Iowa vs Illinois usually refers to the Big Ten matchup between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Illinois Fighting Illini, especially in football. The teams are scheduled to meet on November 21, 2026, in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois leads the all-time football series 39–38–2, while Iowa won the most recent meeting, 15–13, in 2023.
Key Takeaways
- Iowa and Illinois have a long-running Big Ten football series dating to 1899.
- Illinois leads the all-time football series 39–38–2 after 79 meetings.
- The most recent football meeting was in 2023, when Iowa won 15–13.
- The next scheduled football matchup is November 21, 2026, at Illinois in Champaign.
- The schools also met twice in men’s basketball during the 2025–26 season, including an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game won by Illinois, 71–59.
Iowa vs Illinois: What Does the Matchup Refer To?
The phrase Iowa vs Illinois can describe several college sports matchups between the University of Iowa and the University of Illinois. Both schools compete in the Big Ten, so their teams regularly meet in football, basketball, softball, and other sports.
For most sports searches, however, Iowa vs Illinois football is an important interpretation because the schools have played each other since the late 1800s. Their football series began in 1899 and has produced 79 meetings.
Basketball is another major interpretation. The two men’s teams faced each other during the 2025–26 season and met again in the NCAA Tournament in March 2026.
Because the keyword is broad, it helps to look at both sports rather than assuming that every searcher means football.
Iowa vs Illinois Football: 2026 Matchup
The next scheduled Iowa vs Illinois football game is set for Saturday, November 21, 2026.
Iowa will travel to Champaign, Illinois, to play the Fighting Illini at Gies Memorial Stadium. The game is listed as a Big Ten matchup, although the kickoff time was still listed as TBA in the official schedules available in early October.
This matchup gives Illinois home-field advantage, while Iowa enters the game with a challenging Big Ten schedule that includes Michigan, Ohio State, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Purdue, and Nebraska.
When and Where Is Iowa vs Illinois?
| Detail | Information |
| Matchup | Iowa vs Illinois |
| Sport | College football |
| Date | November 21, 2026 |
| Location | Gies Memorial Stadium |
| City | Champaign, Illinois |
| Conference | Big Ten |
| Iowa | Away |
| Illinois | Home |
| Kickoff | TBA |
The official Iowa schedule confirms that the Hawkeyes will travel to Illinois on November 21. Illinois’ official schedule also lists Iowa as its November 21 home opponent.
2026 Team Records Entering the Matchup
As of early October 2026, Iowa and Illinois have taken different paths through the opening portion of the season.
The Big Ten schedule lists Iowa at 4–1 after five games, with wins over Northern Illinois, Iowa State, UNI, and Michigan, followed by a loss to Ohio State.
Illinois was listed at 2–3 after five games, with wins over UAB and Southern Illinois and losses to Duke, Ohio State, and Purdue.
These records are a snapshot of the season rather than a prediction of what will happen in November. Both teams still have several conference games remaining before the matchup.
Iowa vs Illinois Football Series History
The Iowa-Illinois football series is one of the older matchups involving either program. Their first recorded meeting took place in 1899, when Iowa defeated Illinois 58–0.
The series has remained extremely close overall.
All-Time Record
After 79 meetings:
| Team | Wins | Losses | Ties |
| Illinois | 39 | 38 | 2 |
| Iowa | 38 | 39 | 2 |
Illinois therefore holds a narrow one-win advantage in the all-time series, along with two ties.
That narrow margin makes the historical matchup particularly interesting. Neither program has completely dominated the series across its entire history.
Last Meeting
The most recent football meeting took place on November 18, 2023, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
Iowa won the game 15–13, giving the Hawkeyes the latest victory in the series.
The 2023 result is important when discussing the upcoming 2026 game because it is the most recent completed football matchup between the teams.
Why Iowa vs Illinois Is a Notable Big Ten Matchup
The history between these programs goes beyond a simple list of scores.
One of the most unusual chapters occurred in 1952. Illinois defeated Iowa 33–13 in a game remembered for penalties, player conflict, and disorder after the contest. The incident contributed to the series being suspended for an extended period. The teams eventually resumed playing in 1967.
The matchup later became more regular as Big Ten scheduling structures changed. Iowa and Illinois were placed in the same division when the conference adopted the East-West divisional format, helping restore the game as a more consistent conference matchup.
The series has also produced some striking results. Iowa’s 63–0 victory in 2018 is its largest win in the series, while Illinois’ 80–0 victory in 1902 remains the largest margin by either team.
Iowa vs Illinois Basketball in 2026
The broad keyword Iowa vs Illinois also has a major basketball angle.
During the 2025–26 men’s basketball season, Iowa and Illinois met in the regular season, with Illinois winning 75–69 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on January 11, 2026.
The teams met again later that season in a much bigger setting: the NCAA Tournament.
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight Meeting
On March 28, 2026, ninth-seeded Iowa faced third-seeded Illinois in the NCAA Tournament South Regional Final in Houston.
Illinois won 71–59, ending Iowa’s tournament run and advancing from the Elite Eight matchup. Iowa finished the season 24–13, while the game represented one of the biggest recent postseason meetings between the programs.
That result means that anyone searching for Iowa vs Illinois basketball in 2026 may be referring to the NCAA Tournament game rather than football.
Iowa vs Illinois: Quick Comparison
| Category | Iowa Hawkeyes | Illinois Fighting Illini |
| Conference | Big Ten | Big Ten |
| Football matchup | Away in 2026 | Home in 2026 |
| 2026 football meeting | Nov. 21 | Nov. 21 |
| Venue | Gies Memorial Stadium | Gies Memorial Stadium |
| All-time football wins | 38 | 39 |
| All-time football ties | 2 | 2 |
| Last football meeting | Won 15–13 in 2023 | Lost 15–13 in 2023 |
| 2026 Elite Eight result | Lost 59–71 | Won 71–59 |
The football series is nearly even historically, while the 2026 basketball meetings added another important chapter to the rivalry.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Iowa vs Illinois football in 2026?
Iowa is scheduled to play Illinois on November 21, 2026, in Champaign, Illinois. The game will be played at Gies Memorial Stadium. The official schedules list the kickoff time as TBA.
Who leads the Iowa vs Illinois football series?
Illinois leads the all-time football series 39–38–2 after 79 meetings. The margin is extremely close, with Illinois holding only a one-win advantage over Iowa.
Who won the last Iowa vs Illinois football game?
Iowa won the most recent football meeting 15–13 on November 18, 2023, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
Did Iowa and Illinois play basketball in 2026?
Yes. The men’s basketball teams played during the regular season, with Illinois winning 75–69 on January 11. They also met in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight on March 28, when Illinois won 71–59.
Is Iowa vs Illinois a rivalry?
Iowa and Illinois have a long football history dating back to 1899, and their series has included several memorable games. While the matchup is a significant Big Ten series, the level of rivalry intensity can vary depending on the sport, season, and fan perspective.
Conclusion
Iowa vs Illinois is a long-running Big Ten matchup with an unusually close football history. Illinois currently leads the all-time football series 39–38–2, but Iowa owns the most recent football victory after beating the Illini 15–13 in 2023.
The next football chapter comes on November 21, 2026, when Iowa travels to Champaign to face Illinois.
For basketball fans, the rivalry also produced an important 2026 storyline, as Illinois defeated Iowa 71–59 in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.
So, whether you’re searching for the Iowa vs Illinois football schedule, series record, latest result, or basketball matchup, the two programs have plenty of history behind their next meeting.
I am Harper L. James is a writer at Grameases.com, focusing on English grammar, similes, metaphors, and simple explanations that make learning English easy and practical.
