Oregon will again be without quarterback Dante Moore when the Ducks head to Illinois on Saturday, marking the third straight game he has missed while recovering from a concussion.
The Ducks are also expected to be without Evan Stewart, their top receiver this season. Stewart sat out last Saturday’s 17-14 win over visiting Nebraska because of an undisclosed injury, and afterward he was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants.
Moore’s injury came in Oregon’s 41-27 win over Southern California on Sept. 26 in Los Angeles. He absorbed a heavy blow to the head from Trojans linebacker Desman Stephens II while sliding and had to leave the field on a stretcher.
Stephens was thrown out for targeting and later suspended for USC’s next game after he celebrated while Moore was being attended to.
With Moore out, Dylan Raiola and Brock Thomas have split the quarterback work over the last two weeks, a stretch that also included Oregon’s 17-15 home loss to then-No. 21 UCLA and the comeback against Nebraska.
Thomas got the start against the Cornhuskers and finished 9 of 20 for 54 yards with an interception before Raiola entered. Raiola then finished the job, steering the winning march that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Johnson in the final minute.
He completed 11 of 18 passes for 59 yards and a touchdown.
For the season, Raiola has completed 64.4% of his throws for 515 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions for Oregon, which is 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Big Ten. Thomas has completed 57.5% of his passes for 226 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
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Illinois Could Be Closing In On A Guard Who'd Matter Fast
Brad Underwood has already stacked a strong recruiting run with commitments from top prospects like Quentin Coleman, and now Illinois is bringing in another name worth watching. Four-star point guard Gassim Toure is set for an unofficial visit during the exhibition game against Baylor, giving the Illini a chance to show him the program up close while he gets a feel for how he might fit in Urbana.
Toure, who plays at The Principia School in Missouri, is viewed as a strong stylistic match for what Illinois wants to do on the floor. With possible roster departures still hanging over the program, the opportunity for a newcomer to earn real minutes could come sooner rather than later, which only adds to the appeal for a guard looking for a landing spot where he can matter quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Season Suddenly Rests On A Huge Quarterback Test At Oregon
Illinois heads into Oregon with the kind of quarterback uncertainty that can reshape a week, if not a season. Katin Houser is out with a broken hand, which opens the door for freshman Michael Clayton II to make his first start in a matchup where Illinois is already given just a 23.0 percent chance to win by ESPNs FPI. It is a tough ask on the road, but one that also arrives against an Oregon team that has not been operating at full strength on offense.
The Ducks have struggled recently without star quarterback Dante Moore, even as their defense continues to look sturdy. That leaves Illinois facing a game built around survival, execution and how quickly Clayton can settle in against a strong unit in a difficult environment. For a team trying to keep its footing, this is the kind of test that can reveal a lot about its depth as much as its record. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Faces An Early Baylor Test With One Big Lineup Concern
Brad Underwood has already turned the page to Illinois exhibition matchup with Baylor, and the early focus is less on the final score than on what the game can reveal about this roster. It will be a useful first look at how the Illini handle a high-level opponent while still managing health carefully, and Underwood said the staff intends to use the exhibition to try different lineup combinations as it gets a better read on the pieces in front of it.
One notable absence will be David Mirkovic, who will not play as he continues his recovery. Illinois also has plenty to sort through on the scouting side, with Underwood pointing to Baylors strong guard backcourt as a major challenge. For a team still piecing together its rotation, the exhibition offers a chance to learn some things before the results start carrying real weight. [Read more 🡒]