Illinois Football Falls to Oregon 38-9

In a disappointing matchup, No. 20 Illinois suffered a heavy defeat against top-ranked Oregon, losing 38-9. The Illini struggled offensively, with quarterback Luke Altmyer completing only 48.6% of his passes for 161 yards and two interceptions. Oregon's Dillon Gabriel shone with three touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown, leading his team to a dominant first half where they built a 35-3 lead. Although Illinois improved in the second half, outscoring the Ducks 6-3, it was not enough to overcome the deficit. Injuries also plagued the Illini, impacting their performance further. This defeat comes after Illinois had notable wins earlier in the season, raising concerns about their consistency against top teams.