Game-by-game prediction for the Illinois football 2024 season
Game 8: Illinois Football at Oregon Ducks (Loss – 45-21)
Welcome to the new Big Ten. The only team out of the four Pac-12 newcomers Illinois plays in 2024 is Oregon.
Pros
Oregon didn’t have a great pass defense in 2023. They gave up 228.5 yards per game through the air, which ranked No. 65 in the country.
With Luke Altmyer returning behind center, he should be able to throw all over the Ducks’ secondary. I think he plays a huge role in the game against Oregon.
There is a change at quarterback for the Ducks. Bo Nix is now in the NFL, and transfer Dillon Gabriel steps into the starting job. That is a bit of a downgrade for Oregon, albeit Gabriel is still pretty good.
Cons
Overall, Oregon is still a powerhouse program that didn’t get worse. They return 69% of their production from last season. Oregon also had the second-best transfer portal recruiting class, so they brought in a bunch of top talent that can play right away.
Oregon is also bringing the No. 10 rush defense in the country to the Big Ten. One of Illinois’ strengths should be the running game, and going up against a great run defense could spell trouble.
The starting lineup for the Ducks is extremely experienced as well. 17 out of the 22 starters on the offense and defense are seniors. That is a lot of talent that has played a lot of games in college.
Final
This game should be a struggle for the Illinois football program. I think Oregon has more talent from top to bottom, and there is a solid chance they are the best team in the country.
Illinois’ hopes rely on Altmyer being able to move the ball down the field. If he can get us some early scores, then we have a chance to keep this game close. Our defense could struggle mightily, though.