All stolen from FightingIllini.com
#20 Illinois (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) at #1 Oregon (7-0, 4-0 Big Ten)
Date/Time Saturday, Oct. 26 | 2:30 p.m. CT
Location Eugene, Oregon (Autzen Stadium)
Watch CBS
Radio Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | SiriusXM (83/SXM App)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – No. 20 Illinois travels to the Pacific Time Zone for a Big Ten game for the first time in program history, taking on No. 1 Oregon on Saturday away from home. The Fighting Illini will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS for the second consecutive week.
The Orange and Blue recorded their third ranked win of the season following a 21-7 victory over No. 24 Michigan in Week 8. The Illini defense tallied three takeaways, including two fumble recoveries in the second quarter that resulted in 10 points, while holding the Wolverines to their lowest scoring output in over a decade. Playing their Rededication Game in front of a sold-out Memorial Stadium, the Illini picked up their first ranked-vs.-ranked home win since 1991.
Oregon rose to the top spot in the AP poll after securing a 35-0 road victory over Purdue on Friday, Oct. 18. The top-ranked Ducks are 7-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play thus far this season, and they have won 12 consecutive home games heading into this weekend's top-20 showdown.
Illinois will make its second-ever trip to Autzen Stadium in Eugene, with the lone appearance coming back in 1995. This will be the fourth meeting in the all-time series between the Fighting Illini and the Ducks; Oregon holds the slight edge, 2-1.
The Illini, who are off to a 6-1 start for the second time in Bret Bielema's four seasons at Illinois, will face the #1 team in the nation for the 16th time in program history and the first time since the 2007 win at #1 Ohio State. The Fighting Illini are 3-12 against #1-ranked teams with wins in 1950 (Ohio State), 1956 (Michigan State), and 2007 (at Ohio State).
Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst), and Jenny Dell (sideline) have the call on CBS. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the statewide radio broadcast, with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Kevin Mitchell (analyst), and Michael Martin (sideline) on the call.
*Illinois will visit Eugene for the second time in program history and the first time since 1995.
*Illinois will travel west of the Rocky Mountains for the first time since the 2019 Redbox Bowl in Santa Clara, California. *Saturday will be Illinois' first regular season game out west since a nonconference trip to Washington in 2014.
*Illinois is 6-1 with three AP Top 25 wins for the third time in program history (1983, 1990, 2024).
*Illinois is 6-1 for the second time in Bret Bielema's four seasons at Illinois (2022, 2024).
*The 6-1 start is tied for the best start by an Illinois team through seven games since starting 6-0-1 in 1953. {What about 1983?}
*Illinois and #7 Tennessee are the only teams in the nation with three AP Top 25 wins this season.
*Illinois is 3-1 against AP Top 25 teams this season. From the 2008 Rose Bowl game through the 2023 season, Illinois went 3-40 against AP Top 25 teams. {AWESOME!}
*Illinois has three AP Top 25 wins in a single season for the first time since 2007. Only one team in Illinois history has more ranked wins than this year's Illini squad: the 1946 team that went 4-0 against AP Top 25 teams.
*Illinois has been ranked for six consecutive weeks. The six AP Poll appearances are the Illini's most since the 2007 team was also ranked for six weeks.
*Illinois will face #1 for the first time since the 2007 win at #1 Ohio State that helped the Illini reach the Rose Bowl.
*Illinois will face the #1 team in the nation for the 16th time in program history. The Fighting Illini are 3-12 against #1-ranked teams with wins in 1950 (Ohio State), 1956 (Michigan State), and 2007 (at Ohio State).
Illinois is 1-5 all-time on the road against #1. *The Illini have traveled to the #1 team twice in the last 55 years.
*Illinois' last six meetings against #1 teams have all been against Ohio State. The Illini will face a #1 team other than Ohio State for the first time since hosting #1 USC in 1972.
*Bret Bielema has improved to 24-20 during his Illinois career. Since Robert Zuppke went undefeated in two of his first three seasons at Illinois from 1913-15, Bielema's 24-20 start is the third-best through 44 games by an Illini head coach, behind only Mike White (1980-83) and John Mackovic (1988-91). {The '80s still belong to the Illini! 1880s, 1980s, 2080s}
*Bielema is 5-6 (.455) against ranked teams (AP/Coaches/CFP) as Illinois' head coach. His .455 winning percentage against ranked teams is the second-best in Illinois history, behind only John Mackovic (8-8, .500, 1988-91).
*Bielema's five ranked wins (AP/Coaches/CFP) during his first four seasons are tied for the second-most in program history, behind only John Mackovic (8, 1988-91) and tied with Mike White (5, 1980-83).
*Bielema has had the Illini ranked in 11 polls during his first four seasons in Champaign. Only John Mackovic (39 weeks, 1988-91), Mike White (14 weeks, 1980-83), and Pete Elliott (13 weeks, 1960-63) have had the Illini ranked more during their first four seasons as Illinois head coaches.
*Illinois has sold out Memorial Stadium twice in a single season for the first time since 2009 (vs. #19 Kansas, vs. #24 Michigan). The Illini have two wins in front of sell out crowds at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2008.
*Saturday is the fourth meeting between Illinois and Oregon.
*The Fighting Illini and Ducks first met Sept. 19, 1970, a 20-16 Illinois win at Memorial Stadium in Champaign.
*The Ducks also visited Champaign Sept. 25, 1993, coming away with a 13-7 victory over the host Illini.
*The last meeting in the series, Sept. 9, 1995, was Illinois' only visit to Eugene, Oregon. The Illini led 31-20 after three quarters but fell 34-31 to the 24th-ranked Ducks, who completed the fourth quarter comeback at Autzen Stadium.
GAMBLING! VSiN has all the sites still at Illini +21.5 (some with differing vigs). O/U still at 54.5. ML started Illini +966, now at 950, 980 and 1k depending on where you go!
Bet the mortgage and the 529 plan money on Oregon!
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