The Illinois Fighting Illini have added the Western Michigan Broncos to their 2032 football schedule, both schools announced Thursday.

Illinois hosts Western Michigan on Saturday, September 4, 2032 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. The game will be the eighth meeting between the two schools on the field.

Illinois and Western Michigan first met in football in 1947 in Champaign. In their most recent matchup in 2016, the Broncos traveled to Champaign and defeated the Fighting Illini 34-10. Illinois still holds a two-game series lead at 4-2.

The Fighting Illini won’t have to wait until 2032 to get another win against the Broncos. The two schools are also scheduled to meet in Champaign during the previously announced 2025 season. Today, Illinois announced that the date of that game has been moved up a week, from Sept. 20 to Sept. 13.

Illinois is scheduled to open the 2025 season at home on Saturday, August 30 against the Western Illinois Leathernecks. The Fighting Illini visit the Duke Blue Devils the following week on September 6 before welcoming Western Michigan to Champaign.

Western Michigan’s next season opens on Saturday, August 30, with an away game against the Michigan State Spartans. The Broncos also host the North Texas Mean Green on September 6 and the Rhode Island Rams on September 20, in addition to a visit to Illinois.

Illinois also announced another minor schedule change on Thursday. The 2028 home game against the Illinois State Redbirds has been postponed one week, from Sept. 2 to Sept. 9.

Football Schedules