Washington Huskies Take on No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini

Huskies look to upset Illini in Big Ten matchup

Jan. 29, 2026 at 10:39am

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The Washington Huskies (11-9, 3-6 Big Ten) will travel to Champaign, Illinois to take on the No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini (17-3, 8-1) in a Big Ten conference matchup. The game is scheduled for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off at the State Farm Center and will be televised on FS1.

Why it matters

This game features two Big Ten teams heading in opposite directions. The Illini have won 9 straight games and are looking to solidify their position in the top 25, while the Huskies have struggled of late, losing 5 of their last 7 games. A win for Washington could be a major boost for their season, while Illinois is looking to avoid an upset at home.

The details

In the previous matchup between these teams on January 5, 2025, Illinois defeated Washington 81-77 in Seattle, though the Huskies covered the 7-point spread. Washington is coming off a 72-57 win over Oregon, led by double-doubles from C Franck Kepnang and F Hannes Steinbach. Illinois is fresh off an 88-82 upset win over No. 12 Purdue, with G Keaton Wagler scoring a career-high 46 points.

  • The game is scheduled for Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 9 p.m. ET.
  • The teams previously met on January 5, 2025 in Seattle.

The players

Franck Kepnang

Washington center who had a double-double in the team's last game.

Hannes Steinbach

Washington forward who also recorded a double-double in the team's last game.

Keaton Wagler

Illinois guard who scored a career-high 46 points in the team's last game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game will be a tough test for the Huskies as they look to pull off the upset against the highly-ranked Illini. While Washington has struggled of late, they have covered the spread in 5 of their last 7 games, suggesting they could keep this one close. Illinois will be looking to avoid a letdown after their big win over Purdue and continue their strong start to the Big Ten season.