Illinois Football’s 2025 Season Opener Against Western Illinois Moved to Friday
The Illinois Fighting Illini’s season-opening football game against Western Illinois has been rescheduled. Originally set for Saturday, August 30, 2025, the game will now take place on Friday, August 29, at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. The kickoff time and television network will be announced later.
Illinois and Western Illinois have faced off twice before, with Illinois winning both matchups—21-0 in 2007 and 44-0 in 2015. Western Illinois, part of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and the OVC-Big South Football Association, finished the 2024 season with a 4-8 record. They are entering their second season under head coach Joe Davis.
The 2025 season marks the fifth year for Bret Bielema as head coach of Illinois. Under his leadership, the Fighting Illini posted a 10-3 record in 2024, including a win in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against South Carolina.
Illinois also has non-conference games scheduled for 2025, including a visit to Duke on Saturday, September 6, and a home game against Western Michigan on Saturday, September 13. Their full Big Ten schedule includes home games against USC, Ohio State, Rutgers, Maryland, and Northwestern, and away games at Indiana, Purdue, Washington, and Wisconsin.
