Illinois releases 2021 non-conference schedule

We finally know who’s on the Illini’s non-conference schedule for all 11 games this season.

The Illini released the list of opponents Monday morning. It includes the annual Braggin’ Rights game, a rematch with Arizona (from two years ago), and a Gavitt Games showdown with Marquette.

We also learned about some of the low-major games the Illini are picking up this season, which includes Jackson State, Arkansas State, UT-Rio Grande Valley, St. Francis (Pennsylvania) and Florida A&M.

We’ll see this year’s team for the first time on Oct. 23 in an exhibition against an opponent that will be named later.

Also, credit to Brad Underwood for adding a lot of home games to this slate, which only includes one true road game (at Marquette). With a lot of new pieces, it will definitely be a warm welcome to play a bunch of games in front of fans heading into Big Ten play.