Illinois Vs Ucla: No. 10 Illini Head to Pauley Pavilion Saturday Night

The matchup illinois vs ucla pits the No. 10 Illinois Fighting Illini (22-5, 13-3 Big Ten) against the UCLA Bruins (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten) at Pauley Pavilion, beginning at 8 p. m. ET on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The game is notable now because Illinois enters as a 6. 5-point favorite and the listed point total is 146. 5, making this a consequential conference meeting between ranked and rival programs.

illinois vs ucla game details

The scheduled start time is 8 p. m. ET on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Pauley Pavilion. Team records are listed as Illinois 22-5 overall with a 13-3 mark in conference play, and UCLA 17-9 overall with a 9-6 conference record. Betting lines put Illinois as a 6. 5-point favorite and set the game total at 146. 5 points. The matchup is framed as a Big Ten rivalry meeting, with both teams carrying conference records that affect late-season positioning.

Illinois Vs Ucla odds and viewing

Oddsmakers have the Illini favored by 6. 5 points, with a projected combined scoring mark of 146. 5. A channel for the telecast is not publicly confirmed in the available details. The spread and total provide observable indicators of market expectations: the point spread favors Illinois by multiple possessions, while the total implies a moderately high-scoring outlook.

Series history and coach records

Head-to-head and coaching figures in the available facts underline historical context. The all-time series shows UCLA leading 6-5, though Illinois has won the last two meetings. The most recent meeting listed ended with Illinois 83, UCLA 78 in Champaign on February 11, 2025. In Los Angeles, UCLA leads the series 3-0 and has a three-game winning streak there; the last meeting in Los Angeles on record finished with UCLA, then ranked No. 9, prevailing 74-69 on December 30, 1997.

Presented coaching and career totals include: Career Record: 296-133 (. 690), 13th year; At Illinois: 187-106 (. 638), 9th year; Big Ten: 105-69 (. 603). Against UCLA specifically, the record reads Underwood vs. UCLA at Illinois — 2-0 at Illinois and 2-1 all-time in the matchups called out.

• Key takeaways: Illinois is the 6. 5-point favorite; the total is 146. 5; kickoff is 8 p. m. ET on Feb. 21.

Analysis and forward look: Observable indicators — team records and the published betting market — favor Illinois for this road matchup. The recent Illinois win in February 2025 and the Illini’s higher ranking are reflected in the spread. Final outcomes will hinge on how both teams perform on game day; channel information remains not publicly confirmed in the available material.