One week is in the books, and Illinois is still staring at a clean slate. The Illini are 1-0, and that puts them in the same boat as most of the Big Ten after the opening weekend.
The real test, of course, is what comes next in conference play - and the first league trip is a nasty one, with No. 1 Ohio State waiting on the road to start Illinois’ Big Ten schedule.
Before that stretch arrives, here’s how the next five opponents looked in Week 1.
Ohio State didn’t waste time reminding everybody why it opened the season at No. 1.
Julian Sayin carved up the defense for 320 yards and three touchdowns, and the bulk of that production went to Jeremiah Smith. Sayin was sharp all afternoon, missing on only four throws, while the Buckeyes also rolled on the ground at 6.8 yards per carry.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State gave up just 165 total yards. Business as usual in Columbus.
THE best wide receiver in the country doing what he does best. @Jermiah_Smith1 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/9iQKN9LRvQ
Purdue’s opener had a little more drama, even if the final result turned comfortable. The Boilermakers broke things open with a 21-0 third quarter against Indiana State, but there were still some familiar issues hanging around, including three completions surrendered for 40-plus yards.
Offensively, though, Purdue looked lively. Ryan Browne threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns, and Fame Ijeboi turned 11 carries into 87 yards and a score without much trouble.
Southern Illinois had to grind for its win over Samford in a game where points were hard to come by and both quarterbacks had a rough afternoon. The Salukis leaned on the run game, piling up 181 rushing yards at 4.2 per carry, and their defense held up well against the run too, allowing just 2.6 yards per carry. It was a tight road win that got Southern Illinois back to 1-1 after its Week 1 loss to West Florida.
The opener for Pat Fitzgerald’s first season in East Lansing came with plenty of tension. Toledo did a good job of slowing Michigan State’s rushing attack and even nudged ahead 20-19 in the fourth quarter. Michigan State answered, though, and Alessio Milivojevic helped the Spartans score the final 11 points to close it out.
The Blue Devils also made quick work of their opponent, rolling past Tulane behind a huge day from Nate Sheppard. The running back handled 35 carries for 227 yards and two touchdowns, and his all-purpose total climbed to 246 yards with receiving yards included. That number nearly matched Tulane’s entire offense, which finished with 258 total yards.
In Other News...
Illinois Must Rework Its Line For Duke After A Costly Loss
Illinois will have to shuffle its offensive line again this week after Bret Bielema confirmed that guard Brandon Henderson will miss the upcoming game against Duke with a lower-body injury suffered late against Alabama-Birmingham. The injury came at an awkward time for a line that already has to be managed carefully, and Bielema said the staff is weighing replacement options as it tries to keep the front five steady for a nonconference matchup that now carries a little more urgency.
Bielema also gave updates on Jayshon Platt and Daniel Brown, offering a clearer picture of the rosters health as Illinois works through the early part of the season. Hendersons recovery is expected to take somewhere between two and six weeks, which leaves the Illini planning for more than just one game and waiting to see how the rest of the depth chart settles before the schedule stiffens further. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois May Have Found The WR1 Its Passing Game Needed
A strong opening to the 2026 season gave Illinois a clearer idea of where its passing game may be headed, and Collin Dixon was right at the center of it. The wide receiver put together six catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns in the opener, the kind of start that gets attention not just because of the production but because of the role he seems poised to fill for the Illini moving forward.
Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. has already pointed to Dixons character and football IQ as reasons for optimism, even drawing a comparison to former Illinois standout and NFL receiver Pat Bryant. Dixon arrived in Champaign as a lower-rated recruit after originally committing to Wisconsin, but he has worked his way into becoming the teams leading wideout, and Illinois now has to find out whether the early surge is the beginning of a true No. 1 target or just the first big step in a much longer climb. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois May Need A JUCO Newcomer To Fix Its Secondary
Illinois new-look defense may wind up leaning on a familiar kind of bet, the kind that has helped plenty of programs patch holes in a hurry. Jakwon Morris arrives from Northwest Mississippi Community College with the sort of background Illinois has been willing to trust before: junior college polish, obvious athletic traits and a reputation for speed and coverage ability. In a secondary that needs answers, his profile stands out as one of the cleaner fits for the Illinis transition to a 3-3-5 scheme.
Morris still has to prove he can carry that promise onto the Power 4 stage, but the expectation inside Illinois is that he can push for a starting role at outside corner in 2026. For a defense trying to reshape itself, that kind of development matters just as much as any recruiting splash. The question now is whether his tools translate quickly enough to make him more than depth and become one of the pieces that steadies the back end. [Read more 🡒]