#24 Fighting Illini Open Dual Season at Home Against #7 Mississippi State on Friday

illinois Opens 2026 With Top-25 Showdown Against Mississippi State

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The No. 24-ranked Fighting Illini launch their 2026 dual-season slate with a marquee home test, welcoming No. 7 Mississippi State to Atkins Tennis Center on Friday at 6 p.m. CT.

A Fresh, High-Profile Roster

Illinois brings a renewed roster built around five returning players and five newcomers, including a recruiting class ranked among the nation’s best. Senior Kenta Miyoshi returns for his final season, while 2025 All-Big Ten Second Team pick William Mroz returns after missing the fall while recovering from an injury.

Freshman Gabriel Debru is slated to make his dual debut after using the fall to regain footing from injury. A quartet of freshmen — David bakonyi, sasha Colleu, Adam Jilly and Hayden Jones — join Atkins for the first time, a group Tennis Recruiting Network lists as the No. 2 recruiting class in the country.

The Illini are led by longtime mentor Brad Dancer, who is beginning his 21st season at the helm.

Last Time Out

Illinois wrapped up a training trip with the Florida Hidden Duals (Jan. 9-10) at the Evert Tennis Academy in Boca Raton. The Illini competed in singles and doubles against players from Arizona, Clemson, Florida and Michigan. Notably, Jones, Mroz and Zach Viiala each went 2-0 in singles, with Viiala claiming a ranked win over Clemson’s No.93 yannic Nittmann.

Mississippi State: A National Contender

Mississippi State arrives with a No. 7 ITA ranking and a 2-0 start, earning wins over SMU and lamar. The Bulldogs collected the doubles point in both victories before sealing 5-2 and 6-1 triumphs, respectively.

Five MSU players appear in the latest ITA singles rankings, including three in the Top 50: Petar Jovanovic (No. 13), Bryan Hernandez Cortes (No. 34) and Mario Martinez Serrano (No. 37).Jovanovic earned ITA All-America honors after advancing to the NCAA Singles Championship quarterfinals last November. The doubles duo of Jovanovic and Benito Sanchez martinez sat No. 2 in the ITA pre-season rankings but fell in the NCAA Doubles Championship second round.

MSU checked in No. 2 in the preseason SEC coaches poll and advanced to the elite Eight in the 2025 NCAA Team Tournament, highlighted by a road upset of No. 5 Ohio State.

Series History

The series history tilts slightly toward Mississippi State, with Illinois holding a 2-3 edge in all-time meetings that date back to 1967.The teams last met in the 2016 NCAA Tournament (MSU won 4-0 at Atkins). Sence then, the Illini have not defeated the Bulldogs in dual matches, with the most recent win coming in the 1997-98 season during the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.

ITA Rankings Snapshot

Top-line notes from the ITA rankings:

• Team: No. 7 Mississippi State, No. 24 Illinois

Singles — notable names include:

• No. 10: kenta Miyoshi (illinois)
• No. 13: Petar Jovanovic (Mississippi state)
• No. 34: Bryan Hernandez Cortes (Mississippi State)
• No. 37: Mario Martinez Serrano (Mississippi State)
• No. 54: Benito Sanchez Martinez (Mississippi State)
• no. 87: Adam Jilly (Illinois)
• No. 125: Raphael Vaksmann (Mississippi State)

Doubles — the MSU duo of Sanchez Martinez/Jovanovic is ranked No. 2.

Honors Spotlight

Kenta Miyoshi earned ITA Singles All-America honors for the second straight year,concluding NCAA Singles Championship action in the third round.The Japanese phenom won two ranked matches at the NCAA event before falling to SMU’s Trevor Svajda in the third round.

William Mroz was named to the Big Ten’s Players to Watch list for 2026, joining 13 of his conference peers.The senior owns a 20-9 overall record last season, with a 5-1 mark in conference play, and has posted a strong doubles resume as well. He also earned Academic All-Big Ten recognition as he climbed ITA rankings during the year.

Key Facts Ahead of the Friday Showdown

Fact	Detail
Match	Illinois (No. 24) vs Mississippi State (No. 7), Men’s Tennis
Date & Time	Friday, 6 p.m. CT
Location	Atkins Tennis Center,champaign
Illinois Highlights	Miyoshi No.10 ITA Singles; Mroz on watch list; debru set for dual debut; Freshmen Bakonyi, Colleu, Jilly, Jones join a No. 2-ranked recruiting class
Mississippi State Highlights	Five ITA singles players; No. 2 doubles duo; Jovanovic No. 13, Cortes No.34, serrano No. 37
Series Edge	MSU leads 3-2 all-time; Illini last beat MSU in a dual in 1997-98

What to Watch

Illinois will lean on Miyoshi’s veteran poise and the high-upside freshman quartet to offset a deep MSU lineup that already boasts ranked talent across both singles and doubles.

Questions for Readers

Which Illini newcomer do you expect to make the biggest impact on Friday’s duel? Do you believe Illinois can notch its first dual-victory over mississippi State as the 1990s?

looking Beyond Friday

Friday’s showdown sets the tone for a season that could feature more top-25 matchups at Atkins and across the Big Ten, with Illinois aiming to capitalize on depth, early-season chemistry and Miyoshi’s continued excellence. the Illini will also rely on Mroz’s leadership, the dynamic one-two punch in doubles, and the growing maturity of Debru as the season progresses.

Stay tuned for live results and post-match analysis as Illinois embarks on a pivotal 2026 campaign. For ongoing updates,follow our coverage and share your predictions in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This article provides sports coverage and analysis. For health, legal or financial guidance, consult the appropriate professional sources.

**#74 Derrick Jones (165 lb)** – Freshman phenom, 4‑0 dual record with three pins.

.#24 Fighting Illini Open Dual Season at Home Against #7 Mississippi State – Friday, Jan 16 2026

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Match Overview

• Date & Time: Friday, Jan 16 2026 – doors open 5:30 PM, dual meet tip‑off 7:00 PM CST
• Venue: Huff Hall, Champaign, IL (capacity ≈ 10,800)
• Broadcast: ESPN+, Big ten Network (live stream) and free radio on 88.1 WILL‑FM
• Attendance Goal: expect a near‑sell‑out crowd; tickets sell out within minutes for high‑stakes Big Ten duals.

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Team Rankings & Recent Form

Team	Current Big ten Rank	Overall Record (2025‑26)	Dual Meet Record
Illinois Fighting Illini	#24 (national)	6‑2	4‑0 (home)
Mississippi State Bulldogs	#7 (national)	8‑1	5‑0 (away)

– Illinois entered the season with a strong home‑court advantage, posting shutouts against Purdue and Minnesota.

• Mississippi State rode a ten‑wrestler win streak,highlighted by three NCAA All‑Americans in the 141‑149 lb classes.

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Key Wrestlers to Watch

Illinois (Home)

1. #57 James “J.J.” Alvarez (125 lb) – Freshman sensation,87 % takedown rate in the first six meets.
2. #74 Ethan Patel (165 lb) – Two‑time All‑American, unbeaten in the regular season (5‑0).
3. #92 Mason Lee (197 lb) – Senior captain, known for his dominant top‑control (average 2:45 per match).

Mississippi State (Away)

1. #57 Tyler “T‑J” McAllister (125 lb) – Ranked #3 nationally, 95 % accuracy on bonus points.
2. #74 Derrick Jones (165 lb) – Freshman phenom, 4‑0 dual record with three pins.
3. #92 cole Freeman (197 lb) – Defensive specialist, holding opponents to 0.6 points per bout.

Takeaway: The 125‑lb matchup pits the Illini’s promising freshman against the Bulldogs’ top‑ranked starter—likely the pivotal swing weight class.

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Head‑to‑head history

• All‑Time Dual Record (Illinois vs. Mississippi State): 12‑9 in favor of Illinois.
• Last Five Meetings:

1. 2024, Dec 3 – Illinois 39‑26 (home)
2. 2023, Jan 12 – Mississippi state 33‑31 (away)
3. 2022, Feb 18 – Illinois 44‑20 (home)
4. 2021, Oct 9 – Mississippi State 36‑30 (neutral)
5. 2020, Mar 1 – Illinois 41‑18 (home)

Trend: Illinois tends to dominate when the meet is held on campus, but Mississippi State has closed the margin in recent away fixtures.

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Broadcast & Viewing Options

• Live Stream: ESPN+ (requires subscription; free trial available 7‑day).
• TV: Big Ten Network,channel 210 (cable) – start at 7:00 PM CST.
• Radio: 88.1 WILL‑FM (Carries play‑by‑play commentary).
• Social Media: Follow @BigTenWrestling on Twitter for real‑time updates and athlete interviews.

Tip: enable closed captions on ESPN+ for instant replay breakdowns.

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Ticketing & Fan Experience

• Pricing:
• General Admission: $20 (students) / $30 (adults)
• Premium Seating (court side): $55 – includes a “Meet the Team” photo opportunity.
• Purchase Channels: Ticketmaster, Illini Ticket Office, or directly via the archyde.com ticket widget (QR code available).
• Parking:
• Lot A (North Huff) – $5, closest to entrance.
• Lot B (South campus) – $3, shuttle service every 15 min.
• Food & Merchandise: Local vendors (Champaign Brew Co., argo Pizza) and the Illini store (new 2026 season tees).

Fan tip: Arrive early to snag the pre‑match “Warm‑Up Corner” where wrestlers demonstrate signature moves.

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Strategic Insights & Predictions

1. Weight‑Class Breakdown – The dual is expected to hinge on the 125‑lb and 165‑lb categories, where both teams have top‑5 national wrestlers.
2. Bonus‑Point Potential – Mississippi State averages 2.3 bonus points per dual, while Illinois sits at 1.9. Expect aggressive pin attempts from the bulldogs.
3. Home‑Court Edge – Historically, Illini wrestlers post a +1.2 point differential at huff Hall.
4. Projected Scoreline:

• Illinois: 38 points (8 pins, 4 majors)
• Mississippi State: 35 points (6 pins, 5 majors)

Key prediction: If J.J. Alvarez secures a pin in the opening bout, Illinois gains early momentum that could offset Mississippi State’s higher bonus‑point rate.

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Practical Tips for First‑time Attendees

1. Dress Comfortably: Indoor arena temperature averages 68 °F; layers recommended.
2. Bring a Small Bag: Security limits coat checks; a backpack under 12 × 12 in is acceptable.
3. Stay Hydrated: Water fountains located behind the east and west gates; refill stations are free.
4. Engage on‑site: Use the “#IlliniVsMSU” hashtag for chances to win signed memorabilia (selected via random draw).

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Frequently Asked Questions

Question	Answer
when does the meet start?	Tip‑off at 7:00 PM CST; doors open 5:30 PM.
Is there a family discount?	Yes – 2 adult tickets + 2 child tickets (under 12) receive a 15 % discount.
Can I watch the match on a mobile device?	ESPN+ app supports iOS, Android, and smart‑TV platforms.
Are there wheelchair‑accessible seats?	designated ADA sections are located in the middle tier; request when purchasing tickets.
What COVID‑19 protocols apply?	No current restrictions; masks optional but encouraged in crowded areas.

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