Illinois vs FDU basketball season opener airs Monday at 7 p.m

The Illinois Fighting Illini open their 2026-27 college basketball season against the FDU Knights at 7 p.m. on Monday, broadcast on the Big Ten Network and streamed online via B1G+.

How Do the Two Teams Match Up for the Season Opener?

The Illinois Fighting Illini enter the season under head coach Brad Underwood, who returns for his 10th season in Champaign. Illinois finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 28-9 overall record, including a 15-5 mark in the Big Ten, before reaching the Final Four where they fell to UCONN. Their last game was a 101-66 victory over UIC.

Illinois opens the season with a home game vs FDU. What to expect? @Nathan1Nash breaks down the biggest storylines heading into MondaySTORY: https://t.co/eZinlPs3R6 pic.twitter.com/R4y3XtIyWE
— https://x.com/ArmchairIllini/status/2116351943861821887

On the other sideline, the FDU Knights begin their campaign under head coach Jack Castleberry, entering his fourth season at the helm. FDU finished the 2025-26 season at 11-21 overall and 8-10 in Northeast Conference play. The Fighting Illini currently hold the fourth-highest odds to win the national title this season.

What Happened the Last Time Illinois Played FDU?

The two programs have met twice historically, with Illinois holding a 2-0 edge in the all-time series. Their most recent meeting took place on Dec. 29, 2023, at the State Farm Center in Champaign, where the Fighting Illini secured a 104-71 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson.

That 2023 matchup arrived during a turbulent week for the program after leading scorer Terrence Shannon Jr. was suspended indefinitely following his arrest. Playing in front of a sold-out home crowd without their top scorer and ball handler, the short-handed Illini experienced early offensive growing pains before breaking the game open.

Dain Dainja and Justin Harmon combined for 37 points to carry the offense, with Harmon sparking an explosive 14-point run in a two-minute span late in the first half. Dainja added 15 points in the opening twenty minutes alone to help build a 20-point halftime lead. Six different Illinois players finished the night in double figures.

“This is the most connected group of players that I’ve coached,” Underwood said after the 2023 win.

What Are the Broadcast and Streaming Details?

Monday’s season opener kicks off at 7 p.m. Television coverage is available nationally on the Big Ten Network (BTN), while live digital streaming requires a subscription to B1G+.