Chambana Sun

For the first time in their history as Big Ten competitors, No. 20 Illinois will face off against No. 1 Oregon at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon. The game is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on CBS.

Illinois comes into this matchup following a significant win over No. 24 Michigan, marking their third victory against a ranked team this season. Head coach Bret Bielema expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to play against the top-ranked Ducks, stating, "The chance to play the No. 1 team in the nation is always special."

Oregon remains undefeated with a record of 7-0 overall and has maintained an impressive home record under head coach Dan Lanning, winning 12 consecutive games at Autzen Stadium.

Defensive coordinator Aaron Henry highlighted Illinois' strong defensive performance against Michigan last week and aims to maintain that momentum against Oregon's potent offense led by quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Gabriel leads the FBS in completion percentage and ranks highly in several other categories.

The Illini defense will focus on forcing turnovers from Oregon's offense, which has been prone to giveaways despite its high-scoring capability.

Offensively, Illinois hopes to build on its success from last week's game where they capitalized on turnovers to secure a win over Michigan.

On the other side of the field, Oregon's defense is also formidable, ranking among the nation's best in fewest yards allowed per game. They recently achieved a shutout victory over Purdue.

Both teams bring strong records and high expectations into this weekend's matchup as they prepare for what promises to be an intense contest between two ranked teams.