The Fighting Illini played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, and competed in the West Division of the Big Ten Conference.

They were led by second-year head coach Lovie Smith.

Sources: Illinois announced its 2017 football schedule on July 11, 2013.

The 2017 schedule consisted of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season.

The Fighting Illini hosted Big Ten foes Indiana, Nebraska, Northwestern, Rutgers, Wisconsin, and traveled to Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Purdue.