Like many of the traditional Big Ten opponents on the Oregon Ducks 2024 schedule, the Illinois Fighting Illini don’t have much history against Oregon. They’ve played three times in their history, but Saturday’s game in Autzen Stadium will be their most significant matchup to date.
The first meeting between these two teams was in 1970, with the Fighting Illini winning 20-16 in Champaign. Those Ducks were coached by Jerry Frei in his second-to-last season with the program. Oregon finished 6-4-1 that year and didn’t play in a bowl game.
The next two games between these teams came in the nineties as a part of a home-and-home series. Oregon went to Champaign in 1993, winning 13-7, and two years later, they won 34-31 in Eugene.
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The 1993 season was one of Rich Brooks’ final seasons as head coach of the Ducks, wrapping up a legendary coaching career. Brooks left after the 1994 season to coach the St. Louis Rams, and he was succeeded by his offensive coordinator: Mike Bellotti. The Ducks 1995 matchup against Illinois was Bellotti’s first home game as a head coach, and he went on to become the winningest coach in Oregon Ducks history.
This week’s game is the first time both teams have been ranked for any of their matchups and the first time either team has been ranked inside the top 20. Oregon definitely has the edge, but Illinois is a good team. There aren’t many games left on the schedule, so both teams will be heavily motivated this week.
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