SPORTS

Illinois and Iowa Clash for Final Four Saturday

PUBLISHED Mar 27, 2026, 11:31 PM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 11

Center 100%

Sources: 11

HOUSTON — No. 3 Illinois will face No. 9 Iowa in the NCAA Elite Eight on Saturday at 5:09 p.m. CT at the Toyota Center, with Illinois freshman Keaton Wagler and Iowa senior Bennett Stirtz highlighted as central matchups for a berth in the Final Four. The game follows Illinois' stretch of tournament wins over Penn, VCU and Houston this week and Iowa's upset victories over Florida and Nebraska; coaches Brad Underwood and Ben McCollum outlined game plans, and the winner will advance to the Final Four as broadcast on TBS and truTV.

By Adyan K. | JQJO News

Aggregated From:

Sports Illustrated ESPN.com

Timeline of Events

Jan. 11 — Illinois defeated Iowa 75-69 during the regular season in Iowa City.
Mid-March — NCAA Tournament seedings placed Illinois as No. 3 and Iowa as No. 9.
Round of 32 — Iowa upset Florida; Illinois advanced past earlier opponents.
Sweet 16 (Thursday) — Illinois beat Houston, with freshman double-doubles noted for Wagler and Mirkovic.
Elite Eight (Saturday) — Illinois and Iowa scheduled to play at 5:09 p.m. CT for a Final Four berth.

News Intelligence

This game is a big deal for college basketball fans. The Illinois-Iowa clash will decide who advances to the NCAA Final Four. If you're a fan of either team, or just love a good underdog story, this is a game you won't want to miss.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 11
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 11
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

Illinois benefited by advancing to the Elite Eight and securing momentum after consecutive tournament wins, enhancing program visibility and recruiting profile.