Oregon goes to Champaign, Illinois.
Well, okay, it's been a rough ride so far. Your backup QB is actually a 2-year B1G starter that transferred to learn at a higher profile program and, ideally, take the reigns in 2027. Of course, he's pressed into duty sooner than expected, and leads the Fighting Ducks to a satisfying win over everyone's least favorite California school. Unfortunately, the dude falls on his face against the other LA school and is replaced by the local walk-on guy -- what us baseball fans would refer to as an organizational soldier --after three quarters. He does well, but it's too little, too late. You then... okay, this is where it gets truly questionable... start the local guy and watch him struggle through three more quarters, only to bring back QB2 to lead them to a win over his former B1G team.
A big glory story for Dylan Raiola taking down his old Nebraska Cornhuskers would have been fun, and probably otherwise uneventful. The fact that he was only the break-glass-if-emergency option has got to sting a bit. Nevertheless, he's apparently been tabbed as the starter for today's action at Illinois. Let's just hope it isn't another repeat of the UCLA horror show.
Illinois is also led by a QB2, one Michael Clayton II, who as far as I can tell is not related to any Michael Clayton football players that I've heard of. He also, as far as I know, does not have anything to do with a potential sequel to the 2007 George Clooney movie called Michael Clayton, which I'm quite positive I watched but have no recollection of. (Up in the Air, though... I quite liked that one.) The starter Katin Houser is out for a few weeks. The Ducks will again be without one of their top receivers in Evan Stewart, who missed all of last season and was out last week with an injury... and was one of multiple Ducks who crossed paths with Springfield police late at night after last week's game. (Guys, nothing good ever happens in Springfield. I guess that's what 8:00 PM kickoffs do to your brain.)
Notes:
- I don't know what it is with making certain permanent memories at certain ages, but whenever I think of Illinois football, I can only really picture this Jeff George Pro Set card from 1990.
- Opponent fun fact: The Fighting Illini (or just Illini in general) doesn't really seem to have any interesting connection to anything other than its usage in a way that was it was connected to Illinois itself. That's, at least, according to a very boring FAQ from the university library. Of course, the name Illinois itself can be traced back to indigenous people as many things are. Maybe I should rename this section "Opponent not-so fun fact".
- Opponent history: Oregon holds a 3-1 edge, with their most recent meeting (and first in nearly 30 years) a 38-9 victory in Eugene.
- Game time is 12:00 PM PDT on the Big Ten Network in Champaign. Go Ducks!
