COLUMBIA - The Missouri football team has added another border state and former rival to its future schedules.
The Missouri athletic department announced Monday the Tigers will play Illinois in a four-year home-and-home series, which will begin in the 2026 season.
While the most recent annual series between the two schools was played at a neutral site in St. Louis, this series will be played at each school's campus. Illinois will host in 2026 and 2028 at Champaign, Ill., while Missouri will be the home team in 2027 and 2029 at Faurot Field.
"We are pleased to announce a four-year home and home series with the University of Illinois," Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk said. "This is another opportunity to renew a great football rivalry that we believe Tiger fans everywhere will be excited about."
Missouri holds the series lead 17-7 against Illinois on the football field. The Tigers have won the past six matchups, including a 23-13 victory in 2010, the last time the two teams played each other.
Missouri's athletic department also announced Monday it has added Louisiana-Lafayette to complete the 2020 schedule.
The Tigers will host the Ragin' Cajuns in a nonconference game Nov. 21.
Other nonconference opponents during the 2020 season include home games against Central Arkansas (Sept. 5) and Eastern Michigan (Sept. 26), as well as a Nov. 7 road game at BYU.