travel to Champaign on November 5.
This will be meeting No. 29 for McCaffery and the Illini, as the former Hawkeye holds an 11-17 record against Illinois in his head coaching career. He will look to right the ship in Illinois' second game of the season, especially after being ousted from last year's tournament by a score of 105-70.
Fran McCaffery double T and ejection 😐 pic.twitter.com/9waOHEEO8u
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) March 14, 2025
Just as we saw this past March, it is hard to imagine the Quakers actually winning this game, but with the moments that McCaffery has given the world over the years, it will certainly be something to keep an eye on, especially with how his mood can change at a moment's notice.
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