Illinois’ (6-2, 3-2) stay in the AP poll’s top 20 was short-lived after falling to No. 1 Oregon (8-0, 5-0) this weekend. Oregon’s suffocating defense grounded Illinois’ momentum in a humbling loss, dropping them to No. 24 for this week’s rankings.
Seven days after their historic win over Michigan, Illinois ran into a brick wall in Autzen Stadium. The Ducks’ linebacker corps, featuring senior inside linebacker Bryce Boettcher, sophomore and sophomore outside linebacker Teitum Tuioti and inside linebacker Devon Jackson, made life difficult for Illinois.
They turned Illini junior quarterback Luke Altmyer’s pocket experience into an uphill battle. Altmyer struggled heavily throughout the game, only throwing for 161 yards with two interceptions and zero touchdowns.
On the other hand, the Ducks’ senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel, projected second-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, connected the dots with star senior wideout Tez Johnson, who had 102 receiving yards and a touchdown. Oregon eventually sealed the game in the second quarter. There, the home team scored three touchdowns within a six-minute interval.
Despite this loss, Illinois’ season remains impressive in perspective. Illinois currently sits at No. 5 in the Big Ten rankings. The program lands below No. 1 Oregon, No. 3 Penn State, No. 4 Ohio State and No. 13 Indiana.
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Illinois’ only two losses came to powerhouse programs on the road: Penn State and Oregon. While the scoreboard may not have favored Illinois those days, their ability to be competitive against the nation’s top teams suggests they are heading in the right direction.
The rest of the conference slate presents both an opportunity and a challenge for the Illini, with four crucial games remaining on the schedule. A coveted playoff spot isn’t out of reach yet, but now there is no room for error.
Next up is a tricky matchup against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, a team they barely edged out in a 27-26 win last season. Michigan State, Rutgers and Northwestern round out the schedule.
While the schedule ahead doesn’t feature any top-10 opponents, there are no guaranteed wins. A 10-win season is within reach for the Illini. However, it will require the same tenacity shown in wins against Michigan and Nebraska earlier this year.
