TV Schedule: 8:30 PM EST, Big Ten Network
Arena: State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
The Illinois Fighting Illini come into the 2025-26 season ranked number 17 in the preseason poll, and they should be a Top 25 team all season long. Illinois has been a consistent contender in the Big Ten Conference with Brad Underwood at the helm, and nothing is going to change this season. Illinois will begin the 2025-26 season with a matchup against the Jackson State Tigers, and it should be an easy win to begin the season.
Visitors from the SWAC
Jackson State plays in the SWAC, and they are a popular pick to win that conference this season. Mo Williams is back for his fourth season as head coach at Jackson State, and the former NBA veteran has his best team yet. The Tigers advanced to the SWAC Championship Game a season ago, and they have a big part of their core back.
Daeshun Ruffin is the player to watch for the Tigers, and he was voted Preseason Player of the Year in the SWAC after averaging 15.7 points per game a season ago. Ruffin is undersized at 5'10" and that could create some issues against a big and physical Illinois team. Jackson State will be trying to slow down the pace in this game, but it will take a heroic effort from Ruffin to keep this game close.
Reload Time in Champaign
Illinois lost a ton of talent from last year's NCAA Tournament squad, and they are also dealing with some injuries ahead of the season opener. Ty Rodgers and Mihailo Petrovic are both missing this game with injuries, and that will test the depth of the Fighting Illini. Both Rodgers and Petrovic are going to be key pieces this season, but their absence won't be a huge problem in this game.
Andrej Stojakovic will be making his debut for the Fighting Illini, and he is expected to have a monster season in the orange and blue. Stojakovic is a proven scorer and he came to play for Brad Underwood for a chance to get more noticed by NBA scouts. Beyond Stojakovic, Illinois will have a massive size advantage in this matchup that they can take advantage of.
Orange and Blue Roll at Home
Brad Underwood is not the type of coach to allow his team to look past anyone, and he will have the Fighting Illini ready to go for the season opener. Even if Jackson State is able to keep this game close for the first 10 minutes or so, that's really all you can expect.
Illinois is going to have little trouble in this matchup, and the walk-ons are even going to get a chance to play in this game. The Fighting Illini have a loaded preseason schedule, but this game is not going to be a challenge.
Prediction: Illinois 97, Jackson State 58