Texas Tech men’s basketball will reportedly start a home-and-home series with one of the Big Ten’s top teams during the 2025-26 season.
According to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein, Texas Tech will hit the road to face Illinois in a nonconference matchup on Nov. 11 in Champaign, Illinois. The return game in Lubbock is set to take place during the 2026-27 campaign.
NEWS: Illinois and Texas Tech will start a home-and-home series on November 11th in Champaign, according to a source.
Return game in Lubbock in 2026-27.https://t.co/Jw3YabwuZj
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) June 4, 2025
Illinois has made the NCAA Tournament in each of the last five seasons. The team coached by Brad Underwood posted a 22-13 record in 2024-25, seeing its season end in the second round of March Madness.
Sports Roundup
This would be the first meeting between the Red Raiders and Fighting Illini, per the Texas Tech men’s basketball record book. Illinois is just one of a few key opponents Tech will face in nonconference play during the new season.
The Red Raiders are also reportedly facing off with LSU on Dec. 7 at Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena. Tech is then expected to face Duke on Dec. 20 at Madison Square Garden.
Find more Texas Tech coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.