The 2026 Illinois Fighting Illini football team represents the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini play their home games at Gies Memorial Stadium at Champaign, Illinois.
NFL draft
Name Pos. Team Round Pick Gabe Jacas DE New England Patriots 2 55 J. C. Davis T New York Giants 6 192 Miles Scott S Denver Broncos 7 246
Outgoing transfers Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown New school 0 WR 6'4" 210 Jr Powder Springs, GA Oklahoma State 1 DB 6'1" 195 Jr Jackson, MS Kansas State 1 WR 5'10" 195 Jr Minneapolis, MN Southern Miss 2 WR 6'5" 195 Jr Lucedale, MS Georgia Southern 2 DB 6'3" 210 Jr West Orange, NJ Temple 7 WR 6'4" 195 Sr Oak Park, CA 8 WR 6'2" 215 So Chicago, IL LSU 8 DL 6'3" 310 So Belleville, MI Pitt 10 QB 6'3" 230 Jr Elburn, IL Southern Miss 11 DB 6'2" 190 Jr Long Beach, CA Sacramento State 12 QB 6'0" 205 Rs-Fr Starkville, MS Western Michigan 12 DB 6'0" 190 Rs-Fr Fort Pierce, FL FAU 14 TE 6'5" 250 Sr Rock Island, IL Arizona 19 DB 6'4" 205 Jr St. Simons Island, GA FAU 24 K 5'11" 180 Jr Naperville, IL Texas A&M 24 CB 6'1" 200 Rs-Fr DeLand, FL Jacksonville State 25 RB 5'11" 205 Rs-Fr Chicago, IL Indiana State 30 LB 6'2" 245 So East St. Louis, IL Purdue 36 DL 6'5" 300 Jr Philadelphia, PA South Carolina 44 DL 6'2" 300 So Pickerington, OH Texas A&M 45 LB 6'2" 235 Jr Plainfield, IL West Virginia 47 LB 6'0" 220 Rs-Fr Stansbury, UT 49 LB 6'2" 215 Rs-Fr Chicago, IL South Florida 51 LB 6'4" 250 Jr Danforth, IL Southeast Missouri State 65 OL 6'5" 320 So Princeville, IL 70 OL 6'5" 335 Jr Detroit, MI Eastern Michigan 82 TE 6'4" 250 Rs-Fr St. Charles, IL Ohio 83 WR 5'10" 180 Rs-Fr Chicago, IL Western Illinois 96 DL 6'7" 290 So Baldwin, WI Michigan State 99 DL 6'0" 310 Jr Cornelius, NC Purdue
Coaching departures Name Previous Position New Position Aaron Henry Illinois – Defensive coordinator Notre Dame – Co-defensive coordinator & defensive backs coach
Acquisitions Incoming transfers Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. school 1 WR 6'1" 180 Sr Sarasota, FL FAU 4 QB 6'3" 225 Sr Anaheim, CA East Carolina 9 WR 6'5" 210 Sr Port Charlotte, FL FIU 9 S 5'10" 180 Sr San Antonio, TX East Texas A&M 10 WR 6'4" 190 Sr Aurora, CO Ball State 14 QB 6'4" 245 Sr Fort Pierce, FL Chowan 17 DL 6'3" 280 Jr Fayetteville, TN Bowling Green 22 CB 5'11" 185 Sr Biloxi, MS Georgia State 24 EDGE 6'4" 245 Jr Detroit, MI Utah State 37 K 5'11 200 Sr Spokane, WA Washington 45 LB 6'2" 225 Jr Houston, TX Colorado State 49 LS 5'10" 226 Jr Durango, CO Arkansas 59 IOL 6'4" 315 Jr Mokena, IL Wisconsin 72 OT 6'6" 300 Jr St. Rose, LA Colorado State 83 WR 5'10" 160 Sr Burlington, WI Illinois State 90 DL 6'5" 290 Sr Redding, CT Penn 94 DL 6'4" 270 Rs-Fr Glenview, IL Washington State 96 DL 6'3" 300 Sr Fort Payne, AL Jacksonville State S 6'1" 185 So Portage, IN Northern Illinois
Coaches acquisitions Name Previous Position New Position Bobby Hauck Montana – Head Coach Illinois – Defensive coordinator
Schedule
Game summaries vs UAB
Statistics UABILL First downs 24 17 Plays–yards 79–413 43–332 Rushes–yards 48–194 26–150 Passing yards 219 182 Passing: –– 18–31–1 13–17–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 41:03 18:57 Team Category Player Statistics UAB Passing Ryder Burton 18/31, 219 yards, TD, INT Rushing Roderick Robinson II 14 carries, 59 yards Receiving CJ Smith 2 receptions, 57 yards Illinois Passing Katin Houser 13/17, 182 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ca'Lil Valentine 11 carries, 88 yards, TD Receiving Collin Dixon 6 receptions, 70 yards, 2 TD
vs Duke
Statistics DUKEILL First downs 19 23 Plays–yards 57–376 68–382 Rushes–yards 35–170 32–111 Passing yards 206 271 Passing: –– 15–22–0 24–36–1 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 26:46 33:14 Team Category Player Statistics Duke Passing Walker Eget 15/21, 206 yards, 3 TD Rushing Nate Sheppard 24 carries, 147 yards, TD Receiving Jonah Burton 4 receptions, 78 yards, TD Illinois Passing Katin Houser 24/35, 271 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Ca'Lil Valentine 18 carries, 56 yards Receiving Collin Dixon 11 receptions, 166 yards, 3 TD
vs No. 24 (FCS) Southern Illinois
Statistics SIUILL First downs 18 21 Plays–yards 69–257 57–503 Rushes–yards 27–29 28–198 Passing yards 228 305 Passing: –– 22–42–1 23–29–1 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 34:06 25:54 Team Category Player Statistics Southern Illinois Passing DJ Williams 20/38, 182 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jake Curry 4 carries, 22 yards Receiving Kyle Thomas 6 receptions, 77 yards Illinois Passing Katin Houser 23/29, 305 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Aidan Laughery 4 carries, 93 yards, TD Receiving Collin Dixon 8 receptions, 131 yards, 2 TD
at No. 7 Ohio State (Illibuck)
Statistics ILLOSU First downs 25 27 Plays–yards 71–462 68–518 Rushes–yards 33–199 32–151 Passing yards 263 367 Passing: –– 21–38–0 27–36–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 30:38 29:22 Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Katin Houser 21/37, 263 yards, TD Rushing Aidan Laughery 11 carries, 113 yards Receiving Hudson Clement 5 receptions, 87 yards Ohio State Passing Julian Sayin 27/36, 367 yards, 4 TD Rushing Ja'Kobi Jackson 10 carries, 56 yards, TD Receiving Jeremiah Smith 12 receptions, 217 yards, 4 TD
vs Purdue
Statistics PURILL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Purdue Passing Rushing Receiving Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Michigan State
Statistics ILLMSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Michigan State Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Oregon
Statistics OREILL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Oregon Passing Rushing Receiving Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Maryland
Statistics ILLMD First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Maryland Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Nebraska
Statistics NEBILL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Nebraska Passing Rushing Receiving Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at UCLA
Statistics ILLUCLA First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving UCLA Passing Rushing Receiving
vs Iowa
Statistics IOWAILL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Iowa Passing Rushing Receiving Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving
at Northwestern
Statistics ILLNU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Illinois Passing Rushing Receiving Northwestern Passing Rushing Receiving
Roster
References