The Illinois Fighting Illini and Missouri Tigers have canceled their previously-scheduled football games in 2026 and 2032, it was reported Thursday.
No official release has been issued by either school at press time. Six games in the Arch Rivalry remain on the docket.
#Illini AD Josh Whitman (@IlliniAD) has confirmed the Illinois-Missouri football series has retracted two games (2026 & 2032).
Illinois-Mizzou Future Football Dates:
2027: in Columbia
2028: in Champaign
2029: in Columbia
2033: in Columbia
2034: in Champaig
2035: in Columbia— Matthew Stevens (@matthewcstevens) June 26, 2025
More information will be shared on this announcement as it becomes available.
Missouri and Illinois have met 24 times on the gridiron in a series that began back in 1896. The Tigers defeated the Fighting Illini in their last six meetings, most recently in 2010, and currently lead the overall series 17-7.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULES
We all know the real reason, SEC going to only 3 non-conference games.
Only three non-conference or only three conference games?
It would be 3 non-conference and 9 SEC games.
3 non-conference games.
9 Conference games.
Very enthusiastic about future of SEC Football.
No they’re not. This is to avoid two roadies for Mizzou and two P4s in same year. SEC staying at 8.
“It’s too late TigerFan it’s too late
SEC Going to a nine-game conference schedule”
Doing a takeoff from 1971 Carole King tune.
Just want to let you know TigerFan I was just having fun however I did not rub it on you buddy.
Overall, I respect your comments.
Pretty shocking Illinois would give up 2 home games and settle for a 2 for 1 deal, however. Only way this makes sense is if 2 of the games currently slated to be played in Columbia are turned in to neutral site games (in StL).
Other possibility is they flip one of the Columbia games to Champaign to make it 3-3.
Most articles imply that two of the Columbia games will become neutral site games (perhaps St. Louis).
Busch Stadium would make a fantastic neutral site for Illinois-Missouri Football game have half Illinois Fans & other Missouri Fans.
The Dome still stands in StL.
You watch, a bunch of what would be good non conference sec games will be getting the axe. Georgia-Clemson will be getting axed, Florida – Colorado just to name a few will be going away. Was looking forward to Missouri finally coming to Memorial Stadium for first time since early 90s.
This could have been someone’s wet dream, a big ten vs sec match up.
I wanted a nine-game conference schedule however I will expect changes in SEC & I would not mind they go all conferences on Thanksgiving weekend for example Georgia-South Carolina, Tennesse-Florida & Kentucky-Vanderbilt.
There will be plenty of challenges for SEC ahead & it will not be easy.
Stankey circling the wagons to keep his teams in the garbage playoff. #8-4playoffteams #stankeyszn #greed #mizzoushouldbebig12 #chasedaniel
In a few years, none of the Power 4 conference schools will play any non-conference games against other Power 4 conference schools. It will just be 3 games against the Group of 6 schools. That’s a shame.
So, with that said, I hope the Power 4 conferences go off and form their own division and only play games within that division. That will improve the college football product.
Power Four do not need divisions they need to play every team from their conference.
CFB needs true Fans at home games whether it will be Northwestern Purple, Illinois Orange or Michigan Blue.
TigerFan has it partially correct. The real reason the two games got cancelled is because Mizzou already has one P$ OOC game (Kansas in both years) scheduled. Lord help them if they had to play a tough OOC schedule.
These 2 schools share a border, and that said, they always play a basketball game in St. Louis, about halfway between Champaign and Columbia, so it would be cool to see the football teams also play there. A neutral site game where both fan bases would be equal.
Agreeable Jtk1.
Every football game between these 2 schools since 2000 has been in the Lou.
Drove through both of these states a few days ago. It’s sad seeing a good regional matchup get shortened especially since both of these programs are on the rise.
I am optimistic Illinois will find another SEC opponent to fill void & same thing with Missouri for another Big Ten opponent.