Wisconsin stuns No. 8 Illinois in overtime

Badgers rally from double-digit deficit for latest road upset win

Feb. 10, 2026 at 10:55pm

No. 8 Illinois squandered a double-digit lead in the second half, allowing Wisconsin to force overtime and pull off the upset victory on the road. The loss comes just a week after Illinois suffered another overtime defeat against Michigan State.

Why it matters

This is a significant upset that shakes up the Big Ten standings and NCAA tournament picture. Illinois was expected to be a top contender, so this loss raises questions about their ability to close out games and protect home court advantage.

The details

Despite leading by double digits in the second half, Illinois collapsed down the stretch, allowing Wisconsin to force overtime and ultimately pull off the upset victory. The Badgers outscored the Illini 12-5 in the extra period to secure the win.

  • The game was played on February 11, 2026.
  • Illinois lost in overtime to Michigan State the previous week.

The players

Brad Underwood

The head coach of the Illinois basketball team.

Wisconsin

The University of Wisconsin men's basketball team, who pulled off the upset victory over Illinois.

Illinois

The University of Illinois men's basketball team, who were ranked #8 in the country and suffered the upset loss to Wisconsin.

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What they’re saying

“We must regroup and learn from this tough loss. Our team is still capable of great things this season.”

— Brad Underwood, Illinois Head Coach

What’s next

Illinois will look to bounce back in their next game against Purdue, while Wisconsin will try to build on this upset victory as they continue their conference schedule.

The takeaway

This loss shows that even highly ranked teams can struggle on the road in the competitive Big Ten conference. Illinois will need to find a way to close out games and protect home court if they want to remain in contention for a top seed in the NCAA tournament.