2026-27 Outlook
LangIndex projects Illinois State at #128 nationally for the 2026-27 college basketball season with a projected efficiency margin of +1.3 points per 100 possessions. The model projects a step back from last season's #104 finish. The projection makes this team a factor in its conference race.
About 55% of last season's production returns, a middle-of-the-road continuity number. The program adds 1 incoming recruit to the mix.
Last Season (2025-26)
Illinois State finished 2025-26 at 19-12, ranked #104 in the final LangIndex ratings with adjusted offense of 110.7 and adjusted defense of 101.8 points per 100 possessions.
How LangIndex Rates Illinois State
Illinois State's power rating of +1.3 is an adjusted efficiency margin: the points per 100 possessions the model expects them to outscore an average Division I team by, once you strip out schedule strength. It combines adjusted offensive efficiency, adjusted defensive efficiency, and pace into one number, so a rating of +1.3 means Illinois State projects to beat a neutral-court average team by about 1 points on a typical night. The full live version updates every morning during the season.
Illinois State Rating History
Season-by-season LangIndex power rating and national rank. Illinois State has trended upward over the last few seasons. Their best finish in this window was #97 in 2025-26.
| Season | Power Rating | Nat. Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | +3.3 | #97 |
| 2024-25 | +3.8 | #111 |
| 2023-24 | -2.5 | #209 |
| 2022-23 | -7.9 | #278 |
| 2021-22 | -3.8 | #218 |
| 2020-21 | -11.0 | #297 |