Illinois, Duke agree to home-and-home series in 2025-26

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Illinois and Duke have agreed to play a home-and-home series in the 2025 and 2026 football seasons.

Illinois said Friday that the teams will play in Durham, North Carolina, on Sept. 6, 2025, and in Champaign on Sept. 12, 2026.

The Illini and Blue Devils have only played each other twice and haven't met since 1965. The series is 1-1.

Illinois has now set up series against a number of East Coast schools. They include North Carolina this fall and in 2016, South Florida in 2017 and '18, Connecticut in 2019 and '20 and Virginia in 2021 and '22. The Illini will also play Kansas in 2023 and '24.