Illinois Battles Iowa in Elite Eight March Madness Clash

Illini and Hawkeyes face off for spot in Final Four

Mar. 28, 2026 at 5:50pm

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The third-seeded Illinois Fighting Illini will take on the ninth-seeded Iowa Hawkeyes in the Elite Eight round of the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament on Saturday in Houston. Illinois advanced by upsetting Houston, while Iowa knocked out Nebraska to reach this stage.

Why it matters

This matchup between Big Ten rivals Illinois and Iowa features two teams looking to punch their ticket to the Final Four. Both squads have exceeded expectations this tournament, and the winner will move one step closer to cutting down the nets.

The details

Illinois, the No. 3 seed in the South Region, is led by star guard Keaton Wagler. The Illini took down Houston in the Sweet Sixteen to reach this point. Iowa, the No. 9 seed, has been led by forward Bennett Stirtz as the Hawkeyes have upset their way to the Elite Eight.

  • The game tips off at 6:09 PM CT on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
  • The winner will advance to the Final Four in Houston.

The players

Keaton Wagler

The star guard for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Bennett Stirtz

The standout forward for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited for the challenge of facing Iowa. They've proven they can win big games, and we know it's going to take our best effort to advance.”

— Keaton Wagler, Illinois Guard

“This team has believed in each other all season long. We're not done yet, and we're going to leave it all on the floor against Illinois.”

— Bennett Stirtz, Iowa Forward

What’s next

The winner of the Illinois-Iowa game will face the winner of the North Carolina-Gonzaga matchup in the Final Four on April 5th.

The takeaway

This Elite Eight clash between Big Ten rivals Illinois and Iowa promises to be an exciting, hard-fought battle as both teams look to punch their ticket to the Final Four and keep their national championship dreams alive.