Preview & Picks: Oregon at Illinois
247Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Oregon and Illinois, both underperforming relative to preseason expectations, face off Saturday at Gies Memorial Stadium with records of 4-2 (Oregon) and 3-3 (Illinois).
- Oregon, once ranked No. 2 preseason and a national title favorite, has struggled with losses to Oklahoma State and UCLA and is now unranked, while Illinois has performed like a lower-tier Big Ten team despite aiming for a third straight bowl appearance.
- Both teams will start backup quarterbacks due to injuries: Oregon’s Dylan Raiola, an experienced transfer from Nebraska, and Illinois’ freshman Michael Clayton II, making his first start after Katin Houser’s injury.
- The game is crucial for both squads, with Oregon trying to preserve slim College Football Playoff hopes (12.9% per ESPN FPI) and Illinois aiming to keep bowl eligibility alive (27.4% per ESPN FPI).
- The matchup kicks off at 2 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network, with Illinois favored by 8.5 points in a forecasted mild weather setting at 74ºF and light winds.
