
Stevens: A Look At Possible Group of Five Football Programs Illini Could Schedule For 2026 Open Slot
With the previously slated home game against Missouri being moved off Illinois’ 2026 non-conference, IlliniGuys.com looks into possible non-power conference opponents to fill that spot.
By Matt Stevens - IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
July 6, 2025
(Cover photo courtesy Illinois Athletics)
Now that Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman has confirmed the 2026 home game against Missouri will not be happening, the obvious issue is Bret Bielema’s football program has an open non-conference slot on that schedule.
In his summer media roundtable on June 27, Whitman said what he was “a mutual decision” between Illinois and Missouri to remove the 2026 game from their schedules was a desire to subtract one power conference opponent from each of their slates. Illinois was slated to host both Missouri and Duke in its 2026 schedule along with scheduling a home game against Southern Illinois. With the Big Ten Conference continuing with its nine-game league schedule, Illinois was slated to play 11 power conference opponents in the 2026 season.