# Illinois Fighting Illini

Big Ten · Gies Memorial Stadium (Champaign, IL), Champaign, IL
Head coach: Bret Bielema · year 6 · 37-26 at ILL · 134-84 career over 18 seasons
Offense: Spread · Defense: Multiple 3-3-5

## 2026 outlook

- 2025 record: 9-4 (5-4 in conference)
- National title odds: +75000 (#43 on the futures board)
- Season win total: 6.5 (over priced -152)
- Returning starter games: 42%
- Schedule difficulty: 33rd-hardest of 138 FBS teams

## Returning production by unit

| Unit | Returning games | Games back | Depth back |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Skill offense | 65% | 48/74 | 6/13 |
| Offensive line | 58% | 35/60 | 8/11 |
| Defensive front | 0% | 0/87 | 7/24 |
| Secondary | 57% | 34/60 | 8/15 |

## Roster movement

- Key returning: Tanner Heckel (DB), Brandon Henderson (OL), Brandon Hansen (OL), TJ McMillen (OL), Kaden Feagin (TE)
- Key departures (with destination): Miles Scott (SAF), Luke Altmyer (QB), Gabe Jacas (DE), Torrie Cox Jr. (DB), Melvin Priestly (OL)
- Key arrivals (with previous school): Katin Houser (QB) – ECU, Alex Perry (WR) – FIU, Jayshon Platt (WR) – FAU, Ty Robinson (WR) – BALL, Darrell Prater (DL) – JVST

## Depth chart

### Offense

- WR-X: Collin Dixon, Ty Robinson, Jershaun Newton, Kenyon Alston, Jacob Harvey
- WR-Z: Jayshon Platt, Alex Perry, Nas Rankin, Davon Grant
- WR-SL: Hudson Clement, Brayden Trimble, Eddie Kasper, Leslie Mosley Jr.
- LT: Christian Martin, Champ Smith, Alfred Washington
- LG: Maika Matelau, Brandon Hansen, Dylan Frechette
- C: Jake Renfro, TJ McMillen, Michael McDonough
- RG: Brandon Henderson, Eddie Tuerk, Griffin Rousseau
- RT: Nathan Knapik, TJ Taylor, Zafir Stewart
- TE: Christian Abney, Kaden Feagin, Davin Stoffel, Maurice Smith Jr., Will Vala III
- QB: Katin Houser, Carson Boyd, Michael Clayton II, Dane Eisenmenger
- RB: Ca'Lil Valentine, Aidan Laughery, Jordan Anderson, Cedric Wyche II, John Forster

### Defense

- DE: Joe Barna, Isaiah Thomison, Will Holmes, Parker Crim
- NT: Darrell Prater, Demetrius John, Isaiah White
- DT: Pat Farrell, Carter Janki, Connor Sullivan, Cameron Brooks
- JACK: Daniel Brown, Mason Muragin, Erik Gayle
- WLB: Grant Beerman, Ismael Kante, Cameron Thomas
- MLB: James Kreutz, Robert Edmonson, Jack Paris, Tony Williams
- LCB: Jakwon Morris, James Finley IV, RJ Jones III, Tywan Cox
- SS: Matthew Bailey, Xanai Scott, Jacob Eberhart
- FS: Mac Resetich, Lavon Williams
- RCB: Juice Clarke, Tanner Heckel, Nick Hankins Jr., Almirian Thomas
- NB: Xavier Scott, Deuce Fillmore, Andre Lovett Jr.

### Special Teams

- PT: Lars Rau, Jack Gray
- PK: Ethan Moczulski, Lucas Osada
- KO: Ethan Moczulski, Lucas Osada
- LS: Patrick Mahoney III, Zach Haber
- H: Lars Rau, Jack Gray
- PR: Eddie Kasper
- KR: Jayshon Platt, Ca'Lil Valentine

## 2026 schedule

| Week | Opponent | Site | TV | Spread |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | UAB | Home | BTN | ILL -28.5 |
| 2 | Duke | Home | Fox Sports 1 | – |
| 3 | Southern Illinois Salukis (FCS) | Home | Peacock | – |
| 4 | Ohio State | Away | – | – |
| 5 | Purdue | Home | – | – |
| 6 | Michigan State | Away | – | – |
| 8 | Oregon | Home | – | – |
| 9 | Maryland | Away | – | – |
| 10 | Nebraska | Home | FOX | – |
| 11 | UCLA | Away | FOX | – |
| 12 | Iowa | Home | – | – |
| 13 | Northwestern | Away | – | – |

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Source: SharpData OS – https://www.sharpdataos.com/cfb/teams/illinois
Depth chart updated 2026-08-11. Odds shown are point-in-time snapshots.