CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Illinois scored 21-straight points to comeback and defeat Oregon, 21-10, on Saturday afternoon at Gies Memorial Stadium. Illinois moved to 4-3 on the season and 8-2 after byes during Coach Bielema's six seasons.
Aidan Laughery led the Illinois rushing attack with 123 yards on 13 carries including a 75-yard touchdown run right before halftime that sparked the 21-0 Illini run. He became the first running back in the nation to have two 75+-yard rushing touchdowns this season.
Freshman starting quarterback Michael Clayton II completed 11-of-18 pass attempts for 84 yards and two touchdowns. He became the third true freshman quarterback in Illinois history to win a game as the starter, joining Juice Williams at Michigan State in 2006 and Kurt Kittner at Northwestern in 1998. He's the sixth Illini true freshman QB to start a game in Illinois history and the first since M.J. Rivers II did so against Maryland in 2018.
Collin Dixon hauled in six passes for 65 yards including a highlight-reel-worthy 23-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth quarter to complete the comeback. An Oregon defender tipped Clayton's pass before Dixon got his hands under the ball while diving to secure the touchdown that was upheld upon review.
Juice Clarke led the Illinois defense with 10 tackles (seven solo), two pass breakups, and one tackle for loss, as the Illini shut out the Ducks in the second half and snapped their streak of 61 straight games scoring more than 10 points. Ean Rhea forced a fumble on a sack and Joe Barna had the recovery.
Illinois handed Oregon its first Big Ten road loss since the Ducks joined the conference in 2024.
The Ducks scored the first 10 points of the day with a touchdown on their opening drive and a 20-yard field goal with roughly two minutes in the half. It was all Illini the rest of the way after trailing 10-0. They responded on their ensuing drive with a one-play touchdown drive as Laughery broke free for 75 yards to cut into the deficit to make it 10-7 at the half.
Illinois got the ball to start the second half where Clayton led a nine play, 70-yard touchdown drive capped by a 9-yard pass to Chrsitian Abney to give Illinois its first lead of the day, 14-10. It was Abney's first touchdown as an Illini and second of his collegiate career.
Three drives later Clayton led the Illini down the field again on a six play, 66-yard scoring drive that ended with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Dixon to shut the door on the Ducks, 21-10. The Illini defense never let Oregon run a play from the redzone in the second half.
Illinois (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) returns to action on Saturday (Oct. 31) when they travel to College Park, Maryland, to take on Maryland. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on FS1.
