The 2026 season is very gettable for the Illinois football program.
About three weeks ago, I laid out the 2026 campaign and how the Illini would finish. I had the Orange and Blue going 10-2 overall and 7-2 in the Big Ten.
That is better than most people expected, as there is a new quarterback in town, and the team in general had a lot of turnover. The two losses for the Illini? Oregon and Ohio State.
On Saturday, one of those two projected losses looks much more intriguing.
Oregon went into the game in Eugene expecting to house Boise State. They were 24.5-point favorites. This shouldn’t have been a competition.
The result, a knee-knocker to the end, with Oregon winning 34-27. The Broncos didn’t roll over and die. They fought the Ducks tooth and nail, and the game was tied through the early part of the fourth quarter.
While Oregon did manage to take the lead late and prevail when the final whistle blew, this wasn’t the Ducks team most expected to see. Even Las Vegas thought this was going to be a blowout.
This isn’t a bad Boise State squad. They finished 2025 9-4 overall, but they weren’t a beat-power-four type of team. In fact, last season, the Broncos played two power four programs, and they lost to Notre Dame by 21 points and Washington by 28 points.
Oregon just didn’t look like your father’s Oregon squad. They weren’t flashy. They had some quickness, but it wasn’t overwhelming like usual. They had big plays, but they were few and far between. The Ducks’ defense wasn’t playing well either, as they allowed 27 points to a team in Boise State that only averaged 28.2 points per game and scored a total of 17 points in two games against power four programs last season.
I trust the Illinois offense, but the defense is what will be the biggest worry against Oregon
It is comforting to know that Oregon didn’t look great against Boise State. With that being said, the game on October 24 still worries me.
Illinois’ offense should be able to move the ball well against the Ducks. Katin Houser looked good in the game against UAB, and I think he can dice up the Oregon defense with his quick passing and ability to get the ball to the sidelines.
My concern is the Illini defense. We were getting gouged up the middle. Oregon is going to eat us alive in the run and short passing game with a soft center.
Jordon Davison averaged 7.5 yards per carry against Boise State. Dante Moore was on his game, as he threw for 378 yards and three touchdowns. That type of Oregon offense is going to put up a number. Thankfully, I think Illinois’ offense can do the same. Boise State competed against and nearly knocked off the Ducks. I think the Illini can, at least, do the same.
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