Iowa’s 2026 road slate wraps with a familiar name and a fresh set of questions.
The Hawkeyes are set to travel to Champaign, Ill. on Nov. 21 for a meeting with Illinois, the first time the teams will play since Iowa’s 15-13 win in Iowa City in 2023. It also marks their first matchup since the Big Ten moved away from East and West divisions.
Illinois has had plenty to celebrate over the last two seasons, piling up 19 wins and knocking off South Carolina and Tennessee in bowl games. But as training camp opens, the picture looks a lot less settled than it did a year ago.
Bret Bielema’s roster has taken a major hit, with about half the team leaving through the transfer portal or graduation. The staff has also been reshuffled, with Bobby Hauck stepping in as defensive coordinator, Ronnie Bradford as secondary coach, Mike Neu as pass game coordinator and Chris Hurd as special teams coordinator.
At Big Ten Football Media Days in Chicago, Bielema said the team is working to get comfortable with a 3-3-5 defensive scheme.
“I think every year with new players, new coaches and new games, it’s an opportunity that presents itself that you just got to live in that moment for what it is, take advantage of everything,” Bielema said in Chicago. “I think one thing 18 years has taught me is anything can happen on any given Saturday, but literally every day something will pop up that you don’t know is coming. So I think to live that moment every day and enjoy it and enjoy the people around is what it’s all about.”
Illinois also went to the transfer market for its new quarterback, bringing in fifth-year East Carolina transfer Katin Houser to replace Luke Altmyer. Houser is the only quarterback in the room with game experience after starting all 12 games last season for the Pirates, when he threw for 3,300 yards, 19 touchdowns and six interceptions while also adding 193 rushing yards and nine rushing scores.
That dual-threat ability figures to be a key piece of the new offense, especially with Neu helping shape the passing game.
Still, Bielema seems more focused on the other side of the ball. Illinois’ defensive line will be completely rebuilt, much like Iowa’s, though Pat Farrell and Joe Barna return as rotational pieces from last season.
The Hawkeyes have won nine of the last 10 meetings, and this one could carry real late-season weight if both teams are ranked. In that scenario, bowl positioning - or even a College Football Playoff path - could be in play when these two meet again.
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