Iowa's Fran McCaffery Returns to Champaign With Penn Quakers in November
Iowa basketball fans will have a familiar face to watch this November when former Hawkeyes coach Fran McCaffery brings his Penn Quakers to Champaign for a nonconference showdown. The game is part of Illinois' newly announced slate of mid-major opponents for the 2026-27 season, and it gives Iowans a chance to see McCaffery back in Big Ten country.
McCaffery, who spent 15 seasons at Iowa before being let go in 2024, is entering his second year at Penn. His return to State Farm Center on Nov. 5 is one of five reported home games against mid-major competition that Illinois has scheduled. The Illini are filling out a 32-game schedule that already includes high-profile matchups with Texas Tech, Duke, Connecticut, Missouri, and North Carolina.
What This Means for Iowa Fans
For Hawkeye supporters, McCaffery's return is a chance to see a coach who led Iowa to seven NCAA tournament appearances and a 297-183 record. His teams were known for up-tempo offense and occasional sideline outbursts, earning him the nickname 'FranCon' among fans. The Orange Krush student section at Illinois is known for poking fun at opposing coaches, and McCaffery's return could be a highlight of the nonconference schedule.
Illinois beat Penn 105-70 in the first round of the 2025 NCAA tournament, but the Quakers return several players from that team, including second-leading scorer TJ Power. Notre Dame transfer Sir Mohammed adds depth to a roster that could be competitive in the Ivy League.
Other Mid-Major Matchups
Illinois also hosts Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 2, Sam Houston on Nov. 13, Eastern Illinois on Nov. 20, and Winthrop on Nov. 23. These games are part of a trend in college basketball toward scheduling more nonconference games as the sport moves to a 32-game schedule.
Fairleigh Dickinson is four years removed from its stunning upset of No. 1 Purdue as a 16-seed in the 2023 NCAA tournament, but the Knights have struggled since, winning 11 games last season. Sam Houston, which prefers to be called without the 'State,' lost its top two scorers from a 22-12 team. Eastern Illinois is in a rebuild after losing three key rotation players to transfer. Winthrop, which beat Illinois 84-80 in overtime in their only previous meeting, lost eight seniors from a 23-11 team.
Local Impact and Takeaways
For Iowa basketball fans, the game is a reminder of McCaffery's tenure and a chance to see a coach who brought consistent success to the program. While the Hawkeyes are not on Illinois' schedule this season, the matchup offers a connection to the state's basketball history.
Iowa's own schedule is still being finalized, but the Hawkeyes are expected to face a mix of Power Five and mid-major opponents. The Big Ten conference slate will be announced later this year.