| Date | Opponent | Location | Time | TV |
 |
||||
| 09/01/12 | vs. Western Michigan | CHAMPAIGN, IL | 11:00 a.m. CT | TBA |
| 09/08/12 | at Arizona State | Tempe, Ariz. | 9:30 p.m. CT | TBA |
| 09/15/12 | vs. Charleston Southern | CHAMPAIGN, IL | 11:00 a.m. CT | TBA |
| 09/22/12 | vs. Louisiana Tech | CHAMPAIGN, IL | 7:00 p.m. CT | TBA |
| 09/29/12 | vs. Penn State (Foundation Day) | CHAMPAIGN, IL | 11:00 a.m. CT | TBA |
| 10/06/12 | at Wisconsin | Madison, Wis. | 2:30 p.m. CT | TBA |
| 10/13/12 | at Michigan | Ann Arbor, Mich. | 2:30 p.m. CT | TBA |
| 10/27/12 | vs. Indiana (Homecoming) | CHAMPAIGN, IL | 11:00 a.m. CT | ESPN, BTN |
| 11/03/12 | at Ohio State (Illibuck Trophy Game) | Columbus, Ohio | 3:30 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| 11/10/12 | vs. Minnesota | CHAMPAIGN, IL | 2:30 p.m. CT | BTN |
| 11/17/12 | vs. Purdue (Purdue Cannon Game) | CHAMPAIGN, IL | 2:30 p.m. CT | BTN |
| 11/24/12 | at Northwestern (Land of Lincoln Trophy Game) | Evanston, Ill. | 11:00 a.m. CT | BTN |
| Big Ten Championship Game | ||||
| 12/01/12 | Big Ten Championship Game | Indianapolis, Ind. | TBA | TBA |
University of Illinois