The Illinois State football program will face a Football Bowl Subdivision program in each of the next six seasons — including five from the Power Four conferences, three of which are in the Big Ten.
"We always know we are going to get a great game when we face off against a Big Ten opponent," ISU coach Brock Spack said in a release, "and the upcoming games with Illinois, Wisconsin and Northwestern will be no different."
Here is a look at each of the road games, when they are scheduled and the Redbirds' history against each school:
ISU will face the Southeastern Conference opponent on Aug. 30, 2025, in Norman, Oklahoma. This is the first meeting between the programs and ISU's first game against a member of the SEC.
ISU will face NIU on Sept. 12, 2026, in DeKalb, Illinois. The programs are tied exactly in 57 meetings, at 24-24-9. They last met in 2019, a 24-10 victory for NIU. The Huskies have won five in a row and will be a member of the Mountain West Conference when this game happens.
ISU will face Mizzou of the SEC on Sept. 4, 2027, in Columbia, Missouri. The programs have met once before, a 38-17 victory for Missouri on Sept. 22, 2007.
ISU will face the Fighting Illini on Sept. 9, 2028, in Champaign, Illinois. This will be the fourth meeting between the in-state programs. Illinois is 3-0 with wins in 2009 (45-17), 2003 (49-22) and 1944 (79-6).
ISU will face the Big Ten Conference opponent on August 31, 2030, in Evanston at the new Ryan Field. ISU is 1-1 all-time against Northwestern, with a 9-7 victory in 2016 and a 37-3 loss in 2010.