The Illinois State Redbirds have released their 2026‑27 non‑conference schedule, a slate that pits the Redbirds against a who's‑who of recent NCAA Tournament participants.
Exhibition Openers and Early Road Tests
The first two exhibition games arrive in October, with the second taking place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, just minutes from Johnny Kinziger’s hometown, giving the senior guard a chance to showcase his skills in front of local fans.
The regular season opens at home on November 5 against Central State University, marking the debut of a roster that returns two thousand‑point scorers, Chase Walker and Johnny Kinziger, while also integrating new talent such as Noah Cleveland and Louie Semona.
A marquee matchup arrives on November 9 when the Redbirds host Purdue, a team that finished 30‑9 last year and advanced to the Elite Eight, marking the ninth meeting between the programs and underscoring the non‑conference challenge.
Later that week, Illinois State travels to Fargo to meet North Dakota State, a squad that posted a 27‑8 record but fell in the opening round of March Madness, adding another formidable opponent to the schedule.
Back‑to‑back home games against Bellarmine University on November 17 and Eureka College on November 19 follow, before the team heads to Palm Springs for the Acrisure Series, where they will face Santa Clara and Tulsa, both of whom captured conference titles the previous season.
Road trips to Eastern Illinois on December 2 and Chicago State on December 5 follow, and the campaign wraps with a pair of home games against Long Beach State on December 10 and a rematch with North Dakota State on December 13, giving the Redbirds a balanced mix of home and away contests.
Head coach Ryan Pedon, now in his fourth season, has guided the Redbirds to a steady climb in win totals, culminating in a 23‑13 record and a run to the NIT semifinals against Auburn, a trajectory that bodes well for the upcoming campaign.