Stolen like the land Tempo lives on!
Illinois (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) at #4 UCLA (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten)
Date | Time Friday, Nov. 13 | 8 p.m. CT/6 p.m. PT
Location Pasadena, California (Rose Bowl)
TV FOX
Radio Busey Bank Illini Sports Network SiriusXM (271)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Big Ten's longest winning streaks will be on the line Friday night when Illinois, winners of four straight, take on undefeated and #4-ranked UCLA at the Rose Bowl {WE ARE PLAYING IN THE ROSE BOWL AGAIN!!}. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT/6 p.m. PT on FOX.
Illinois (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) is playing its second straight Friday night game on FOX after a 24-13 win over Nebraska last week. The Illini scored the most points (24) and had the most passing yards (292) against Nebraska's defense this season behind 292 passing yards and three passing touchdowns from Katin Houser and 129 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions from Collin Dixon.
UCLA (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) is one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the nation, along with Utah. First-year head coach Bob Chesney has led the Bruins to a 9-0 start for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 1998. The Bruins have dominated opponents with a +14 turnover margin, including a national-leading 27 takeaways and 17 interceptions.
Illinois makes its first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 2008 Rose Bowl Game following the 2007 season, a 49-17 loss to #6 USC {BOOOOOOOOOO!}. The Illini last played UCLA in a regular season game at the Rose Bowl in 2003, a 6-3 loss {WAY TO GO RON TURNER! MISSED A LAST SECOND FG! BOOOOOOOOOO!}. Illinois is 5-4 all-time at the Rose Bowl — 3-2 in the Rose Bowl Game and 2-2 in regular season games against UCLA.
Tim Brando (play-by-play), Devin Gardner (analyst), and Josh Sims (reporter) have the the national television broadcast on FOX. 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
Big Ten's Longest Winning Streaks Meet in Pasadena
Illinois and UCLA have two of the top four longest winning streaks in Power-4: Utah (W15), UCLA (W9), Wake Forest (W6), Illinois (W4), South Carolina (W4). {POWERHOUSE!}
Illinois' four-game Big Ten winning streak includes victories over Michigan State, #-/23 Oregon, Maryland, and Nebraska. Only the undefeated Bruins are on a longer winning streak in the Big Ten.
Illinois' trip to Pasadena is the Illini's only trip west of Champaign this season.
Illinois makes its first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 2008 Rose Bowl Game following the 2007 season, a 49-17 loss to #6 USC. The Illini last played UCLA in a regular season game at the Rose Bowl in 2003, a 6-3 loss.
Illinois is 5-4 all-time at the Rose Bowl — 3-2 in the Rose Bowl Game and 2-2 in regular season games against UCLA.
Last Friday, Illinois scored the most points (24) and had the most passing yards (292) against Nebraska's defense this season in a 24-13 win at home.
Illinois had a walk-off win at Maryland, 20-17, on Oct. 31 to extend its winning streak to three. The Illini finished the game on a 13-play, 67-yard drive covering the final 5:45, ending in Ethan Moczulski's 26-yard game winner. Jordan Anderson had 43 yards on seven touches on the game-winning drive.
Illinois handed Oregon its first Big Ten road loss since the Ducks joined the Big Ten in 2024. The Illini scored 21 straight points to come back and win, 21-10, and break the Ducks' streak of 61 straight games scoring more than 10 points.
Illinois pulled off a thrilling 38-37 (OT) win on Oct. 10 to spark the four-game winning streak. Michael Clayton II threw a 25-yard TD to Hudson Clement in OT, then the Illini stopped the Spartans' two-point conversion attempt to seal the game.
Illinois Offense Notes
WR Collin Dixon is one of the top wide receivers in the nation:
One of only four players in the nation to rank in the top 10 in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, along with Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State), Malachi Toney (Miami), and Easton Messer (FAU)
Fourth in the nation in receiving touchdowns (12), behind Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith, Oregon State's Jesse Legree, and Miami's Malachi Toney
Broke Illinois' single-season receiving touchdowns record with 12
Broke Illinois' Gies Memorial Stadium record for receiving touchdowns
Sixth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in receptions (68)
Eighth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in receiving yards (910)
Dixon and Hudson Clement are No. 2 among B1G duos in receiving yards (1,450), behind only Indiana's Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh (1,544). Clement is No. 18 in the Big Ten in receptions (37) and No. 14 in receiving yards (540).
QB Katin Houser ranks 24th in the nation in ESPN's QBR metric (77.4).
Illinois running backs have three touchdown rushes over 60 yards this season: Aidan Laughery has two and Javari Barnett has one. Both of Laughery's are over 75 yards.
Laughery has 100+-yard games against two ranked opponents - Ohio State (113) and Oregon (123). He ran for 113 yards at OSU, the first opposing player to rush for 100+ at Ohio Stadium since Michigan's Kalel Mullings (116 yards) on Nov. 30, 2024.
Illinois' offensive line ranks among the best in the nation:
11th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in fewest tackles for loss allowed (29)
15th in the nation and second in the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed (10)
Illinois has started four different offensive lines through nine games, primarily due to injuries. The Illini have started the same offensive line group during the current four-game winning streak.
Illinois Defense Notes
Illinois has held three straight Big Ten opponents under 20 points for the first time since 2022 (four straight).
Illinois is holding opponents to 19.3 points per game during the current four-game winning streak.
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 again this season with 66, including a career-high 14 at Ohio State.
DL Will Holmes' 26 pressures ranks 11th in the Big Ten, according to PFF.
CB Juice Clarke ranks fifth in the nation and is tied for the Big Ten lead in pass breakups (10). He is tied for the Big Ten lead with Audavion Collins of Penn State.
In the last three games, Clarke has allowed only 20.1 completion yards allowed per game (61 total yards) on 16 targets and 132 coverage snaps (per PFF).
In the last three games, Xavier Scott has allowed only 19.3 completion yards allowed per game (58 total yards) on 15 targets and 135 coverage snaps (per PFF).
In the last four games, DB Tanner Heckel has allowed only 18.3 completion yards allowed per game (73 total yards) on 17 targets and 161 coverage snaps (per PFF). Heckel's snaps have more than doubled during the winning streak.
Ranked Wins
Illinois is 7-5 against ranked opponents (AP, Coaches, and/or CFP rankings) since 2024. From the 2008 Rose Bowl game through the 2023 season, Illinois went 5-41 against ranked teams and two of those wins were under Bielema in 2021 (at #7/8 Penn State; at #20 Minnesota).
Illinois' ranked wins since 2024:
2026: #-/25 Oregon
2025: #21/22 USC, #-/23 Tennessee (Music City Bowl)
2024: #19/20 Kansas, at #22/22 Nebraska, #24/22 Michigan, vs. #14/14 South Carolina (Citrus Bowl)
All seven of Illinois' ranked wins since 2024 have come as underdogs.
Illinois has beaten at least one ranked team in three straight seasons for the first time since an eight-year run from 1988-95.
Weather with Mr. Robert:
I always loved going to a game at the Rose Bowl. There sure are some quality Bettys out there! January 1, 19 and 47, I nailed some dame wearing powder blue in the bowels of the Rose Bowl at halftime. Never saw her again until I saw her in ol' Hef's scandal sheet. Good thing there was no Ancestry.com back in the day. Woo boy, ol' Mr. Robert would have been on the lam from the Dishes trying to collect child support! Anywho, it is California, so expect good weather for the game.
Your tailgating forecast
73°
RealFeel® 77°
RealFeel Shade™ 71°
Mostly cloudy with a shower possible
Wind SSW 4 mph
Wind Gusts 5 mph
Humidity 56%
Dew Point 53°
Probability of Precipitation 30%
Precipitation 0.00 in
Cloud Cover 70%
Visibility 10 mi
For the game!
60°
RealFeel® 61°
Partly cloudy
Wind SSE 1 mph
Wind Gusts 2 mph
Humidity 81%
Dew Point 55°
Probability of Precipitation 25%
Precipitation 0.00 in
Cloud Cover 70%
Visibility 6 mi
Mr. Robert sure got around. Now gambling with James the Greek:
Brent: Greek, another 1 and 1 week as the Illini were victorious. Again, you made another killing on the under. What are you seeing this week?
Greek: UCLA big favorites. Moneyline, Illini +310 and UCLA -375 to -385. Line is still UCLA -10. The only house starting with a different number was Circa. Had it UCLA -8.5. That get bet up quick to -10. UCLA is perfect against the spread this year. UCLA has been favored in every game except Oregon. Covered them all. Illinois now 5-4 against the spread. They have covered the line in 3 stratight games. Over/under was at 45.5 to 46.5. That is now 48 to 47.5. UCLA is 4-5 aginst the over. Illinois is 5-4 against the over. The last 3 games have come in under.
Brent: So what are you thinking this week?
Greek: UCLA giving the points and bet all of Tempo's Sweet Taxless Uber Tip Money, including all the money we have won on the under the past 3 weeks, on the Under! Bet it all!
Thank you, Greek. And now, Tempo's Kompendium of Krap! Brought to you this week by....
Merry-Ann's Diner, 1510 S. Neil St., Champaign
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Merry-Ann’s Diner, home of the famous Diner Stack, has been cooking’ it up in Champaign-Urbana since 1983. The diner was founded by Stacy Pomonis in loving memory of his wife Merry-Ann Pomonis, who passed away that same year. The restaurant is still family owned and operated to this day.
Merry-Ann’s is located at Neil & Kirby in Champaign-Urbana to proudly serve classic American diner food 24/7/365 days a year!
Tempo?
BEN JOHNSON, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!
You have D'Andre Swift sitting in your backfield, a perfectly capable running back who can actually make plays, and apparently you've decided that running the football is some sort of offensive inconvenience!
I don't need you to reinvent football, Ben. I need you to HAND THE DAMN BALL TO SWIFT!
Instead, we're treated to another parade of questionable play calls, predictable passing situations, and an offensive game plan that seems determined to make sure Swift gets just enough touches to piss off every fantasy football player in America.
Meanwhile, I'm sitting here watching my DFS lineup circle the drain while Swift gets treated like he's the backup waterboy. Every carry matters! Every touch matters! Some of us have actual money riding on this!
You know what's especially infuriating? Swift doesn't need 25 carries to make an impact. He just needs an opportunity. But apparently that's too much to ask from an offensive genius who seems to think the forward pass is the only legally permitted way to move the football.
Ben, this isn't a damn passing clinic. RUN THE FOOTBALL!
I don't know who's calling the plays, but whoever it is owes me a DFS entry fee, an apology, and possibly a new television remote.
FREE SWIFT! SAVE MY DFS LINEUP!
And another thing....ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! KIRK COUSINS TO THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS INSTEAD OF JUSTIN FIELDS?!
I swear, the NFL has some kind of personal vendetta against Justin Fields. How in the hell does a team look at Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields and decide Cousins is the guy they want?!
Here's a guy in Fields with athleticism, a cannon for an arm, the ability to make plays with his legs, and the kind of upside that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep. And what does the NFL do? Continues to hand out opportunities to white quarterbacks who need a clean pocket, three seconds of protection, and a signed permission slip before they can scramble.
Meanwhile, Cousins gets another opportunity to prove he's a perfectly respectable quarterback who can put up numbers until the moment the pressure gets turned up. Congratulations, Minnesota! You've acquired a quarterback who can throw for 300 yards on Sunday and leave you wondering what the hell happened when it matters most.
And don't give me that nonsense about Fields not being ready. How exactly is he supposed to develop if nobody is willing to give him a legitimate opportunity? The guy gets blamed for everything while coaches, coordinators, and front offices get to walk away without answering for their own failures.
The NFL is obsessed with recycling the same quarterbacks while overlooking young talent with genuine game-changing ability.
Minnesota could have taken a chance on Justin Fields, developed him, built around his strengths, and potentially had something special. Instead, they went with Kirk Cousins.
Unbelievable.
FREE JUSTIN FIELDS! At this point, I'm convinced he needs a congressional investigation to get a fair shot in this league. Good thing the Democrats won last week. I am sure they will look into this instead of lowering the cost of beef.
Tempo sure has been angry lately, even with the Democrats winning.
Tailgating update:
NONE! Road game. Will be sitting on my ass at home. Or at some bar.
Go Illini!
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