Illinois Football Reveals Kickoff Times for First Three Games of 2026 Season
The Illinois football team has confirmed the kickoff times for their first three games of the 2026 season, which include matchups against Western Illinois, Duke, and Western Michigan.
Football fans can mark their calendars as Illinois kicks off the season at home on Friday, August 29, against Western Illinois at 6:30 p.m. CT. This marks the first time since 2020 that the Illini will open the season on a Friday, when they faced Wisconsin.
Game times set for our first three opportunities. pic.twitter.com/WM6ENSfDjT
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) May 29, 2025
Illinois will head out for their first road game just eight days later, on Saturday, September 6, against Duke at 11:00 a.m. CT. This will be the third-ever meeting between the two teams, with the Illini last defeating the Blue Devils 28-14 in 1965.
The Illini will return to Memorial Stadium for their next home game on Saturday, September 13, where they will host Western Michigan for FamILLy Day at 6:00 p.m. CT. This will be the first game between the two teams since 2016, when Western Michigan handed Illinois a surprising 34-10 loss.
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