CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The preseason-No. 14 Illinois wrestling team announced its non-conference schedule for the 2023-24 season on Thursday. The Fighting Illini host three dual meets in 2023 and make their return to Huff Hall for two of them.
The Illini wrestling squad begins the season in State Farm Center on Nov. 2 at 6 p.m. CT, when they welcome the SIUE Cougars. Illinois is 21-6-1 all-time against the Cougars and is a perfect 9-0 in their meetings since the turn of the century.
The first of two Huff Hall meets is a dual with Navy on Nov. 4 at 1 p.m. CT. They then host a tri-meet with No. 21 North Carolina and Central Michigan on Nov. 19. UNC and CMU will face off against each other first at noon before Illinois takes on CMU at 2 p.m. and UNC at 4 p.m. CT.
Illinois grapplers hit the road on Dec. 3 for a date with No. 27 Pittsburgh seeking revenge from last season. The Panthers defeated the Illini, 30-6, in SFC last December. Their final non-conference dual is for Braggin' Rights against No. 2 Missouri at a neutral site in St. Louis on Dec. 21.
The 2023 portion of the schedule comes to a close on Dec. 29-30 for the 59th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Hoffman Estates, Ill.
Note: All rankings according to InterMat
| 2023 Non-Conference Wrestling Schedule |
| Day |
Date & Time (TBD) |
Opponent |
Location (Stadium) |
| Thur. |
Nov. 2 |
SIUE |
State Farm Center |
| Sat. |
Nov. 4 |
Navy |
Huff Hall |
| Sun. |
Nov. 19 |
CMU/ #21 UNC |
Huff Hall |
| Fri. |
Dec. 3 |
#27 Pittsburgh |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| Thur. |
Dec. 21 |
#2 Missouri |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Fri./Sat. |
Dec. 29/30 |
Midlands Championships |
Hoffman Estates, Ill. |
| * All dates and times are subject to change |
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