5 Things to Watch: Illinois - University of Oregon Athletics

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A roller-coaster ride that ended on an upswing last week propelled Oregon into a match-up on the road Saturday afternoon.

The UO football team will look to ride the momentum of its come-from-behind victory over Nebraska into a road trip to Illinois this weekend. The Ducks and the Illini meet in Gies Memorial Stadium on Saturday at noon PT.

The Ducks are 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big Ten play after last week's 17-14 win over the Cornhuskers. The Illini are 3-3 overall, with wins over Alabama-Birmingham and Southern Illinois plus a loss to Duke in nonconference play, and losses to Ohio State and Purdue in Big Ten play before an overtime win last time out, at Michigan State.

Oregon is 3-1 all-time against Illinois, with wins at home in 2024 and 1995, and a road win in 1993. The Illini won their first match-up, in 1970.

Saturday's game will be televised by Big Ten Network, with Chris Vosters on play-by-play, analysis from Jake Butt and sideline reporting by Brooke Fletcher.

Some storylines to watch when the game kicks off …

1. The Ducks have started a different quarterback each of their last three games, and they'll be without September starter Dante Moore again this week after he was declared out on Wednesday.

After Dylan Raiola started Oregon's game against UCLA, and Brock Thomas started last week against Nebraska, the Ducks will again rely on their depth this week. Though Raiola struggled against the Bruins, he led the fourth-quarter comeback against Nebraska.

"Dylan came and gave us a spark," UO coach Dan Lanning said. "He played with great confidence and did an unbelievable job. But there will always be competition. And it's always about the body of work."

2. Against Nebraska, Oregon used its fifth different starting unit on the offensive line through six games this season. And more changes could be in store this week up front on offense.

A week ago, four of the five linemen made their first start of the season at their respective positions — tackle Fox Crader and guard Ziyare Addison on the left side, tackle Gernorris Wilson and guard Douglas Utu on the right side. Late in the game, freshman Tommy Tofi entered at left guard, changing up the unit yet again.

Will that be the first five Saturday at Illinois? Lanning didn't get specific earlier this week, but he made clear few spots are solidified.

"There's a lot of competition right now in our offensive line," he said. "Not a lot of separators right now, of like, this guy's distinctly better. They kind of all have different skill sets that they're good at."

3. Oregon had a chance to beat the Bruins and completed the comeback against the Cornhuskers thanks in no small part to a defense that has come into its own in October.

Projected to be one of the top units in the country during the preseason, the UO defense is starting to look the part under first-year coordinator Chris Hampton. The Ducks allowed 587 yards of total offense combined to UCLA and Nebraska.

"I think the entire defensive staff has done a really good job," Lanning said. "I think that's credit to continuous improvement and the opportunity to keep working and finding things. Even after (the Nebraska) game, they're going to be most critical themselves."

4. The Illini also are working with a new quarterback at the moment. Starter Katin Houser broke his hand at Michigan State two weeks ago, and was replaced by true freshman Michael Clayton II.

So Illinois and head coach Bret Bielema no doubt appreciated the timing of their bye this past week, both to get an early scout on the Ducks and look for ways to help Clayton thrive as the starter.

"Coach Bielema always does a phenomenal job," Lanning said. "They've obviously had this previous week to really prepare for us, get healthy. So I know they've been looking at us for a little bit, and you feel like you're behind a little bit when you start looking at a team like Illinois and the skill set that they have."

5. Since Moore's injury, the Ducks have played a couple of low-scoring, defensive battles. Those are the kinds of games that can be greatly impacted by special teams, and Oregon has been strong in the kicking game in recent weeks.

Punter Bailey Ettridge was named Ray Gay Award punter of the week after the UCLA game, and placekicker Gage Hurych was named Big Ten special teams player of the week for going 3-for-3 on field goals in the Nebraska win.

"Nobody ever recognizes specialists unless it doesn't go right," Lanning said. "But (long snapper) RJ (Todd) has been outstanding, Bailey's been outstanding, Gage has been outstanding in those areas — and then there's still areas for growth. We can be better when it comes to our kickoffs, and the locations that those go in. So we're just looking for every guy to continue to grow."