How to Watch Illinois Basketball vs. Texas Tech (Game 3)

We're still going to need some time to figure out exactly what the 2025-26 Illinois men's basketball team can become, but as of now, the No. 14 Illini already look like something pretty special. A telling piece of the puzzle is set to fall into place Tuesday when Illinois hosts No. 11 Texas Tech at the State Farm Center in Champaign (7:30 p.m. CT, FS1).

Shellackings of so-so mid-majors in the Illini's first two games – by 58 and 43 points – were good fun and impressive in their own ways. But the Red Raiders will be the first opponent Illinois will face this season that has a higher ranking and, more importantly, the goods to administer the kind of test to help prove whether this Illini team really can be the kind of Final Four contender it appears to be on paper.

Here's more information on Tuesday's barnburner of a non-conference matchup in Champaign:

How to watch Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Early season test.

🆚 Texas Tech
⏰ 7:30pm CT
📍State Farm Center
📺 FS1
🎟️ https://t.co/MuTzQD4C4L pic.twitter.com/Z4wyMVmCbd
— Illinois Men's Basketball (@IlliniMBB) November 10, 2025

Who: Illinois Fighting Illini (2-0) vs. Texas Tech (2-0)
What: Non-conference matchup
When: Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. CT
Where: State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois
TV/streaming: FS1
Radio/audio: Busey Bank Illini Sports Network (Champaign: WDWS 93.9 FM or 1400 AM; Chicago: WLS 890 AM); Fighting Illini Productions; Varsity Network App
Last season: Illinois went 22-13 (12-8 Big Ten) in 2024-25, earning a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament and winning a first-round game against Xavier. Texas Tech went 28-9 (15-5 Big 12) last season and were only knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by eventual national champion Florida in the Elite Eight.
Series history: Illinois and Texas Tech have never played one another.

What to know about Texas Tech

Good morning, in case you missed our W last night ⤵️

🎥 Highlights | @Gatorade pic.twitter.com/5f7h4E9YjY
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) November 8, 2025

In his third season in Lubbock, Grant McCasland has already worked wonders with the Red Raiders' program. He has led Texas Tech to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first two years on the job – including an Elite Eight run last season – and is only the third coach to notch a 20-win season in school history. A former assistant under Scott Drew at Baylor, McCasland has constructed his first Red Raiders clubs with an architectural eye similar to that of his old boss in Waco.

Texas Tech is built on a foundation of positional size and superior talent on the wings and efficient, well-executed offense, embodied by forward JT Toppin (averaging 31.0 points and 14.0 rebounds through two games) and guard Christian Anderson (26.0 points, 9.0 assists, 3.5 steals). Perhaps the most interesting sidebars in this story will be how well the Red Raiders keep up with the Illini's blistering pace and match up with their frontcourt (especially on the boards). For a deeper dive on the matchup, though, check out our Illinois on SI First Look at Texas Tech.