When the schedule was first announced for the 2024 football season, only Illinois circled this game. Oddsmakers and all the top college football brass assumed Ohio State and Michigan would be the make-or-break games for Oregon. They were only half right in that equation.
Insert Illinois, whose story is just as special as Indiana’s. Illinois has played a tough schedule and all of its toughest games this year seem to be on the road (Michigan at home was important but not as quality an opponent). The Fighting Illini have started the season 6-1, with their only blemish coming on the road in Happy Valley. Illinois battled and earned respect that night along with its overtime victory in Lincoln the week prior. With all that said, taking on No. 1 Oregon in Autzen Stadium is a tall task, but not one that’s going to rattle Illinois.
Oregon Takes Over as New Number 1
As we know, Oregon took over the No. 1 spot from Texas after last week’s home loss to Georgia. Dillon Gabriel leads a juggernaut offense that’s got speed on the outside and an improving running game with a solid offensive line. Oregon is a three-score favorite and coming off a 35-0 drubbing of Purdue. Coach Dan Lanning has the Ducks keeping the media out of his team’s mindset, which has really helped. It doesn’t hurt to have one of the best home crowds to back that up. Evan Stewart and Tez Johnson have been nearly unstoppable in the passing game, and Gabriel’s 77% accuracy doesn’t spell good things for Illinois Saturday.
Last time Oregon was No. 1, it lasted one week in 2012. Can Illinois repeat the trend?
Illinois Has Nothing to Lose
Saturday’s top-20 clash has everything to gain for Illinois. Nobody outside of Champaign, Illinois, believes this will be a tight game. The line tells me people don’t think much of the Nebraska or Michigan wins, along with a close, high-scoring win over a bad Purdue team. Illinois is the only team outside of Oregon, Penn State (PSU), Ohio State (OSU), and Indiana to have a chance at the CFP. Its path is to win Saturday in Eugene. It’s the fourth ranked-on-ranked matchup in five games for Illinois, a heavy underdog that is battle-tested and will be prepared.
More Sports News
This is a game deserving of the 2:30 PM CBS telecast and the Big Spotlight Matchup of the week. The pressure is on Oregon, and with that said, Lanning will have his guys ready to perform.
How Can Illinois Pull Off the Upset?
Forcing turnovers and putting pressure on Gabriel will be key. Illinois forces turnovers and holds on to the ball. Gabriel has been known to force the ball at times and has made bad reads and decisions when he’s under pressure. Even as great as he is, dropping into zone coverage will not work. Oregon has too much speed at wideout, but Illinois has been limiting over-the-top passes all season.
Luke Altmyer will be key, getting rid of the ball quickly and continuing to protect it with his 15:1 TD-to-INT ratio. Oregon can be susceptible to the passing attack, and Illinois has wideouts in Pat Bryant and Zakhari Franklin who can take advantage of it.
One thing we do know: nobody expected Illinois and Oregon to mean so much.
