The Illinois football program is on fire, and now we get to face a top 10 UCLA program.
UCLA has been a great story this season. They are undefeated and are now ranked No. 4 in the latest AP Top 25 poll.
While that story is fun, the Illini are blazing their own trail. We have won four straight games, and a win over the Bruins would help launch us into contention for a trip to the Big Ten Championship game and maybe even get us into talks to make the College Football Playoff.
Here is the Illinois football vs. UCLA: How to watch, odds, injuries, weather, announcers, & more
How to watch Illinois football vs. UCLA
- Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
- Time: 8:00 p.m. CT/9:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
- How to watch: FOX
- Radio: TBD
- Illinois record: 6-3 overall (4-2 Big Ten)
- UCLA record: 9-0 overall (6-0 Big Ten)
Announcers for Illinois football vs. UCLA
- Play-by-play: TBD
- Analyst: TBD
- Sideline reporter: TBD
- Play-by-play (radio): TBD
- Analyst (radio): TBD
- Reporter (radio): TBD
Illinois football vs. UCLA odds: Moneyline, spread, total
Odds provided by DraftKings Sports
Moneyline
- Illinois +300
- UCLA -380
Spread
- Illinois +10 (-108)
- UCLA -10 (-112)
Total
- Over 46.5 points (-108)
- Under 46.5 points (-112)
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Illinois football injury report
TE BJ Thurman – Doubtful
WR Jayshon Platt – Out
QB Michael Clayton II – Out
RB Javari Barnett – Out
RB Ca’Lil Valentine – Out
DB Tywan Cox – Out
LB Grant Beerman – Out
DL Carter Smith – Out
OL Kai Pritchard – Out
DL Demetrius John – Out
OL TJ McMillen - Out
UCLA injury report
WR Jalen Saint Paul – Questionable
OL Jordan Davis - Questionable
DB Rodrick Pleasant – Out
WR Mikey Matthews – Out
QB Nico Iamaleava – Out
OL Sam Yoon – Out
DL Ashton Sanders – Out
WR Jonah Smith – Out
LB Ryan McCulloch – Out
P Curtis Gerrand – Out
Weather forecast for Pasadena, California
You are getting an incredible day for this massive matchup. On Friday, the temperature in Pasadena is supposed to be a low of 53 degrees and a high of 73 degrees. Very little cloud cover is expected, and there should be little to no wind, too.
Illinois football vs. UCLA series history
- All-time meetings: 12
- Illinois all-time record vs. UCLA: 6-6
- Last meeting: Saturday, December 31, 2011
- Last win over UCLA: Saturday, December 31, 2011 – Illinois win 20-14
The series between Illinois and UCLA has been competitive, with the game on Friday night being the rubber match for now.
Illinois was able to take the last game of the series, but that was back in 2011 in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. The Illini managed to get the best of the Bruins that day, winning the game 20-14.
The first-ever matchup between the two teams came in 1946. Illinois thrashed UCLA in the Rose Bowl to the tune of 45-14. This was an actual Rose Bowl victory for the Orange and Blue, too.
Hopefully, the meeting on Friday night goes the way the first-ever meeting did. A win over a top-10 team would do wonders for the program.
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