Bret Bielema is someone Oregon football fans probably remember from back when he was the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers and was competing against the Ducks in the Rose Bowl. A lot has changed since Bielema last met with the Ducks and he’s now coaching the Illinois Fighting Illini.
This season, as the Oregon Ducks make the move into the Big Ten, Bielema will be bringing his Fighting Illini football team to Autzen Stadium to compete with the Ducks in Eugene in a conference matchup.
Let’s go over the key details and explore what Oregon football fans need to know about this contest.
Game Details: When and Where?
- Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024
- Kickoff: 12:30 PM / 1:00 PM / 4:30 PM PT (exact time TBD)
- Stadium: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
Meet Oregon's Opponent: Illinois Fighting Illini
We already know that Bret Bielema is leading the Illinois Fighting Illini and he’s now headed into his fourth season there. The Illini are looking to continue improving under his leadership and while they reached a bowl in 2022, Illinois wasn’t all that impressive last season.
With Bielema at the helm, it shouldn’t shock anyone that Illinois is running a very stereotypical, physical, and very Midwest brand of football. That’s going to be very different from some of what Oregon is used to from the Pac-12 days, but Dan Lanning has continued to develop the Ducks to be quite a bit more physical than they used to be.
Three Opposing Players to Know
- Pat Bryant, WR: Expect Bryant to be a go-to target for the Fighting Illini as he caught seven touchdowns last year
- Seth Coleman, OLB: With plenty of experience and an All-Big Ten honorable mention, Coleman is going to bring a physical presence to Illinois’ defense this year
- Gabe Jacas, OLB: Not quite as experienced as Coleman but still a solid contributor, Jacas has already seen plenty of accolades heaped his way
Preview and Prediction
Oregon has more talent and the Ducks get the benefit of playing in Autzen Stadium. That can’t be discounted by any means. Expect the Oregon football team to take this one, but don’t be shocked if Illinois finds a way to slow things down against the Ducks. This should be a fascinating game to watch as the Ducks continue to get used to life in the Big Ten.