Aidan Laughery’s 75-yard touchdown changes the first half before Michael Clayton II throws two scoring passes in a 21–10 Illinois win.
Oregon Ducks 10 · Illinois Fighting Illini 21
Game date: Oct 24, 2026 · America/Chicago
Published: Oct 25, 2026
College · Football · Big Ten / NCAA Division I
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois turned a 10-point deficit into a 21–10 victory over Oregon on Saturday, pairing Aidan Laughery’s explosive rushing play with a scoreless second half from its defense at Gies Memorial Stadium.
The Illini improved to 4–3 overall and 2–2 in the Big Ten. Oregon finished the day with the same overall and conference records after scoring all 10 of its points before halftime.
Laughery carried 13 times for 123 yards. His most consequential attempt came after Oregon extended its lead to 10–0 late in the second quarter. Laughery went 75 yards for a touchdown on Illinois’ next offensive play, reducing the halftime deficit to 10–7 and ensuring the Illini would begin the second half within a single score.
Freshman quarterback Michael Clayton II then helped Illinois turn that opening into the lead. The Illini started the third quarter with a nine-play, 70-yard touchdown drive, finished by Clayton’s nine-yard pass to Christian Abney. Illinois led 14–10 and never trailed again.
Clayton completed 11 of 18 attempts for 84 yards and two touchdowns. The passing yardage was modest, but the scoring throws were decisive. His second touchdown pass found Collin Dixon from 23 yards out in the fourth quarter, completing a six-play, 66-yard drive and increasing the lead to 21–10.
Dixon’s reception required a difficult finish after the pass was tipped. The catch was upheld on review, according to Illinois’ official report. He finished with six receptions for 65 yards, providing the majority of the receiving yardage credited to Clayton’s passing line.
The defense made those scores sufficient. Oregon did not score after intermission and did not run a second-half play from inside the Illinois red zone, according to the university’s recap. Juice Clarke led the Illini with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops, and added two pass breakups and a tackle for loss. Ean Rhea forced a fumble on a sack, with Joe Barna recovering.
The scoring distribution captures how completely Illinois changed the game: Oregon led 7–0 after the first quarter, the teams scored seven and three respectively in the second, and Illinois added a touchdown in each remaining period. The Illini did not have to match a continuing Oregon scoring pace because their defense stopped that pace altogether.
Illinois next travels to Maryland on Saturday, October 31. The university lists an 11 a.m. Chicago-time kickoff on FS1. The win gives that trip a different starting point: Illinois is above .500 again and level in conference play after converting a difficult first half into a complete second-half response.
CHAMPAIGN — Illinois reduced a 19-point halftime deficit to a one-possession game late Friday, but Baylor’s first-half advantage held up in a 95–91 exhibition victory at State Farm Center. The result belongs to the preseason and does not change either team’s regular-season record.
DOPE Sports Network Staff · Oct 24, 2026CHAMPAIGN — Illinois brings its preseason schedule to State Farm Center on Friday, October 23, when Baylor visits for a 7 p.m. Central exhibition. The game is scheduled to stream on B1G+ and gives the Illini a home setting for another competitive evaluation before games begin counting toward their regular-season record.
DOPE Sports Network Staff · Oct 23, 2026Illinois forward David Mirkovic has been selected to the Associated Press preseason All-America team, adding a national honor before his sophomore season. The university announced the selection Wednesday, listing Mirkovic with 24 votes on the five-player team.
