Illinois Wrestling Announces 2023-24 Big Ten Schedule

Big Ten Release
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference announced the conference dual schedule for wrestling on Monday. Illinois will wrestle eight conference opponents: four at home and four on the road.

The Fighting Illini open their conference schedule with a road trip to Columbus, Ohio, on Friday, Jan. 12 to take on the #7 Buckeyes. This will be the 75th meeting between the two squads and the first since 2021. The series record is 37-36-1 in Illinois' favor.

The Big Ten home opener will take place in Huff Hall on Saturday, Jan. 20, when in-state rival Northwestern makes the trip to Champaign. Illinois lost a close dual last year, taking it all the way to tiebreakers to decide it 18-17 in NU's favor.

The #8 Iowa Hawkeyes will also compete in Huff Hall later that week on Friday, Jan. 26. The Illini were tied at 19 apiece with the #2 Hawkeyes last year on the road, going all the way down to the last match, but lost 25-19.

State Farm Center sees its first Big Ten dual action on Friday, Feb. 2, when Michigan State rolls into town. Illinois handled the Spartans last year, 17-16. The Illini hit the road two days later, Sunday, Feb. 4, for the first time in nearly a month to take on #5 Nebraska. The Cornhuskers defeated Illinois, 27-19, last year.

The final home dual meet of the 2023-24 season is Friday, Feb. 9, against #16 Minnesota in SFC. The Golden Gophers bested the Illini, 24-9, last year. The final two meets of the year are on the road at #25 Wisconsin on Sunday, Feb. 11 (Illinois beat #13 Wisconsin, 18-17, last year), and at Purdue on Friday, Feb. 16.