Illinois Athletics Report Card: How the Illini Stack Up Against Iowa Rivals
As the 2025-26 school year wraps up, a comprehensive review of University of Illinois athletic programs reveals standout performances and notable struggles. For Iowa fans, the grades offer a direct comparison to Hawkeye teams and conference rivals, highlighting where the Illini excelled and fell short.
Men's Basketball: A+
Illinois men's basketball earned an A+ for a historic season that included a Final Four appearance, the program's first in 21 years. The Illini defeated Iowa 71-59 in the Elite Eight to punch their ticket to Houston. Keaton Wagler scored 25 points and Andrej Stojakovic added 17 in that win. The only blemish was a 84-70 home loss to Michigan, which went on to win the national title. Illinois finished fourth in the Big Ten.
Women's Track and Field: A
The Illini women's track and field team posted two top-10 national finishes for the fourth straight year under director Petros Kyprianou. A third-place finish at the NCAA indoor championships was highlighted by Sophia Beckmon's long jump title. However, second-place finishes to Oregon at both the Big Ten indoor and outdoor championships left room for improvement.
Men's Tennis: A
Brad Dancer's 21st season saw a major turnaround with nine more wins and a jump to third in the Big Ten standings. The Illini notched impressive wins over No. 8 Baylor and No. 6 TCU. But Ohio State proved a thorn, beating Illinois three times including a 4-0 sweep in the Sweet 16.
Football: A
Illinois football posted nine wins and a bowl victory over an SEC opponent for the second straight season. David Olano's game-winning field goals against No. 21 USC and Tennessee in the Music City Bowl were highlights. A 27-10 loss to struggling Wisconsin was a low point. The Illini finished seventh in the Big Ten.
Women's Basketball: A
Shauna Green's team delivered another 22-win season and NCAA tournament appearance. A Jan. 1 win over No. 7 Maryland was a highlight. But back-to-back losses to No. 9 Iowa and No. 22 Minnesota to end the regular season were missed opportunities. Illinois finished 10th in the Big Ten.
Soccer: A
First-year coach Katie Hultin reversed the program's fortunes, leading the Illini to a 7-0-1 start and an NCAA tournament berth. A win over No. 18 Penn State snapped a 10-match losing streak to the Nittany Lions. A 5-1 loss to No. 16 Michigan State was a low point. Illinois finished ninth in the Big Ten.
Men's Golf: B
Mike Small's team won multiple tournaments and finished second in the Big Ten. Ryan Voois won an individual title at the Hal Williams Collegiate. But failing to advance out of the NCAA regional was a surprise. Illinois had advanced 18 times in 20 previous regional appearances.
Women's Golf: B
Renee Slone's team won two tournaments, including the Badger Invitational where Alexis Myers finished first. A 18th-place finish at the Landfall Tradition was a low point. The Illini tied for fifth in the Big Ten.
Men's Gymnastics: B-
Illinois struggled to a 2-7-1 record but produced three All-Big Ten honorees and five All-Americans. Brandon Dang won a national title on the pommel horse. A nearly 12-point loss to Michigan was a low point. The Illini finished third in the Big Ten.
Men's Track and Field: B-
Progress was slower on the men's side, but individual athletes shone. Kennedy Ocansey won the high jump and Viktor Morozov took the triple jump at Big Ten indoors. A 35th-place finish at NCAA outdoors was disappointing. The Illini finished seventh indoors and 10th outdoors in the Big Ten.
Wrestling: C+
Eight ranked wins and two All-Americans marked a solid season. But midseason turmoil with coach Mike Poeta placed on administrative leave was a distraction. Illinois finished sixth in the Big Ten.
Baseball: C
The Illini finished one game above .500 overall and two games below in Big Ten play. A 14-5 win over No. 6 Coastal Carolina was a highlight. But sweeps by USC and Oregon were low points. Illinois finished ninth in the Big Ten.
Women's Tennis: C
Evan Clark's final season ended at 13-13 overall and 7-6 in the Big Ten. A win over No. 45 Maryland was the best. A five-match losing streak in the middle of the schedule was tough. Illinois finished ninth in the Big Ten.
Volleyball: D
The 13-16 record was the worst since 2002. A win over Purdue was a bright spot. But losing the final five matches of the season cost the Illini an NCAA tournament berth. Illinois tied for 10th in the Big Ten.
Men's Cross-Country: D-
A limited schedule with just three events before the postseason hurt. Joshua Daggett's fifth-place finish at the Fighting Illini Invitational was a highlight. A 24th-place finish at Pre-Nationals was a low point. Illinois finished 13th in the Big Ten.
Women's Cross-Country: D-
Similar struggles for the women's team. Nora Wollen's second-place finish at the Fighting Illini Invitational was a highlight. A 26th-place finish at Pre-Nationals was a low point. Illinois finished 13th in the Big Ten.
Women's Gymnastics: D-
Chloe Cho had another strong individual season, but team success was hard to come by with a 5-14 record. A win over Washington was the lone Big Ten victory. Illinois finished 11th in the Big Ten.
Swimming and Diving: D-
Illinois remained uncompetitive in the Big Ten, going 0-4 in conference dual meets and finishing last at the Big Ten championships for the fourth time in eight years. A 262-85 win over Vanderbilt was a highlight. Illinois finished 14th in the Big Ten.
Softball: F
The 2026 season was the worst in program history with a 15-39 record. A 14-6 win over Minnesota was a rare bright spot. UCLA swept a series with run-shortened victories of 17-0, 10-1, and 18-0. Illinois finished 3-20 in the Big Ten.
FAQ
How did Illinois football compare to Iowa?
Illinois finished seventh in the Big Ten, while Iowa finished higher in the standings. The Illini's bowl win over Tennessee was a highlight, but Iowa's consistent performance kept them ahead in the conference race.
What was the biggest surprise in Illinois athletics?
The men's basketball team's Final Four run was the biggest surprise, especially after a disappointing home loss to Michigan. The program's resurgence under coach Brad Underwood has been remarkable.
Which Illinois program had the most disappointing season?
Softball earned an F for the worst season in program history, with a 15-39 record and a 3-20 mark in the Big Ten. The program has only won fewer than 15 games twice before.
Photo: Yahoo Sports