Illinois State strength of schedule
2026 weekly schedule
A · 1 
A · 2 
H · 3 
A · 4 
H · 5 
A · 7 
H · 8 
H · 9 
A · 10 
A · 11 
H · 12 Tougher than average Easier than average · number = opponent's win total
Illinois State 2026 opponents
| Wk | Opponent | Site | Opp wins | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Illinois | @ | 1 | Played |
| 2 | Northern Illinois | @ | 3 | Played |
| 3 | Eastern Illinois | vs | 2 | Played |
| 4 | Northern Iowa | @ | 1 | Played |
| 5 | South Dakota State | vs | 4 | Upcoming |
| 7 | Southern Illinois | @ | 7 | Upcoming |
| 8 | Indiana State | vs | 3 | Upcoming |
| 9 | Murray State | vs | 1 | Upcoming |
| 10 | North Dakota | @ | 2 | Upcoming |
| 11 | Youngstown State | @ | 3 | Upcoming |
| 12 | South Dakota | vs | 6 | Upcoming |
Opponent strength = each opponent's win total in 2025, its last full season (records-based, no betting win totals are used). Schedule and records from CollegeFootballData. See the full conference strength-of-schedule ranking.
Illinois State Redbirds 2026 opponents by win total, week by week. Bars above the 6.4-win FBS average are tougher than average.
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Frequently asked questions
How hard is the Illinois State schedule in 2026?
Illinois State faces an easier than average schedule in 2026. Its opponents averaged 3.0 wins in 2025, below the 6.4-win FBS average.
How is Illinois State strength of schedule measured?
Each opponent is rated by its 2025 win total (a full season, so early-season results don't skew it) and averaged across the Illinois State 2026 schedule.