Illinois basketball aims for 25 wins and Big Ten title next season
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 13, 2026, 10:30 AM
Last updated Oct 13, 2026

Illinois basketball is preparing for the 2026-27 season with a game against Fairleigh Dickinson on November 2. The team is projected to finish 25-7 overall and 15-5 in Big Ten play, potentially claiming a share of the Big Ten regular-season title and earning a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Illinois also has exhibition games scheduled against Cincinnati, Baylor, and UIC. Expert predictions indicate that the Illini may suffer seven losses throughout the season, with two of those occurring at home against Ohio State and Michigan State. However, they are expected to enter the Big Ten Tournament with a strong momentum.
- •Illinois opens the season on November 2 against Fairleigh Dickinson.
- •Expert projections have Illinois finishing 25-7 and 15-5 in Big Ten play.
- •The team has exhibition games against Cincinnati, Baylor, and UIC scheduled.
- •Illinois is predicted to suffer seven losses during the season.
- •Entering the Big Ten Tournament, Illinois could carry a six-game winning streak.
- 10:30 AMYahoo Sports — Illinois basketball predictions: A 25-win season, Big Ten title and No. 2 NCAA Tournament seed
"Game-by-game predictions for the 2026-27 season.
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days
NCAAF•Oct 13, 2026, 12:02 PMWhere does OU land in Athlon's new bowl projections after Texas win?
NCAAF•Oct 13, 2026, 12:01 PMRyan Day expects most — but not all — starters to return for Indiana
NCAAF•Oct 13, 2026, 12:00 PMNC State’s bowl outlook: tenuous
NCAAF•Oct 13, 2026, 11:53 AMHeisman of Week 6: Louisville's Isaac Brown storms the field
NCAAF•Oct 13, 2026, 11:46 AMFlorida tumbles in ESPN's latest bowl projections after second loss
NCAAF•Oct 13, 2026, 11:37 AMThis is what it takes to make a transfer QB work every season
