QuickTake:

Oregon’s offense is struggling, but the Ducks have won all 10 of their Big Ten road games. Can their defense and special teams keep that streak alive Saturday at Illinois?

The Oregon Ducks have the Big Ten right where they want it.

Sure, Oregon will be playing its third consecutive game without starting quarterback Dante Moore. And no, the offense has yet to score more than 17 points in the two starts made by Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas.

But Oregon’s defense is playing awfully well. The special teams have been fantastic. And yes, the Ducks may be flying across the country yet again for another conference game, but that might just be their secret weapon.

Because for all the fuss over the last three years about how far the Ducks have to travel to get to their games, every time they’ve hit the road to face a Big Ten opponent, they’ve come back a winner.

Ten games. Ten wins.

And most of them haven’t been particularly close.

Since joining the Big Ten in 2024, Oregon has outscored its conference road opponents 328-148. Seven of those wins have come by double digits, and in eight of the 10 games, Oregon has held its opponent to 17 points or fewer.

But the Ducks have also shown they can win ugly on the road. They beat Wisconsin 16-13 in 2024 and Iowa 18-16 last season, relying on their defense to survive afternoons when the offense wasn’t exactly lighting up the scoreboard.

Not that Oregon’s defense is particularly concerned with how the offense is playing.

“I don’t think we think much about any of that. We just focus on our job and what we can control,” Oregon defensive back Peyton Woodyard said. “Every time we get an opportunity to play defense it’s a blessing and an opportunity to make a play.”

Defense has been Oregon’s strength here in 2026. And the Ducks are hoping their success away from home remains one, too.

“We’ve had a ton of success on the road in the Big Ten, and I think every time we travel, we still tweak little things,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said this week.

Lanning pointed to the importance of rest, recovery and nutrition, as well as a travel routine that accounts for changing time zones and kickoff times.

It’s a system that has worked well so far.

“We’ve kind of stuck to kind of our guns on some of those looks and been able to do well so far in our travel in the Big Ten,” Lanning said.

How to watch or listen

When: noon (Pacific Time) Saturday, Oct. 24 (2 p.m. Central Time)

Where: Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois

TV: Big Ten Network

Broadcast team: Chris Vosters (play-by-play), Jake Butt (analyst), Brooke Fletcher (sideline)

Radio: KUJZ-FM 95.3 in Eugene and 105.1 FM The Fan in Portland.

Who’s playing?

Oregon Ducks (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten)

Illinois Fighting Illini (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten)

Last meeting: Oregon beat Illinois 38-9 at Autzen Stadium on Oct. 26, 2024.

Rosters: Oregon | Illinois

Players to watch

Illinois: Michael Clayton II, quarterback

On one hand, Michael Clayton II gets to make his first career start at home. On the other, well — these Oregon Ducks may not look like the preseason No. 2 Oregon Ducks, but their defense certainly does.

The true freshman will get the start for the Illini after No. 1 quarterback Katin Houser broke his hand against Michigan State. Houser left the game late in the third quarter with Illinois leading 23-10. Clayton completed 6 of 8 passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns — including a 25-yard pass to Hudson Clement in overtime that helped Illinois secure a 38-37 victory.

Lanning said Illinois’ change at quarterback won’t change much of Oregon’s preparation for this one. The Ducks have allowed just 184.5 passing yards per game over their last two games.

“There might be wrinkles, but very rarely do people change the identity of their offense based on a change of the position,” Lanning said. “So you prepare and then you make sure you have answers for what you think that skill set is.”

Oregon: Matayo Uiagalelei, edge

Hey, remember last year — and the early part of this year — when it felt like the narrative around Matayo Uiagalelei was underperformance?

Oregon’s talented edge rusher saw his sack total drop from 10.5 in 2024 to six in 2025. Well, he’s been on fire since Oregon’s loss to Oklahoma State. After registering just one tackle and an interception in that 39-31 loss, Uiagalelei has recorded five sacks in the Ducks’ last four games.

What’s changed?

“I think it’s just something we emphasize in practice, finishing,” Uiagalelei said last week.

Lanning has noticed the difference, particularly in Uiagalelei’s ability to keep working after his initial pass rush doesn’t get home.

“I just think that Matayo’s second effort is operating at a really high clip right now,” Lanning said.

On the road against a freshman quarterback making his first start, Uiagalelei and Oregon’s pass rush might be the Ducks’ cleanest path toward surviving another uneasy afternoon from the offense.

Reads to get ready

From Lookout:

Learn more about Illinois:

Watch The Inside Look

Ken Woody and Tyson Alger look back at Oregon’s wild 17-14 win over Nebraska and try to find the positives the Ducks can bring into Saturday’s road game at Illinois. The offense is what it is, but can the Ducks’ defense and special teams keep them in the hunt?

Listen to The Traffic Report

The I-5 Corridor’s Traffic Report on Apple Podcasts

Catch the latest episode of The I-5 Corridor’s Traffic Report for more on the Ducks and their trip to Illinois.

Tyson Alger covered the Ducks for The Oregonian and The Athletic before branching out on his own to create and run The I-5 Corridor. He brings more than a decade of experience on the University of Oregon sports beat. He has covered everything from Marcus Mariota’s Heisman Trophy-winning season to the Ducks’ first year in the Big 10.