#29 Big Ten Conference

Illinois

Projected 7–5 · 7 proj. wins

Playoff:OUT

Updated Aug 30, 2026 · model record 83% on 6 graded calls →

Call the season

How many games does Illinois win? The Ninjas project 7.

Tap a number to call it — then see how you stack up against the Ninjas.

Playoff

14%

Title

<1%

Win conf

SOS

#45

Schedule & outlook

Full schedule + record projection →

W1vs UAB94%
W2vs Duke77%
W3vs Southern Illinois98%
W4@ Ohio State9%
W5vs Purdue85%
W6@ Michigan State63%
W8vs Oregon14%
W9@ Maryland71%
W10vs Nebraska61%
W11@ UCLA51%
W12vs Iowa53%
W13vs Northwestern71%

Chaos meter42 · SIMMERING

CalmMayhem

Path to the playoff

Playoff odds →

LOCKWin out → in the field, no committee debate.
RISKLose to Ohio State → the margin for error vanishes.
CHAOSRun the table + upsets → the only way the door opens.

Full odds

Make the 12: 14%
16-team field: 19%
24-team field: 31%
Win conference: 2%
National title: <1%

Our playoff odds call · month by month

▲0

Pre 14% → 14%

Pre 14%Aug 14%

Up next

vs UAB· W194% WIN

Matchup preview & buzz →

Last season

2025 · via CFBD

Where Illinois finished a year ago — the foundation the 2026 outlook is built on.

SP+ rating

#24

+12.9 · off #27 / def #41

Talent composite

#64

247 blue-chip composite

Recruiting class

#45

2025 signing class

Returning prod.

53%

of offensive production

Efficiency

2025 · national rank

Offense#27

EPA / play#39
Success rate#15
Explosiveness#117

Defense#41

EPA / play#98
Success rate#122

The big number is opponent-adjusted SP+ offense/defense; the splits underneath are per-play efficiency — the same signals that feed the 2026 model. Lower rank is better.

Offseason moves

2026 portal · via CFBD

Portal in

3.1★ avg

Portal out

3.1★ avg

Net

-7

in − out

Scholarship players in and out of the transfer portal for 2026, with average recruiting stars — a quick read on whether the roster got deeper or thinner. Star quality matters as much as the count.