Illinois Wrestling Announces 2026 Big Ten Schedule

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference unveiled the Fighting Illini's 2026 conference dual slate on Monday, Sept. 29, with Illinois set to battle eight league opponents, four at home and four on the road.

The Orange and Blue open Big Ten action at home against Minnesota on Saturday, Jan.10. Illinois holds a narrow edge in the all-time series with the Gophers, and the teams last met in 2024 in Minneapolis, where Minnesota came out on top. Illinois then hits the road for back-to-back duals in Michigan. The Illini first face Michigan State on Friday, Jan. 16, in East Lansing and two days later, on Sunday, Jan. 18, they head to Ann Arbor to square off with Michigan. The Wolverines have historically controlled the series, but Illinois will look to flip the script against a perennial Big Ten power.

The team returns to Champaign on Sunday, Jan. 25, to host Rutgers. Illinois has won five of the last six matchups with the Scarlet Knights. Four days later, on Friday, Jan. 30, Indiana heads into Champaign. Illinois owns a commanding all-time series lead over the Hoosiers, highlighted by several decisive wins in recent years.

February begins with a road test at Purdue on Sunday, Feb. 8. The Illini staged a dramatic 19-18 comeback against the Boilermakers in 2024 to extend their all-time series advantage. Illinois then wraps up its home slate with a Friday night showdown against Nebraska on Feb. 13, another program consistently ranked among the nation's best.

The regular season concludes in Evanston on Sunday, Feb. 15, when Illinois meets in-state rival Northwestern. The Illini own a significant series lead over the Wildcats and will look to carry momentum into the postseason.