Illini Football 2026

#1      

Dan

Dan
Admin
Dan
Welcome to the Illini Football thread šŸˆ

Tickets Info | Schedule | Roster


2026 Illini Football Schedule
DateOpponentTime/TV
Thu, Sept 3UAB8:00pm BTN
Sat, Sept 12Duke2:30pm FS1
Sat, Sept 19Southern Illinois1:00pm Peacock
Sat, Sept 26at Ohio State
Sat, Oct 3Purdue
(Homecoming)
Sat, Oct 10at Michigan State
Sat, Oct 24Oregon
Sat, Oct 31at Maryland
Fri, Nov 6Nebraska7:00pm FOX
Fri, Nov 13at UCLA8:00pm FOX
Sat, Nov 21Iowa
Sat, Nov 28at Northwestern

All times CT
 
#2      
fuddrules
Has anyone checked UAB's 2025 starters vs. who remained for 2026. Wow. Tough being at that level.


Decimated by graduation and the portal. Seemed like almost anyone that had any value left went to the portal.

Starters LG & C, return. Then backups at QB, WR, TE, and CB return. That may be it.

They signed 41 from the portal but very minimal production from mid to high level D1 programs.
 
#3      
Ander1345
fuddrules said:
Has anyone checked UAB's 2025 starters vs. who remained for 2026. Wow. Tough being at that level.


Decimated by graduation and the portal. Seemed like almost anyone that had any value left went to the portal.

Starters LG & C, return. Then backups at QB, WR, TE, and CB return. That may be it.

They signed 41 from the portal but very minimal production from mid to high level D1 programs.
Click to expand...
Best strategy for these programs is to really sell themselves as stepping stones for players moving up levels.
 
#9      
Dkayak
Then a huge percentage of NCAA players are newcomers each year, maybe 25-50% (or more) of each roster? If so, being ranked number 26 of the top 100 (of thousands of newcomers) is a very high honor.
 
#10      
DReq
Seems to me that being ranked 26th best in the country by almost any positive measure is a big plus. We may have grabbed another good one.
 
#11      
genevaillini39w
fuddrules said:
Has anyone checked UAB's 2025 starters vs. who remained for 2026. Wow. Tough being at that level.


Decimated by graduation and the portal. Seemed like almost anyone that had any value left went to the portal.

Starters LG & C, return. Then backups at QB, WR, TE, and CB return. That may be it.

They signed 41 from the portal but very minimal production from mid to high level D1 programs.
Click to expand...
Mortenson inherited a dumpster fire from hasselback and won some games to keep the real job.

They may be better than expected. First game. May not be a total blowout.
 
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