Game day is almost here ladies and gentlemen just four days away until one of the biggest home games in Indiana history, when the No. 19 Hoosiers host the No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday at 7:30pm E.T.
Led by Illinois head coach Bret Bielema, the Fighting Illini are averaging 45 points per game, placing their offense 14th in the nation, and they are giving up 7.3 point per game, good for No. 5th in the nation. Their wins have come against Western Illinois (52-3), at Duke (45-19), and Western Michigan (38-0).
Bielema is 128-80 all-time as a head coach, 31-22 at Illinois, and 13-3 over the last two seasons.
Indiana has been great all season, even though it's been less than stellar competion (Kennesaw State, Old Dominion and Indiana State) they have dominated in all but two quarters of each game.
Indiana’s offense has been unstoppable, last week they piled up 680 yards of total offense. Wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. who won Big Ten offensive player of the week delivered a career night with 10 receptions for 207 yards and four touchdowns. While Fernando Mendoza has lived up to the hype with 780 yards, 9 touchdowns and no turnovers.
The defense led by three All-Americans in Aiden Fisher, D'Angelo Ponds and Mikail Kamara only gave up 77 total yards and 0 points last week against Indiana State.
Key stats to know:
- Indiana has scored 52.0 points per game this season, 44.7 more than Illinois has given up.
- Indiana’s offense has averaged 591.7 yards per game this season, 323.4 more than the 268.3 Illinois’ defense has allowed.
- Illinois scores 45.0 points per game, 37.3 more than Indiana allows (7.7).
- Illinois racks up 185.0 more yards per game (405.7) than Indiana allows (220.7).
Bill Bender of Sporting News wrote: "The Big Ten prime-time game of the week between playoff hopefuls. Indiana is a home underdog – which should get Curt Cignetti fired up. Illinois should have some success running the football, but the Hoosiers have an elite pass defense through three weeks. Fernando Mendoza (9 TDs, 0 INTs) and Luke Altmyer (8 TDs, 0 INTs) have been masterful. The Hoosiers average 307.7 rushing yards per game. Can the Illini's nasty defense slow that down?
How to watch the Illinois Fighting Illini at Indiana Hoosiers
- Venue: Memorial Stadium (Bloomington, IN)
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Streaming: Fubo (Stream now)
- TV: NBC
- Tickets: Get tickets on StubHub
Indiana vs. Illinois odds
- Spread: Indiana -5.5
- Favorite Moneyline: Indiana (-205)
- Underdog Moneyline: Illinois +168
- Total Over/Under: 52.5
- Total Over Odds: -110
- Total Under Odds: -110 per FanDuel
Indiana Hoosiers Injury Status:
Bryson Bonds (knee) out for the season, Byron Baldwin Jr (knee) day-to-day, Mitch McCarthy (unknown injury) day-to-day, Lee Beebe Jr (knee) out for the season, Tyler Morris (knee) out for the season
Illinois Injury Status:
- TE Grant Smith (3rd string+) – Out for season,
- OG JJ Hirdes (3rd string+) – Out for season,
- RB John Forester (3rd string+) – Out for season,
- DB Tywan Cox (3rd string+) – Out for season,
RB Aidan Laughery (Starter) – Questionable
The 7-day forecast for Bloomington, Indiana, shows the weather being perfect. The high that day is 83 degrees, with the day being slightly overcast. As day turns into night, the temperatures will drop, with the low being 63 degrees.
Series all-time history
This historic Big Ten matchup has been dominated by Illinois. Overall, the record is 45-25-3 in favor of the Orange and Blue. This record includes being an impressive 30-9 at home, but Illinois has struggled more on the road, going 15-16-3.
Another note is that Illinois has dropped four out of the last five matchups. We took the most recent game in 2023 in overtime, 48-45, but the recent series history has not been great for the Illini.
Game Prediction:
Indiana's offense has the weapons to stretch out the Illinois defense more than it expects to be with Omar Cooper Jr, Elijah Sarratt and Riley Nowakowski. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is more than capable rushing the football, as well and getting out of sticky situations especially on third downs.
The quality of Indiana's front seven on defense and their defensive back corps led by Louis Moore and D'Angelo Ponds hold a slight advantage too , especially when playing at home.
While I do respect and like what Illinois brings to the table on both sides of the ball they are nothing special at the end of the day. I don't believe they have enough playmakers to keep up with IU on the road. If Indiana can slow down Luke Altmyer and win the special teams battle Indiana should win comfortably.
Indiana wins 31-21 over Illinois in a 10 point and convincing victory.
FREE game posters in-store at Kirkwood for Saturday's RED OUT against Illinois! #iufb #NeverDaunted pic.twitter.com/eRENsg4HUD
— The Indiana Shop (@theindianashop) September 16, 2025