The Illinois Fighting Illini enter the 2026‑27 campaign with a buzz that few programs have enjoyed in recent memory. After a surprise run to the Final Four as a No. 3 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, the team now sits atop The Athletic’s preseason poll and fourth on Bart Torvik’s projection chart.
Five of the eight players who contributed the most points last season are set to return, giving the roster continuity that has been rare in the Underwood era. That stability has helped Illinois climb to the No. 2 spot in national offensive efficiency rankings, a metric that could prove decisive when the schedule tightens.
Preseason buzz
Coach Brad Underwood, who has guided the program to two Big Ten Tournament titles and a share of a regular‑season conference crown, knows that the margin between a successful year and a forgettable one hinges on avoiding slip‑ups against teams like Penn State, USC and Nebraska. Those games will likely determine whether the Illini can claim an outright Big Ten regular‑season championship for the first time since 2005.
The return of Andrej Stojakovic, a key scorer whose decision to stay in Champaign has been praised by analysts, adds another layer of optimism. Underwood’s track record of turning talent into deep tournament runs suggests that the current roster could finally convert its lofty preseason expectations into a championship.