The Illini will play at least two primetime night games at Memorial Stadium, first against UTSA on Saturday, Sept. 4 (6:30 p.m. CT), then against Maryland on Friday, Sept. 17 (8 p.m. CT).
The Bret Bielema quest for a Big10 championship starts in 3 months.
Sat., Aug. 28 » Nebraska at Illinois (12 p.m. CT, FOX)
Sat., Sept. 4 » UTSA at Illinois (6:30 p.m. CT, BTN)
Sat., Sept. 11 » Illinois at Virginia (10 a.m. CT, ACC Network)
Fri., Sept. 17 » Maryland at Illinois (8 p.m. CT, FS1)
Sat., Oct. 9 » Wisconsin at Illinois (Homecoming) (2:30 or 3 p.m. CT, TBA)
Sat., Oct. 23 » Illinois at Penn State (11 a.m. CT, TBA)
Start times and broadcast information for the remaining 2021 football games will be selected during the in-season 6- or 12-day television networks selection process.