When the schedule was first announced for the 2024 football season, only Illinois circled this game. Oddsmakers and all the top college football brass assumed Ohio State and Michigan would be the make-or-break games for Oregon . They were only half right in that equation.
Insert Illinois, whose story is just as special as Indiana’s. Illinois has played a tough schedule and all of its toughest games this year seem to be on the road ( Michigan at home was important but not as quality an opponent). The Fighting Illini have started the season 6-1, with their only blemish coming on the road in Happy Valley. Illinois battled and earned respect that night along with its overtime victory in Lincoln the week prior. With all that said, taking on No. 1 Oregon in Autzen Stadium is a tall task, but not one that’s going to rattle Illinois .
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