Illinois football is still licking the wounds from a tough loss against Duke this past weekend.
This still isn’t an easy loss to swallow, as the Illini had this game but let it slip away. Now, we get a hungry FCS in-state program in Southern Illinois.
Illinois has more talent than the Salukis, but when a smaller program plays an FBS team, it is always like their Super Bowl. Southern Illinois is going to give us all we can handle.
This could end up being a sneaky close game. Southern Illinois has a quarterback in DJ Williams who can run the ball well, and that will give the Illini trouble.
How to watch Illinois football vs Southern Illinois in week 3
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Venue: Champaign, Illinois (Gies Memorial Stadium)
How to Watch (TV): N/A
Streaming: Peacock/FuboTV
Illinois record: 1-1
Southern Illinois record: 2-1
Opening betting odds for Illinois football vs Southern Illinois
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Spread: Illinois -39.5 (-110)
Over/Under: 53.5 points
Moneyline: Illinois N/A/ Southern Illinois +8000
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Injury report for Illinois football and Southern Illinois
- Illinois
C/OG TJ McMillen – Out for Season (foot fracture)
LB Daniel Brown – Questionable
WR Jayshon Platt – Doubtful
OG Brandon Henderson – Out
WR Alex Perry – Out for Season
TE BJ Thurman – Out for Season
TE Tanner Hollinger – Out for Season
TE Grant Smith – Out for Season
- Southern Illinois
N/A
Who are the announcers for Illinois football vs Southern Illinois?
Paul Bermesiter, Ian Book, and Ashley ShahAhamdi will be on the call for the Illinois vs. Southern Illinois contest.
What is the projected weather for the Illinois football vs. Southern Illinois game?
It is early, but the current forecast for the Illinois vs. Southern Illinois contest looks amazing. It is projected to have only a 24% chance of rain, but the temperature at game time is 90 degrees.
Illinois football vs. Southern Illinois series history
Understandably, Illinois has dominated the series against Southern Illinois to the tune of 4-0.
The first time the two programs matched up was back in 1985, when the Salukis gave the Illini everything they could handle. Illinois only won that game 28-25.
Illinois’ last game against Southern Illinois was in 2013. This game was awfully close as well, with the Illini winning the game 42-34.
On Saturday, Illinois is looking to put this game away early and move the series to 5-0 in favor of the good guys.
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