So far this season, there have already been four teams ranked No. 1 through the first nine weeks of the year. Repeatedly, those top-ranked teams have lost their spot as the No. 1 program because they have blown a game to an obviously lower-ranked team.
From No. 1 Georgia losing to Alabama to No. 1 Alabama losing to Vanderbilt to No. 1 Texas losing to Georgia, the top spot in the country has become somewhat of a curse. So, as the now-No. 1 Oregon Ducks get ready to host the No. 20 Illinois Fighting Illini, will the curse continue?
Just how good is Illinois football?
The Fighting Illini have been one of the surprise teams of the season, starting their year at 6-1 overall and taking down opponents like then-No. 19 Kansas, then-No. 22 Nebraska, and then-No. 24 Michigan.
Illinois's only loss so far this season came at the hands of the currently third-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, who were ranked No. 9 when they faced the Fighting Illini.
Head coach Bret Bielema has been with Illinois since 2021, after leaving a coaching career in the NFL. Over his first three seasons with the Fighting Illini, he led the team to an 18-19 overall record so the 2024 season is undeniably the best start Bielema has seen so far.
With an experienced quarterback leading the offensive front and talent flowing over on the defensive side of the ball, Bielema has created quite an impressive squad in Champaign.
Key figures on Illinois's roster
Quarterback Luke Altmyer is having a breakout season for the Fighting Illini, his second year on Illinois's roster.
So far this season, Altmyer has amassed 1,506 passing yards on 120 completions for 15 touchdowns and just a single interception – near perfection. He has also earned 138 yards on the ground for 2 additional touchdowns on just 59 carries – averaging 2.3 yards per attempt.
Altmyer began his collegiate career at Ole Miss, where he completed just 28 passes on 54 attempts for 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Bielema saw the potential in the QB and brought him into Illinois's program from the 2023 transfer portal.
Illinois's one weakness in their offensive game is its lack of a consistent running game. Removing Altmyer's on-ground yardage from the equation, as well as a few rushing yards from TEs and WRs, the Fighting Illini running back room has only accounted for 846 yards this year.
On the other side of the ball, Illinois's defense has stood strong against almost every single opponent the team has faced.
Ignoring the loss to Penn State –– where the defense allowed 3 touchdowns for 21 points –– Illinois has allowed less than 18 points and fewer than 340 yards per game.
The Oregon Ducks should easily be able to keep pace with the Fighting Illini, and should be able to easily outpace Illinois on both sides of the ball.
However, if the Ducks see mistakes, such as interceptions by Dillon Gabriel or missed tackles by the defensive unit, Oregon could struggle to walk away with the win, continuing the curse of the No. 1 team in college football.