LIVE Score Updates Oregon Ducks, Illinois: Oregon up 32 Points Going Into the Half
The sun is out in Eugene, Oregon; and Oregon Duck fans are feeling rays of excitement. Autzen Stadium is sold out this afternoon as the No. 1 Oregon Ducks take on the No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini.
Illinois is Oregon's third ranked opponent of the season, after Oregon beat No. 17 Boise State and No. 4 Ohio State earlier in the season. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. PT on CBS.
A win would make Oregon 8-0 to open the season for the first time since 2013 and fifth time in program history.
This article will be updated live throughout the game:
HALFTIME
Q2 00:26: Derrick Harmon tackle puts the half to bed.
OREGON 35, ILLINOIS 3
Q2 00:29 OREGON SCORES: Dillon Gabriel passes to Noah Whittington with his right hand for a 2-yard Oregon touchdown. Dillon Gabriel is left handed. Sappington's kick is good.
Q2: Illinois' Tyler Strain goes down with an injury. Limps to sideline.
Q2 00:44: After the Ducks march down the field with a succession of signature short passes, Illinois calls a timeout, their official first timeout of the half.
Q2 01:42: Kaleb Patterson of Illinois is down on the field with a supposed knee injury. He's helped off the field.
Q2 01:54: Oregon calls a timeout.
Q2 02:00: Two minute timeout called after Jordan James 9-yard run.
Q2 02:38: Illinois punts on down to Oregon, Tez Johnson receives at Oregon 11-yard line.
Q2 03:23: After getting their first third down conversion of the game and an injury, Aidan Laughery is tackled for 1-yard loss by Nikko Reed. This Illinois drive also included a quarterback hurry by Teitum Tuioti.
OREGON 28, Illinois 3
Q2 06:13 OREGON SCORES: Noah Whittington runs over defenders to secure an 18-yard Oregon touchdown. Kick by Sappington is good.
Q2 09:24: Illinois punts on downs to Oregon, who picks it up at Oregon's 46-yard line.
Q2 09:42: 5-yard penalty against Illinois for a false start.
Q2 10:27: Luke Altmyer sacked for a 11-yard loss by Brandon Johnson and Devon Jackson. Fourth down for Illinois. Three Ducks have contributed to sacks so far this contest. Derrick Harmon picks up the ball and runs for the endzone. The fumble is not called.
Q2 11:20: Luke Altmyer tackled for a 1-yard loss by Matayo Uiagalelei.
OREGON 21, Illinois 3
Q2 12:22 OREGON SCORES: Dillon Gabriel uses his legs to run in a 7-yard touchdown, hopping over a defender. Oregon's drive included 8 plays for 65-yards. Kick is good.
Q2 15:00: Traeshon Holden false start penalty for a loss of 5-yards.
SECOND QUARTER
Q1 01:13: Dillon Gabriel sacked for a loss of 8-yards by Gabe Jacas.
OREGON 14, ILLINOIS 3
Q1 01:34 ILLINOIS SCORES: After a pair of incomplete passes from Luke Altmyer, Illinois scores a field goal.
Q1 03:42: After a direct snap to Jordan James doesn't pick up significant yardage, Oregon punts. Illinois' ball.
Q1 05:13: After a short drive, Tysheem Johnson intercepts Luke Altmyer. Oregon starts at their 14-yard line. This is Johnson's second interception this year.
OREGON 14, ILLINOIS 0
Q1 06:08 OREGON SCORES: Dillon Gabriel makes a deep pass to Justius Lowe for a 34-yard touchdown. This drive for Oregon was just under 3 minutes with 7 plays for 58 yards. Kick is good.
Q1 06:28: Oregon takes their first timeout of the half after a last minute substitution from Illinois.
Q1 08:54: After Derrick Harmon forces a fourth down with no gained yards, Illinois punts back to Oregon. Illinois is currently -5 total yards for their first drive.
Q1 10:21: Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer sacked for a loss of 10-yards by Teitum Tuioti.
OREGON 7, ILLINOIS 0
Q1 11:02 OREGON SCORES: Dillon Gabriel passes to Tez Johnson for a 31-yard touchdown. Kick by Atticus Sappington is good. Johnson has scored at least one touchdown in five straight games.
Q1 15:00: Coin toss Illinois wins with a call for heads. Illinois defers. Oregon starts with the ball.
Pregame
These two teams have not played each other since 1995 when Oregon won 34-31. The Ducks have only played Illinois three times with an overall record of 2-1 against the Illini, with every game decided by one score. Oregon is currently 1-0 vs. the Illini for home match-ups.
Oregon is entering this contest on a hot streak after their first shutout on the road since 1992 when they beat the Purdue Boilermakers 35-0. Leading the charge is quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who put up 21-25 on passing attempts against the Boilermakers for 290 yards and two touchdowns. The ground game for Oregon has also significantly improved since the start of the season, helmed by a cohesive offensive line and star running back Jordan James. James, though reaching over 100 rushing yards in four of Oregon's seven victories so far, got a season low of 50 yards off ten carries against the Boilermakers. Nevertheless, Oregon is stacked in the ground game and passing game.
The Ducks' defense also had a strong showing against Purdue holding the Boilermakers to 93 passing yards and forcing them to go 4-12 on third down conversions and 0-3 on fourth down conversions. Teitum Tuitoti continues to lead the team in tackles like he regularly has done this season with six last game. Matayo Uiagalelei stepped in for an injured Jordan Burch to record two tackles for loss and a sack to start the Boilermakers' first offensive drive.
One thing to note is that go-to senior tight end Terrance Ferguson is out for this contest. Ferguson got his appendix removed the previous week and missed Oregon's most recent game against Purdue.
As for the Fighting Illini, they are 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Big Ten, with their only loss coming from No.2 Penn State on the road. Quarterback Luke Altmyer is a solid play-caller and leader for the Fighting Illini going 21-27 in passing with 215 yards during Illinois' marquee win against Nebraska earlier in the season.
Earlier in the day on ESPN's College Gameday, every single analyst on the college football show and guest picker MLB star Kyle Schwarber chose Oregon to win against the Fighting Illini.
“Oregon, no doubt. They’re the number one team to me right now,” ESPN College Gameday analyst and former Alabama coach Nick Saban said.
INJURY REPORT
Oregon
OUT
1 Jordan Burch
2 Gary Bryant Jr.
3 Terrance Ferguson
6 Jahlil Florence
14 Khamari Terrell
17 Kyler Kasper
77 Matthew Bedford
93 My’Keil Gardner
QUESTIONABLE
74 Dave Iuli
Illinois
OUT
3 Kaden Feagin (Season)
4 Daniel Brown
56 Magnus Møller
QUESTIONABLE
None
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