​Illinois’ nonconference schedule has taken shape with five high-profile games already announced for the 2024-25 season, including marquee matchups against Texas Tech, Duke, Connecticut, Missouri and North Carolina. There could still be more on the way, though, as Illinois currently holds two open slots among their 12 nonconference games with college basketball moving to a 32-game schedule. Rocco Miller, a well-known contributor for the Field of 68 and BasketBall? Under Review and writing on his own site, has also reported several additional nonconference home games that could pad the Illini’s early slate. Here’s a closer look at the five mid-major opponents that are reportedly set to visit the State Farm Center in November.
Fairleigh Dickinson is slated for November 2. The Knights remain notable for their 2023 NCAA tournament upset of top-seeded Purdue as a 16 seed, a victory that still lingers in fans’ memory. Since then, their results have waned, with 15, 13 and 11 wins over the past three seasons. The 2025-26 season saw the top five scorers depart, leaving senior leadership as the backbone of a largely veteran lineup. Sophomore guard David Jevtic stands as the leading returning scorer at 6.6 points per game. The transfer market added Pavle Stosic, a former Gonzaga and Pepperdine forward, as FDU’s top new addition to boost the roster.
Pennsylvania visits on November 5. The potential reunion with Fran McCaffery’s teams always stirs excitement at State Farm Center, especially if the Orange Krush can conjure up a “FranCon” moment with banners or signs in the stands. Illinois topped Penn in the NCAA tournament’s opening round, a 105-70 result that still resonates. Penn brings back several pieces from that NCAA tilt, including second-leading scorer TJ Power, and Sir Mohammed—who joined from Notre Dame—adds intriguing depth via the transfer portal.
Sam Houston, November 13, brings the Bearkats to town with the familiar nod to the program’s name: it’s still Sam Houston State, although athletic leadership has asked that fans drop the “State” for branding purposes. Po’Boigh King, the former leading scorer for Sam Houston’s 22-12 squad last season, has exhausted his eligibility, and Jacob Walker departed for Oklahoma State. With a handful of seniors gone, the backcourt will rely on Justin Begg and Jacobe Coleman to shoulder the load and guide a roster trying to re-establish consistency.
Eastern Illinois makes a visit on November 20. Retention across East Central Illinois has varied, with Champaign faring better than Charleston in preserving roster stability. Among the three potential returning rotation pieces, none returned for EIU. Meechie White moved to Indiana State, Terry McMorris transferred to San Diego, and Preston Turner joined Texas-San Antonio. That shifts the emphasis to Markus Blackwell, a sophomore guard averaging 3.9 points per game, as the top returning scorer, while former D-II standout Jaden Miller—who logged 8.3 assists per game last season at East Central University (Okla.)—arrives as a key addition to the roster.
Winthrop closes the November slate on the 23rd. The last time Winthrop visited Champaign—also their only prior trip in the series—Keon Johnson dropped an impressive 38 points, a performance that would help with search-engine visibility and fan interest alike. This matchup continues to hold appeal for both sides from a competitive and buzz-generating perspective.
Altogether, these five mid-major games would form a solid start to a season in which Illinois must navigate a demanding nonconference slate. With two more nonconference spots potentially available, Illinois could add another quality opponent ahead of the Big Ten grind, aligning with the broader shift to a 32-game schedule and offering fans additional opportunities to see the Illini in the friendly confines of State Farm Center.