CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The first three game times for the Illinois football team's 2025 schedule have been set, the Big Ten Conference and its television partners announced Thursday. The Fighting Illini will kick off the season at 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday, Aug. 29, against Western Illinois at Memorial Stadium.
After the opener, Illinois will travel to Duke on Saturday, Sept. 6, for an 11 a.m. CT matchup on ABC or ESPN. The Illini come back home for Week 3 on Saturday, Sept. 13, against Western Michigan at 6 p.m. CT on FS1.
Remaining game times will be selected during the in-season 12- and 6-day selection process.
Public season tickets for Illinois' home games at Memorial Stadium are sold out for the first time in at least two decades. A four-game mini plan is on sale now – including matchups against Western Illinois, Ohio State, Rutgers, and Northwestern – for $175.
Illinois, which will host seven games at Memorial Stadium in 2025, returns 18 starters from last year's Citrus Bowl team that finished #16 in the final AP Top 25.Â
| 2025 ILLINOIS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE |
| Date |
Opponent |
Location |
Time (TV) |
| Aug. 29 (Fri.) |
Western Illinois |
Memorial Stadium |
6:30 p.m. CT (Peacock) |
| Sept. 6 |
at Duke |
Durham, N.C. |
11 a.m. CT (ABC or ESPN) |
| Sept. 13 |
Western Michigan (FamILLy Day) |
Memorial Stadium |
6 p.m. CT (FS1) |
| Sept. 20 |
at Indiana |
Bloomington, Ind. |
TBA |
| Sept. 27 |
USCÂ (Homecoming) |
Memorial Stadium |
TBA |
| Oct. 4 |
at Purdue |
West Lafayette, Ind. |
TBA |
| Oct. 11 |
Ohio State (Hall of Fame Weekend) |
Memorial Stadium |
TBA |
| Oct. 25 |
at Washington |
Seattle, Wash. |
TBA |
| Nov. 1 |
Rutgers (Dads Day) |
Memorial Stadium |
TBA |
| Nov. 15 |
Maryland (Military Appreciation) |
Memorial Stadium |
TBA |
| Nov. 22 |
at Wisconsin |
Madison, Wis. |
TBA |
| Nov. 29 |
Northwestern |
Memorial Stadium |
TBA |
| Dec. 6 |
Big Ten Championship |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
7 p.m. CT (FOX) |
