Illinois strength of schedule
2026 weekly schedule
H · 1 
H · 2 
H · 3 
A · 4 
H · 5 
A · 6 
H · 8 
A · 9 
H · 10 
A · 11 
H · 12 
A · 13 Tougher than average Easier than average · number = opponent's win total
Illinois 2026 opponents
| Wk | Opponent | Site | Opp wins | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UAB | vs | 4 | Played |
| 2 | Duke | vs | 9 | Played |
| 3 | Southern Illinois | vs | 7 | Played |
| 4 | Ohio State | @ | 12 | Played |
| 5 | Purdue | vs | 2 | Played |
| 6 | Michigan State | @ | 4 | Upcoming |
| 8 | Oregon | vs | 13 | Upcoming |
| 9 | Maryland | @ | 4 | Upcoming |
| 10 | Nebraska | vs | 7 | Upcoming |
| 11 | UCLA | @ | 3 | Upcoming |
| 12 | Iowa | vs | 9 | Upcoming |
| 13 | Northwestern | @ | 7 | Upcoming |
Opponent strength = each opponent's win total in 2025, its last full season (records-based, no betting win totals are used). Schedule and records from CollegeFootballData. See the full conference strength-of-schedule ranking.
Illinois Fighting Illini 2026 opponents by win total, week by week. Bars above the 6.4-win FBS average are tougher than average.
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Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Illinois schedule in 2026?
Illinois faces an about average schedule in 2026. Its opponents averaged 6.8 wins in 2025, above the 6.4-win FBS average.
How is Illinois strength of schedule measured?
Each opponent is rated by its 2025 win total (a full season, so early-season results don't skew it) and averaged across the Illinois 2026 schedule.