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How to Watch Penn at Illinois: TV Channel, Live Stream and Start Time
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- How to Watch Penn at Illinois: TV Channel, Live Stream and Start Time
Illinois opened its season with a performance that almost seemed unfair. The Fighting Illini scored 120 points, buried a school-record 19 three-pointers and defeated Fairleigh Dickinson by 75. Now comes an opponent that Illinois fans might remember from March.
No. 3 Illinois hosts Penn on Thursday at State Farm Center in Champaign, renewing a series that included a meeting in the first round of last season's NCAA Tournament.
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Illinois defeated Penn 105-70 in that tournament game before continuing its run to the Final Four. The Fighting Illini have won all seven previous meetings between the programs, but Thursday brings a different challenge as Penn opens its new season.
Brad Underwood's team certainly has momentum. Illinois defeated Fairleigh Dickinson 120-45 on Monday, establishing program records for both its margin of victory and three-pointers made in a game.
The question Thursday isn't whether Illinois can score . It's whether the Fighting Illini can maintain that remarkable offensive rhythm against a different opponent.
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How to Watch Penn at Illinois
Day:Thursday
Start Time:8:30 p.m. ET
Location:State Farm Center, Champaign, Illinois
TV Channel: FS1
Live Stream: FOX One, FOX Sports app with an eligible TV-provider login, and live TV streaming services carrying FS1
Announcers:Jack Kizer and Steve Smith
How to Watch for Free:No confirmed free video broadcast is available. Fans can listen through the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network on participating radio stations, with additional coverage through the Varsity Network app.
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Illinois Couldn't Have Started Much Better
The Fighting Illini's opener was impressive even by the standards of a program coming off a Final Four appearance. Illinois scored 120 points against Fairleigh Dickinson while allowing just 45.
The 75-point margin established a program record, and the Illini's 19 made three-pointers set another school mark.
Andrej Stojakovic led Illinois with 20 points, while Quentin Coleman collected 10 rebounds and Ethan Brown distributed seven assists. Those contributions illustrated the balance Illinois hopes to maintain throughout the season.
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Underwood's team can score from the perimeter, attack the basket and create problems through its size.
Penn Returns to a Familiar Opponent
Penn has already experienced the challenge of facing Illinois on a major stage. The Quakers lost 105-70 to the Fighting Illini in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
That result remains relevant because Thursday offers Penn an opportunity to measure its progress against a program that advanced to the Final Four.
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The Quakers must defend the perimeter considerably better than Fairleigh Dickinson did Monday. Illinois has enough shooting to turn a close game into a lopsided one quickly, especially if opponents allow clean looks from outside.
Penn also needs to control turnovers and compete on the defensive glass.
A Chance to Continue Building Momentum
Illinois is attempting to open 2-0 for the eighth consecutive season under Underwood. The Fighting Illini have established significant expectations after last season's tournament run, and their opening performance only added to the excitement.
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Penn represents another early opportunity to evaluate Illinois' depth and offensive execution. The Quakers would love to slow the pace and make the game more competitive than the teams' NCAA Tournament meeting.
For Illinois, the objective is to continue building chemistry before the nonconference schedule becomes more demanding.
Thursday's game tips off at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Related: Duke's 17-Year-Old Freshman Could Become College Basketball's Most Fascinating Newcomer
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Related: Florida Returns To Site Of NCAA Tournament Heartbreak As No. 1 Team In College Basketball
This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
