Stolen as usual....
Illinois (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) vs. Oregon (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten)
Date | Time Saturday, Oct. 24 | 2 p.m. CT
Location Champaign, Illinois (Gies Memorial Stadium) [Get off the Oregon Trail and turn around, Judge Judy!]
Tickets Limited Remain at FightingIllini.com
TV Big Ten Network
Radio Busey Bank Illini Sports Network SiriusXM (123/233)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — For the first time since 1993, the Illinois football team will host the Oregon Ducks in Champaign. Saturday's game, marked as the Illini's annual Military Appreciation Game, is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network. [Tempo should carry out the flag!]
Saturday marks the fifth meeting between the Fighting Illini and Ducks in the overall series dating back to 1970. Illinois trails in the all-time series, 1-3 [Anyone shocked by this?], and is looking to beat Oregon for the first time since the two programs' first meeting 1970.
Illinois (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) and Oregon are two of the winningest teams in the Big Ten over the last three seasons, as the Ducks rank third in the conference with 30 wins over the last three seasons, while Illinois is one spot behind them in fourth with 22 wins since 2024. Oregon has the second-most ranked wins among Big Ten teams since 2024 with eight, while Illinois ranks fourth with six.
Oregon (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) enters the week ranked #25 in the Coaches Poll. The Ducks are coming off a 17-14 win over Nebraska in Eugene, after splitting with the two Los Angeles Big Ten teams in the first two games of the conference season with a win at USC and a loss to UCLA.
Nearly 1,000 veterans, active-duty military, and their families will be at Gies Memorial Stadium to celebrate the Military Appreciation Game through head coach Bret Bielema's "Coach's Commitment" initiative. Bielema, who started the initiative last year, pledged to personally match tickets purchased by Fighting Illini fans to bring military families to the game. The matched tickets were donated directly to service members and organizations that support them through VetTix.
Chris Vosters (play-by-play) [The guy who got dumped by the Blackhawks after 1 season], Jake Butt (analyst) [He said "butt"], and Brooke Fletcher (sideline) [Pale Hose Scottie Fletcher's daughter!] have the the national television broadcast on Big Ten Network. ESPN Radio has the national radio broadcast with Marc Kestecher (play-by-play) [I have always enjoyed his play-by-play when I hear it], Kelly Stouffer (analyst), and Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline) on the call.
The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the state-wide radio call with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), and Kevin Mitchell (sideline).
Notes
The Bielema Era
• Bret Bielema is 40-29 during his Illinois career. His .580 winning percentage is the second-best in Illinois history among head coaches that have coached at least 50 games for the Fighting Illini. [Like Miles Leonard at HQ2, the tallest midget!]
• Bielema's 40 wins is tied with Mike White (1980-85) for the most by an Illini head coach in his first six seasons.
• Bielema has won 24 Big Ten games at Illinois, tied with Bob Blackman for the fourth-most in program history behind only Robert Zuppke (76), Ray Eliot (54), and Mike White (40).
Gies Memorial Stadium: Rising Attendance and Wins
• Illinois is 14-4 at Gies Memorial Stadium over the last three seasons (2024-26).
• Illinois ranks 23rd in the nation and sixth in the Big Ten in home wins since 2024 (14).
• Illinois has sold out seven of its last 10 games at Gies Memorial Stadium, including three straight sellouts this season (Duke, Southern Illinois, Purdue). [Seems odd to talk up attendance when there are still tickets available for this one....]
The Illinois Offense
• WR Collin Dixon is among the top wide receivers in the nation: [Will Clayton force passes to Dixon in tight coverage like Houser has? Wait and see!]
» One of only six players in the nation to rank in the top 15 in receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, along with Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Malachi Toney (Miami), Umari Hatcher (Syracuse), Kelby Valsin (FAU), and Jesse Legree (Oregon State)
» Third in the nation in receiving touchdowns (9), behind Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Oregon State's Jesse Legree
» One touchdown reception away from tying Illinois' single-season record of 10
» Ninth in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in receptions (47) » 14th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in receiving yards (608)
» 15th in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in total touchdowns (9)
• QB Katin Houser will miss an extended period of time after suffering a broken hand at Michigan State on Oct. 10. Houser ranked in the top 25 in the nation in ESPN's QBR metric (21st, 80.5), passing touchdowns (24th, 12), completions (17th, 122), passing yards (23rd, 1,440) before going down with the injury.
• QB Michael Clayton II relieved Houser at Michigan State and became the first true freshman to throw 2+ touchdowns in a Big Ten win in Illinois program history. He was 6-of-8 passing for 88 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown pass to Hudson Clement on the first play of overtime.
• WR Hudson Clement has caught a pass in 33 straight games, tied for the sixth-longest active streak in the nation.
The Illinois Defense [Not much to say here.....]
• DB Matthew Bailey is the only player in the nation returning after leading his team in tackles in 2024 and 2025. Bailey is Illinois' leading tackler this season with 41, including a career-high 14 at Ohio State.
• DL Will Holmes' 17 pressures ranks seventh in the Big Ten, according to PFF.
• DB Juice Clarke ranks 33rd in the nation in passes defended (6).
The Illinois Special Teams
• Illinois ranks third in the nation and leads the Big Ten in punt return average (24.5). Mac Resetich has returned four punts for 98 yards, but does not meet the NCAA minimums to be ranked as an individual [because the defense can't force punts!].
• Illinois has punted only 10 times through six games, tied with Oklahoma State for the fewest in the nation.
• Illinois punter Lars Rau has landed four of his last six punts inside the 12-yard line over the last three games, including two at Ohio State (4- and 7-yard lines) and two against Purdue (9- and 11- yard lines).
• Illinois kicker Ethan Moczulski is 10-for-12 on field goals and 10-for-11 inside of 60 yards, including two made field goals over 50 years. He ranks 19th in the nation in made field goals (10).
Turnover Battle
• Illinois has lost only four turnovers this season, tied for 15th-best in the nation.
• Illinois is 18-1 when it has forced one or more turnovers over the last three seasons (2024-26). The Illini's only loss during that stretch was at Oregon in 2024, when the Illini forced a fourth-quarter interception.
Fewest Penalties
• Illinois among the least penalized teams in the nation:
» Seventh in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in fewest penalties per game (4.2)
» Ninth in the nation and fourth in the Big Ten in fewest penalty yards per game (38.7)
Mr. Roberts with the early Saturday forecast....
Mr. Roberts: I am eating Peking Duck right now to get ready for this game. A popular local legend claims the town of Pekin was named because settlers mistakenly believed Pekin was located on the exact opposite side of the globe (the antipode) from Peking, China, much like nearby Canton, Illinois is named after Guangzhou/Canton. You know what they say about Chinese food and chicks. You will be hungry for more in an hour! Babe can attest to that. Now you rummies know. Here is the early forecast for Saturday:
68° /45°
6% chance of rain
Delightful with sun and some clouds
RealFeel® 70°
RealFeel Shade™ 66°
Max UV Index 3.0 (Moderate)
Wind SE 6 mph
Gambling....
Brent: Greek, another split day for you the last time Illinois played.
Greek: Yep, I said take the points and MSU, which was accurate, and the under, which was not. Cannot believe how incompetent the Illini defense remains. Maybe that Houck fella was not the problem!
Brent: What do you have for us this week?
Greek: Well, the sharps are actually betting on Illinois for some reason! The line started Oregon -10.5 or up to -11.5, depending upon your book. Now down to -8.5 or 9. Oregon money line was from -450 to -330. Now -360 to -330. Illinois at +275 to +300. Over/under started at 50.5 to 52. Now at 50.5 to 51. Oregon is 2-5 against the spread this year. Illinois is 2-4. Illinois games are 5-1 on the over and Oregon is 4-2 on the over. My lock for the week is the OVER! A home dog getting this many points is hard to not bet on, but can you really have faith in the Clayton kid, even though he looks like he has a live arm, and Boyd getting some run packages at QB? Bet Oregon and give the points! The Illini D remains miserable. Oregon will try and run up the score to stay in the Top 25, and Illinois is going to have problems, period.
Brent: Greek, you seem to bet against Illinois every week....
Tempo's Kompendium of Krap! This week sponsored by Lyft (as we are running out of businesses along I-57)!
At Lyft, we are committed to cultivating an environment where differences flourish, belonging is paramount, and every team member has the opportunity to thrive. We strive for excellence by attracting, developing, and retaining the highest quality workforce, and by providing a work environment where every team member feels supported and respected. In these ways, we embody our core value: “We All Belong.” Our inclusive culture respects and values both our similarities and differences, enhancing the collective strength of our teams to advance Lyft’s mission of service and connection.
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Tempo, what do you have for us this week?
I beat Calvin and will squash Judge Judy once the Monday Night Football results are in! You should all listen to me! I am the King of HQ2. Not Miles Leonard. One of these days that dunderhead AnDY rEId will start Justin Fields! Snatch him up now for your fantasy leagues. If you are in an Individual Defensive Player league, you should pick up Montez Sweat! He is awesome when he is actually not suspended or standing on the sidelines! I hate fireworks just like El-Sayed!
Thanks, I think, Tempo!
Tailgating update:
ThePAOTCMan, going full third-person here, gave his tickets to a buddy [yes, he actually has "friends"!] as he will be at a function this weekend. Will be back for Friday Night Lights against Nebraska after the Blue Wave Election!
Go Illini!
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