Big Ten · 2026
Illinois Fighting Illini
Head coach Bret Bielema · Gies Memorial Stadium
2-10-0 in conference
TDC Rank
#43
of 138 FBS teams
Rating
+3.6
pts vs avg FBS team
Offense
+3.9
28th in FBS
Defense
-0.2
68th in FBS
Schedule so far
-8.4
100th toughest
Projected
6.1-5.9
bowl-eligible 63%
Season Outlook
From the TDC Rating, updated after every game
Rating by week
+3.6 now, +3.9 preseason · down 16 spots since preseason
Final record odds
6.1-5.9 expected · most likely 6-6 (23%)
Team Leaders
Passing
Katin Houser
QB · SR · 36th in FBS
758yds
8 TD · 2 INT
Rushing
Ca'Lil Valentine
RB · 107th in FBS
177yds
38 car · 1 TD
Receiving
Collin Dixon
WR · SR · 6th in FBS
367yds
25 rec · 7 TD
Tackles
Ismael Kante
LB · SR · 347th in FBS
15tkl
1 TFL
Sacks
Will Holmes
DL · JR · 157th in FBS
1sacks
4 hurries
Interceptions
Matthew Bailey
DB · SR · 35th in FBS
1INT
1 PD
Schedule
Game score = the rating that one result implies, after adjusting for opponent and venue
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Result / TDC line | Game score | Win chance | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 3 | vs 120UAB | W 42–23 | +7.7 | — | BTN |
| 2 | Sep 12 | vs 21Duke | L 27–31 | +0.4 | — | FS1 |
| 3 | Sep 19 | vs Southern Illinois FCS | W 48–10 | +1.7 | — | Peacock |
| 4 | Sep 26 | @ 4Ohio StateCONF | Ohio State −13.9 · o/u 48.8 | — | FOX | |
| 5 | Oct 3 | vs 94PurdueCONF | Illinois −9.9 · o/u 65.5 | — | BTN | |
| 6 | Oct 10 | @ 48Michigan StateCONF | Michigan State −2.1 · o/u 50.7 | — | ||
| 7 | — | Bye | ||||
| 8 | Oct 24 | vs 20OregonCONF | Oregon −1.2 · o/u 59.6 | — | ||
| 9 | Oct 31 | @ 37MarylandCONF | Maryland −3.9 · o/u 52.5 | — | ||
| 10 | Nov 6 | vs 34NebraskaCONF | Illinois −1.5 · o/u 54.6 | — | FOX | |
| 11 | Nov 13 | @ 29UCLACONF | UCLA −5.2 · o/u 59.7 | — | FOX | |
| 12 | Nov 21 | vs 24IowaCONF | Iowa −0.5 · o/u 44.1 | — | ||
| 13 | Nov 28 | @ 55NorthwesternCONF | Northwestern −1.7 · o/u 51.6 | — |
Team Stats
Hover an advanced stat for what it means. Box-score totals include FCS games and aren't opponent-adjusted
| Stat | Offense | FBS rank | Defense (allowed) | FBS rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPA · per play, garbage time excluded (CollegeFootballData.com) | ||||
| EPA / play | +0.277 | 41st | +0.153 | 105th |
| Success rate | 52.8% | 11th | 40.1% | 76th |
| Explosiveness | 1.225 | 83rd | 1.285 | 83rd |
| Play-by-play advanced · garbage time excluded (computed from every play) | ||||
| Success rate | 53.8% | 8th | 40.9% | 75th |
| Rushing success rate | 45.9% | 63rd | 38.5% | 55th |
| Passing success rate | 61.0% | 4th | 43.8% | 99th |
| Explosive run rate | 5.4% | 135th | 12.1% | 70th |
| Explosive pass rate | 12.5% | 57th | 7.7% | 45th |
| Line yards / carry | 3.11 | 80th | 2.89 | 65th |
| Opportunity rate | 41.9% | 50th | 38.5% | 92nd |
| Stuff rate | 12.2% | 30th | 18.7% | 68th |
| Sack rate | 2.4% | 33rd | 2.5% | 114th |
| 3rd-down conversion | 42.3% | 70th | 33.3% | 40th |
| Red-zone TD rate | 75.0% | 36th | 66.7% | 73rd |
| Havoc rate | 7.7% | 10th | 12.9% | 92nd |
| Box score · season totals | ||||
| Points / game | 39.0 | 36th | 21.3 | 65th |
| Yards / game | 405.7 | 70th | 348.7 | 79th |
| Yards / play | 7.16 | 18th | 5.03 | 68th |
| Pass yards / game | 252.7 | 53rd | 217.7 | 82nd |
| Yards / pass att. | 9.20 | 24th | 6.87 | 77th |
| Completion % | 73.2% | 13th | 57.9% | 42nd |
| Rush yards / game | 153.0 | 86th | 131.0 | 74th |
| Yards / carry | 5.30 | 36th | 3.57 | 61st |
| 3rd-down conv. % | 42.9% | 63rd | 34.9% | 61st |
| Turnovers / game (lost · forced) | 0.67 | 26th | 0.67 | 107th |
| Sacks / game (allowed · made) | 0.67 | 10th | 1.00 | 111th |
| Penalty yards / game | 39.3 | 22nd | 72.0 | 19th |
Roster
100 players · Head coach Bret Bielema
100 players
| # | Player | Pos▲ | Class | Ht | Wt | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Carson Boyd | QB | SO | 6' 0" | 190 | St. Louis, MO |
| 4 | Katin Houser | QB | SR | 6' 3" | 225 | Anaheim, CA |
| 7 | Michael Clayton II | QB | FR | 6' 4" | 205 | Orlando, FL |
| 12 | Dane Eisenmenger | QB | FR | 6' 4" | 215 | Philo, IL |
| 20 | John Forster | RB | SO | 5' 10" | 195 | Saddle Brook, NJ |
| 21 | Aidan Laughery | RB | SR | 5' 11" | 200 | Gibson City, IL |
| 23 | Jordan Anderson | RB | SR | 6' 4" | 240 | Naperville, IL |
| 24 | Javari Barnett | RB | FR | 6' 1" | 235 | Tampa, FL |
| 27 | Corey Rashad | RB | SR | 5' 8" | 185 | Chicago, IL |
| 31 | Murphy Clement | RB | JR | 6' 0" | 215 | Martinsburg, WV |
| 0 | Nas Rankin | WR | FR | 6' 0" | 170 | Chicago, IL |
| 1 | Jayshon Platt | WR | SR | 6' 1" | 195 | North Port, FL |
| 3 | Kenyon Alston | WR | FR | 6' 2" | 195 | Orlando, FL |
| 6 | Jershaun Newton | WR | SO | 6' 0" | 215 | St. Petersburg, FL |
| 8 | Jacob Eberhart | WR | FR | 6' 4" | 220 | St. Louis, MO |
| 8 | Davon Grant | WR | FR | 6' 4" | 220 | Dekalb, IL |
| 9 | Alex Perry | WR | SR | 6' 5" | 220 | Port Charlotte, FL |
| 10 | Ty Robinson | WR | SR | 6' 4" | 205 | Denver, CO |
| 13 | Hudson Clement | WR | SR | 6' 1" | 215 | Martinsburg, WV |
| 17 | Collin Dixon | WR | SR | 6' 1" | 215 | Tallmadge, OH |
| 19 | Nate Cichy | WR | FR | 6' 1" | 195 | Mount Prospect, IL |
| 28 | Karson Kaiser | WR | JR | 6' 1" | 175 | Weston, FL |
| 80 | Eddie Kasper | WR | SR | 5' 10" | 170 | Burlington, WI |
| 81 | Leslie Mosley Jr. | WR | FR | 5' 10" | 175 | Belle Glade, FL |
| 82 | Jacob Harvey | WR | FR | 6' 0" | 200 | Mount Zion, IL |
| 14 | Maurice Smith Jr. | TE | SR | 6' 4" | 255 | Fort Pierce, FL |
| 16 | Logan Farrell | TE | SO | 6' 3" | 255 | Arlington Heights, IL |
| 83 | Kaden Feagin | TE | SR | 6' 3" | 260 | Atwood, IL |
| 84 | Grant Smith | TE | SO | 6' 5" | 225 | Forsyth, IL |
| 86 | Christian Abney | TE | SR | 6' 6" | 260 | Zionsville, IN |
| 88 | Davin Stoffel | TE | SR | 6' 6" | 265 | Mosinee, WI |
| 89 | Tanner Hollinger | TE | JR | 6' 5" | 245 | Stromsburg, NE |
| 52 | Champ Smith | OL | FR | 6' 6" | 330 | Fort Pierce, FL |
| 53 | Kai Pritchard | OL | FR | 6' 5" | 290 | Little Egg Harbor Township, NJ |
| 54 | Griffin Rousseau | OL | SO | 6' 7" | 315 | Stoughton, WI |
| 55 | TJ McMillen | OL | SR | 6' 3" | 300 | Naperville, IL |
| 56 | JJ Hirdes | OL | SO | 6' 6" | 290 | Coopersville, MI |
| 57 | Zach Barrett | OL | JR | 6' 3" | 295 | Orland Park, IL |
| 59 | Jake Renfro | OL | SR | 6' 4" | 320 | Mokena, IL |
| 62 | Casey Thomann | OL | FR | 6' 8" | 330 | Olney, IL |
| 65 | Dezmond Schuster | OL | SR | 6' 5" | 330 | Gonzales, LA |
| 66 | Brandon Hansen | OL | JR | 6' 6" | 320 | Mundelein, IL |
| 68 | Michael McDonough | OL | SO | 6' 3" | 315 | Tinley Park, IL |
| 70 | Maika Matelau | OL | SO | 6' 3" | 305 | Ontario, CA |
| 71 | Nathan Knapik | OL | JR | 6' 7" | 300 | Kennewick, WA |
| 72 | Christian Martin | OL | SR | 6' 7" | 310 | Saint Rose, LA |
| 74 | Zafir Stewart | OL | JR | 6' 6" | 325 | Philadelphia, PA |
| 75 | Brandon Henderson | OL | SR | 6' 5" | 320 | East St. Louis, IL |
| 76 | Dylan Frechette | OL | SO | 6' 6" | 325 | Central Falls, RI |
| 79 | TJ Taylor | OL | JR | 6' 5" | 330 | Santa Clarita, CA |
| 15 | Kingston Shaw | DL | FR | 6' 3" | 260 | Apopka, FL |
| 24 | Will Holmes | DL | JR | 6' 4" | 260 | Detroit, MI |
| 43 | Joe Barna | DL | JR | 6' 4" | 280 | Wheaton, IL |
| 48 | Carter Smith | DL | JR | 6' 3" | 250 | Rolling Meadows, IL |
| 51 | Parker Crim | DL | FR | 6' 3" | 270 | Lima, OH |
| 52 | Pat Farrell | DL | SR | 6' 5" | 285 | Oak Lawn, IL |
| 54 | Demetrius John | DL | JR | 6' 3" | 295 | Columbus, OH |
| 55 | Tony Balanganayi | DL | FR | 6' 4" | 290 | Palatine, IL |
| 56 | Guillermo Gallardo | DL | SR | 6' 3" | 315 | Bloomington, IL |
| 90 | Carter Janki | DL | SR | 6' 5" | 295 | Redding, CT |
| 91 | Cameron Brooks | DL | SO | 6' 3" | 305 | Chicago, IL |
| 94 | Connor Sullivan | DL | SO | 6' 4" | 290 | Glenview, IL |
| 96 | Darrell Prater | DL | SR | 6' 3" | 310 | Fort Payne, AL |
| 98 | Joshua Davis | DL | SO | 6' 3" | 285 | Pinola, MS |
| 99 | King Liggins | DL | FR | 6' 3" | 300 | Crete, IL |
| 4 | Daniel Brown | LB | SR | 6' 1" | 255 | Kansas City, KS |
| 10 | James Kreutz | LB | SR | 6' 2" | 240 | Bannockburn, IL |
| 11 | Jacob Alexander | LB | FR | 6' 4" | 245 | Chicago, IL |
| 18 | Mason Muragin | LB | SR | 6' 4" | 250 | Macomb, MI |
| 23 | Jaylen Stewart | LB | FR | 6' 2" | 240 | Houston, TX |
| 26 | Ismael Kante | LB | SR | 6' 2" | 240 | Brooklyn Park, MN |
| 28 | Kayden Bennett | LB | FR | 6' 1" | 235 | Windsor, CT |
| 33 | Grant Beerman | LB | SO | 6' 5" | 240 | West Chester, OH |
| 34 | Erik Gayle | LB | SO | 6' 3" | 240 | Cincinnati, OH |
| 38 | Jack Paris | LB | SO | 6' 2" | 225 | River Forest, IL |
| 40 | Ean Rhea | LB | SR | 6' 2" | 240 | Glade Spring, VA |
| 45 | Robert Edmonson | LB | SR | 6' 2" | 240 | Houston, TX |
| 0 | Mac Resetich | DB | SR | 6' 0" | 210 | Spring Valley, IL |
| 1 | Xavier Scott | DB | SR | 5' 11" | 195 | Riviera Beach, FL |
| 3 | Nick Hankins Jr. | DB | FR | 6' 0" | 205 | Belleville, IL |
| 5 | Jakwon Morris | DB | JR | 6' 0" | 185 | Tupelo, MS |
| 6 | Juice Clarke | DB | SR | 6' 1" | 185 | Fort Myers, FL |
| 7 | Matthew Bailey | DB | SR | 6' 2" | 225 | Moline, IL |
| 9 | RJ Jones III | DB | SO | 6' 0" | 175 | Fort Pierce, FL |
| 13 | Xanai Scott | DB | SO | 5' 11" | 210 | Riviera Beach, FL |
| 14 | Andre Lovett Jr. | DB | SO | 6' 1" | 190 | Blue Island, IL |
| 16 | Tanner Heckel | DB | JR | 5' 11" | 195 | Lyndon, KS |
| 21 | Ben Clawson | DB | SR | 6' 0" | 210 | Arlington Heights, IL |
| 22 | Deuce Fillmore | DB | SR | 5' 11" | 190 | Biloxi, MS |
| 25 | Des Straughton | DB | SO | 6' 0" | 210 | Detroit, MI |
| 29 | James Finley IV | DB | SO | 6' 2" | 195 | Portage, IN |
| 32 | Tywan Cox | DB | SO | 5' 10" | 190 | Miami, FL |
| 35 | Kaedyn Cobbs | DB | FR | 6' 1" | 220 | Denton, TX |
| 37 | Caden Considine | DB | FR | 6' 0" | 215 | Byron, IL |
| 27 | Lucas Osada | PK | JR | 6' 1" | 195 | Charlottesville, VA |
| 37 | Ethan Moczulski | PK | SR | 5' 11" | 195 | Spokane, WA |
| 18 | Jack Gray | P | FR | 6' 2" | 210 | Adelaide, Australia |
| 81 | Lars Rau | P | JR | 6' 3" | 195 | Novato, CA |
| 44 | Patrick Mahoney III | LS | SR | 6' 2" | 210 | Northbrook, IL |
| 49 | Zach Haber | LS | SR | 5' 10" | 220 | Durango, CO |
Updated Sep 24, 3:19 PM ET. Ratings are in points on a neutral field. Projected lines include — points of home field. Win chances and record odds allow for the ratings themselves being uncertain, most of all early in the season. All FBS power rankings →