Author Photo
Marcus Domask and Zach Edey
(Getty Images)

Conference play is upon us, and the Big Ten has a marquee showdown right out of the gate. 

No. 9 Illinois hits the road to West Lafayette to take on No. 1 Purdue at a sold-out Mackey Arena on Friday night. 

Led by reigning National Player of the Year Zach Edey, the Boilermakers look primed to contend for a national championship. Edey is in the midst of another stellar season, averaging 23.1 points per game and coming off a 23-point, 14-rebound performance Tuesday against Maryland.

Purdue’s young backcourt — sophomores Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer — each have taken steps forward, fortifying the lineup around Edey. In a strong non-conference showing, the Boilermakers notched wins over Arizona, Marquette, Tennessee and Gonzaga.

The Illini have surged into the AP top 10 but are in a precarious position. Their star player, guard Terrance Shannon, was suspended after being charged with rape for an alleged incident that occurred in September. 

On Tuesday, Illinois took the floor without Shannon and routed Northwestern, 96-66. Marcus Domask helped to fill Shannon's void, as the Southern Illinois transfer dropped 32 points. 

Here is a complete guide to watching Purdue vs. Illinois, including the start time, TV schedule and live stream information for the Big Ten matchup.

What channel is Purdue vs. Illinois on today? 

  • Date: Friday, Jan. 5 
  • TV channel: FS1
  • Live streaming: Sling TV

Purdue vs. Illinois will air on FS1. Viewers can also stream the game on the Fox Sports App.

Cord cutters are also in luck, as they can stream the game on Sling. Fans in the U.S. can watch the biggest games of the 2023-24 college basketball season on Sling TV, which is now offering HALF OFF your first month! Sling base packages (Sling Orange or Sling Blue) start at just $20 for your first month, or you can get Sling Orange + Blue starting at $27.50 for your first month.

Purdue vs. Illinois start time

  • Date: Friday, Jan. 5 
  • Time: 8:30 p.m. ET | 5:30 p.m. PT

Purdue vs. Illinois will tip off around 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5. The game will be played at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. It’s the only Big Ten matchup of the day.

Purdue schedule 2023-24

Here are the Boilermakers' next five games of the 2023-24 regular season:

Date Opponent Time (ET) TV channel
Jan. 5  vs Illinois 8:30 p.m. FS1
Jan. 9  at Nebraska 9:00 p.m. Peacock
Jan. 13  vs Penn State  2:15 p.m. BTN
Jan. 16  at Indiana 7:00 p.m. Peacock
Jan. 20 at Iowa 2:00 p.m. FS1

Illinois schedule 2023-24

Here are the Fighting Illini's next five games of the 2023-24 regular season:

Date Opponent Time (ET) TV channel
Jan. 5 at Purdue 8:30 p.m. FS1
Jan. 11 vs Michigan State  9:00 p.m. FS1
Jan. 14 vs Maryland TBD BTN
Jan. 18 at Michigan 8:30 p.m. FS1
Jan. 21 vs Rutgers 1:00 p.m. BTN

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Author(s)
Jared Greenspan Photo

Jared Greenspan is a contributing writer for The Sporting News. Before joining The Sporting News, he covered University of Michigan football and basketball for The Michigan Daily and spent two summers working for the New York Post. Even though they often test his strength, he enjoys rooting for his favorite teams — the New York Mets, New York Knicks and New York Jets.