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 Michael Grant | 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

Who Benefited

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

Who Impacted

Houston suffered elimination in the Sweet 16, ending their tournament run and halting further postseason advancement for that season.

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.

Who Impacted

Houston suffered elimination in the Sweet 16, ending their tournament run and halting further postseason advancement for that season.