Oregon visits Illinois with QB questions as Dante Moore remains out - RAW CHILI

Oregon will be without quarterback and one-time Heisman Trophy hopeful Dante Moore and top receiver Evan Stewart again Saturday when the Ducks visit Illinois in a Big Ten matchup in Champaign, Ill.

Moore, who was ruled out Wednesday because of a concussion, will miss his third straight game. He sat out a home loss to then-No. 21 UCLA and a victory over Nebraska last weekend. He suffered the concussion in the Sept. 26 win at Southern California.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning has not confirmed who will start at quarterback for the Ducks (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) against Illinois. Dylan Raiola started against UCLA but struggled to move the offense before Brock Thomas replaced him. Thomas started against the Cornhuskers.

When Thomas could not find a rhythm, Raiola replaced him and engineered a fourth-quarter comeback, including the game-winning drive.

The Ducks were without Stewart against Nebraska because of an undisclosed injury. Early Sunday, Stewart was arrested on a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants in Springfield, Ore., not far from campus.

Lanning addressed the arrest Monday.

“There was a situation this weekend that didn’t match our standard here in our program,” he said. “There will be appropriate action taken. Still gathering some details with what the situation looks like, but that’ll be handled internally.”

Illinois (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) lost quarterback Katin Houser to a hand injury during its 38-37 overtime win at Michigan State on Oct. 10. Houser has passed for 1,440 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for 120 yards and two scores in six games.

The Fighting Illini had a bye last weekend, and Houser could be sidelined for several weeks.

Freshman Michael Clayton II is expected to make his first collegiate start after replacing Houser against the Spartans and throwing for 88 yards and two touchdowns.

“He was obviously ecstatic after the game, and (I) had a long conversation with him … just kind of about what it means to be a starting quarterback in this league, and in college football,” Illinois coach Bret Bielema said of Clayton.

The last time Oregon and Illinois met, the top-ranked Ducks cruised to a 38-9 win over then-No. 20 Illinois in Eugene, Ore., on Oct. 26, 2024.

–Field Level Media