Chambana Sun

Illinois will play its first road football game of the 2025 season against Duke on Saturday, September 6, at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina. The game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Central Time and will be broadcast on ESPN.

The Fighting Illini enter the matchup ranked #12 in both the Preseason AP Top 25 and US LBM Coaches Polls. This marks Illinois’ highest preseason ranking since 1990 and their first appearance in both preseason polls since 2008. Last year, Illinois finished #16 in the final AP Top 25 poll, which was their best finish since placing #12 in 2001.

Illinois opened its season with a decisive 52-3 win and seeks to extend its current five-game winning streak, which dates back to last season. The team closed out the previous year with three consecutive victories away from home against Rutgers, Northwestern (at Wrigley Field), and South Carolina (Cheez-It Citrus Bowl).

Quarterback Luke Altmyer currently ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency and tenth in completion percentage after his performance in Week 1, where he threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Hank Beatty set a new school record for single-game punt return yardage with 133 yards against Western Illinois, surpassing Red Grange’s mark set in 1923. Beatty also leads all players nationally in all-purpose yards per game.

Duke comes into the contest with a win over Elon led by quarterback Darian Mensah, who transferred from Tulane after throwing for over 2,700 yards last season.

Television coverage will feature Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), and Taylor McGregor (reporter). Radio coverage will be provided by Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), and Michael Martin (reporter) on the Busey Bank Illini Sports Network.

“Illinois brings a five-game winning streak to Durham, tied for the longest active streak in the Big Ten with reigning national champion Ohio State.”

“Illinois finished the 2024 season with thee straight road/neutral victories: at Rutgers, at Northwestern (Wrigley Field), and vs. #14 South Carolina (Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Orlando).”

“Illinois and Duke are tied 1-1 in the all-time series.”

“Duke won the teams' first matchup, 15-13, in Durham in 1958.”

“Illinois beat Duke, 28-14, in Champaign in 1965.”

“Illinois is scheduled to host Duke during the 2026 season as part of a home-and-home contract.”

“Illinois is ranked #12 in the Preseason AP Top 25 and the Preseason US LBM Coaches Poll.”

“Illinois has its highest preseason ranking since 1990, when the Illini started #11 in the Preseason AP Top 25.”

“Illinois is ranked in the Preseason AP Top 25 and the Preseason Coaches Poll for the first time since 2008.”

“Illinois' #12 preseason ranking is the ninth-highest in program history since the AP Preseason Poll began in 1950.”

“Illinois' #12 Preseason Coaches Poll ranking is tied for the second-highest in program history since the Preseason Coaches Poll began in 1978, behind only Illini teams in 1985 (#10) and 1990 (#12).”

“Illinois was #16 in last year's final AP Top 25 poll, the program's highest final ranking since finishing #12 in 2001.”

Illinois returns most of its key personnel from last year’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl victory over South Carolina—18 starters return this fall—and retains continuity among coaches as well. Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr., now entering his fourth season with Illinois, is currently serving as longest-tenured offensive coordinator within Big Ten programs.

“Illinois returns 18 starters from its Cheez-It Citrus Bowl victory over #14 South Carolina, tied with Michigan for the most returning starters of any bowl team in the nation.”

“Illinois returns 16 season starters from last year's 10-win campaign…”

“Alabama…Boise State…Duke…San Diego State…and Texas A&M are next with 14 returning season starters.”

“Barry Lunney Jr., who returns for his fourth season…is the longest-tenured offensive coordinator in the Big Ten.”

“Aaron Henry…returns for his third season…third-longest-tenured defensive coordinator…”

“…only Power-4 team to return its offensive coordinator…defensive coordinator…and starting quarterback for a third straight season…”

“…only Big Ten team to have same head coach…offensive coordinator…defensive coordinator…strength coach…and starting quarterback…”

“…one of six Big Ten teams to return both its offensive and defensive coordinators…”

“…returns nine of its ten primary position coaches…”

Hank Beatty’s performance broke a school record that had stood for more than a century; he totaled four punt returns for a combined distance of more than any other player before him at Illinois.

“Hank Beatty broke Illinois'102-year-old single-game punt return record...when he totaled133 yards on four returns.The previous record...was set by Red Grange vs.Nebraska(10/6/1923).”

“Highlighting Beatty's returns was a69-yard TD...first punt returned for touchdown since V'Angelo Bentley vs.Ohio State(11/16/2013).”

“Beatty's69-yard touchdown was Illinois'longest punt return touchdown since Christian Morton(80 yards)vs.Indiana(11/4/2000)...”

“Beatty added five receptions for108 yards to total241 all-purpose yards...”

“Beatty leads thenationin all-purpose yards per game(241.0)andpunt return yardage(133).”

“Beatty ranks third innationinyards per punt return(33.25).”