CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois baseball opens its 147th season with a three-game series at USF in Tampa, Fla., from Feb. 13-15. The Illini and the Bulls will meet for the first time since 2015, while the sides will play a series in Tampa for the third time ever and for the first time since 2006.
The 2026 Fighting Illini squad features a mix of newcomers and returners, with 18 new faces joining the Orange and Blue ahead of the campaign. Illinois also saw 16 players return from its 2025 roster.
All three games of this opening weekend will be streamed on ESPN+.
Scott Beatty will call the action for the Illini on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (WDWS 1400-AM/93.9FM). Streaming, audio, and stats links are also available at FightingIllini.com.
SERIES HISTORY
vs. USF
- Illinois leads, 6-5 (H: 2-1, A: 4-2, N: 0-2)
- Last: L, 8-5 (10 inn.) (3/22/2015)
- Illinois swept USF in the most recent series in Tampa in 2006.
- The Illini have won the last four road games against the Bulls.
About USF
The University of South Florida finished the 2025 season with a 31-25 record, including an 16-11 mark in AAC play, which was good for a third-place finish during the regular season. The Bulls were eliminated by East Carolina in the semifinals of the conference tournament.
At the plate, OF Ryan Pruitt is the leading hitter returning to the squad after slashing .281/.369/.401 to go along with 11 doubles, five home runs, and 41 RBI over 56 starts in 2025. 3B Matt Rose, who ranked fifth on the squad in 2025 with 48 hits, also returns in 2026.
On the mound, RHP Jorge DeCardenas – who had 49.2 innings pitched to go along with 50 strikeouts, two saves, and an ERA of 6.16 – returns as well, along with fellow reliever Landon Yorek, who posted a 3-3 record with a 6.23 ERA while adding a team-high five saves.
Series info
The Illini and the Bulls are facing each other for the 12th time in program history on Friday. Illinois owns a 6-5 edge in series history entering the weekend.
South Florida will again be opening up its season with a three-game series against a Big Ten team after taking on Iowa last season, in which the Bulls took the series, 2-1.
Illinois will be heading down to Tampa to play at Red McEwen Field for the first time since 2006.
In 2015, the Orange and Blue took on USF for a three-game set in Champaign, taking the series, 2-1.
Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb begins his 21st season at the helm of the program in 2026.
The winningest coach in Illini baseball history has currently amassed 597 wins, three Big Ten championships, one Big Ten Tournament title, five NCAA Regional appearances, and one NCAA Super Regional appearance.
Along with being named Big Ten Coach of the Year two times, Hartleb was named Big Coach of the Decade (2010s) by D1Baseball.
As he enters his 36th season overall at Illinois, Hartleb has seen 155 players earn Big Ten All-Conference honors under his watch, with 47 of those players earning first-team selections. He has also coached a total of 27 All-Americans and 110 players who have gone on to play professionally.
Among active Big Ten coaches, Hartleb is one of two coaches that have spent at least 20 seasons as head coach at their current school (John Savage, UCLA, 22nd season in 2026).Â
OPENING DAY HISTORY
Illinois is 6-4 in their last 10 season openers. The Illini are looking for their first opening-day win since 2024, when Illinois defeated Akron on Feb. 16. Illinois fell in last year's season opener to Abilene Christian, though the Illini bounced back to win the series.
DAN HARTLEB, THE WINNINGEST COACH at ILLINOIS
Illinois head coach Dan Hartleb enters the season three wins shy of 600. The winningest coach in program history, Hartleb earned win No. 519 on April 2, 2023, against Michigan, passing Lee Eilbracht for the most in program history. He heads into opening weekend with 597 career wins.
NEW YEAR, NEW FACES
Illinois has 16 returners and 18 newcomers on its 2026 roster.
   » Thirteen newcomers are transfers: C Daniel Contreras (Illinois State), OF Cole Crafton (Louisville), INF Michael Farina (Southeastern CC), LHP Tore Indomenico (Notre Dame), RHP Ryan Johnson (Georgia Tech), RHP Richie LaCien (Lawrence University), RHP Olivier Martel (Mineral Area College), RHP Liam McKillop (SIUE), RHP Sam Mommer (Wisconsin-Parkside), INF J.R. Nelson (Ohio), RHP Ryan Ohm (Iowa Central CC), RHP Kyle Remington (Minnesota), and OF/1B Cole Warehime (SEMO).
Bates, Dye Named to NCBWA Stopper of the Year Preseason Watch List
Illinois pitchers Zach Bates and Mitch Dye were named to the initial watch list for the 21st Annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Stopper of the Year Award, given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I Baseball, the association announced Tuesday.
The Fighting Illini were one of three Big Ten teams with multiple players on the preseason list, alongside Minnesota and UCLA.
Bates enters his second season at Illinois after posting a team-high eight saves in 2025, while his seven saves in Big Ten play are tied for the third-most in a single season in program history. Registering 28.2 innings of work across 23 appearances as a sophomore, Bates turned in a 2.83 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .153 average.
Dye enters his senior campaign in 2026 after recording 23.0 innings and one save in his debut season with the Orange and Blue in 2025. The Springfield, Ill., native tallied nine scoreless appearances, including two innings of scoreless, one-hit ball against UCLA on May 11 while striking out three and allowing just one hit in the contest. Â
ILLINI TRIO NAMED TO B1G PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
The Fighting Illini saw three student-athletes honored on the Big Ten Players to Watch list, the conference office announced on Wednesday.Â
Junior outfielder Collin Jennings, junior left-handed pitcher Regan Hall, and senior outfielder Nick Groves were all recognized with preseason honors for the first time in their respective careers.
Jennings put together a breakout sophomore season in 2025, hitting 16 home runs and driving in 61 runs, the latter of which were the most by an Illini since 2008. Tabbed with preseason All-Big Ten honors from Perfect Game, the Orland Park, Ill., native was also named one of the nation's top 100 collegiate juniors by the organization.
Hall heads into the 2026 season after securing a team-high seven wins on the mound for the Illini as a sophomore. Going 4-0 with a 1.03 ERA in the month of April in 2025, the New Mexico native finished his sophomore season with 67.2 innings pitched across 12 starts and 14 total appearances. He recorded his first complete game against Indiana on April 13.
Groves appeared in 43 games, making 41 starts, for the Illini in his first season with the program in 2025. Tallying a slash line of .324/.493/.385, his .493 on-base percentage ranked fifth in Big Ten last season, while his 15 stolen bases were tied for the seventh-most in the conference. He enters 2026 with an active on-base streak of 13 games.
ONES TO WATCH
