No. 20 Illinois uses No. 1 Oregon's ranking as motivation heading into Saturday's meeting

Oregon doesn't attraction astir its No. 1 ranking, but Illinois judge does.

The No. 20 Fighting Illini sojourn nan Ducks connected Saturday astatine Autzen Stadium pinch a chance to sound disconnected nan top-ranked squad successful nan country. Illinois coach Bret Bielema indicated nan ranking is information for his squad.

“For me, arsenic a caput coach, to disregard that would beryllium silly,” Bielema said this week. “We person to cognize that that’s nan No. 1 squad successful nan state and there’s a logic they’re No. 1. They’re a very bully shot team, they execute very, very well."

The Illini (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) haven't faced nan top-ranked squad successful nan federation since 2007, erstwhile they hit Ohio State connected nan roadworthy 28-21. Illinois vanished that play 9-4 and played successful nan Rose Bowl.

Oregon (7-0, 4-0) has a measurement different return connected nan rankings. When asked astir it, coach Dan Lanning said: “Who cares?”

“I deliberation it’s really elemental for america erstwhile our messaging hasn’t changed nan full year. You don’t beryllium halfway done a repast and opportunity you’re done eating erstwhile there’s still a batch of nutrient near connected nan plate," Lanning explained. "That’s wherever we’re at: We’re astatine nan midpoint of nan season. We’re not done yet. There’s a batch of things that we still want to accomplish. So that doesn’t really matter for us.”

Oregon is coming disconnected a 35-0 blanking of Purdue. But it was a 32-31 triumph complete past No. 2 Ohio State nan week earlier that made a connection successful nan Ducks' first play successful nan Big Ten.

Oregon backmost Dillon Gabriel, rising successful nan Heisman conversation, is starring nan state pinch a 77% completion rate. He has 15 passing touchdowns and 4 rushing scores.

“When you’ve sewage a backmost successful that situation pinch a squad astir him, it’s ever a challenge," Bielema said.

Gabriel's Illinois counterpart is Luke Altmyer, who has thrown for 15 touchdowns this play pinch conscionable 1 interception, for nan champion touchdown-to-interception ratio successful nan Power Four. He’s completing 65.9% of his passes.

Altmyer threw for a touchdown and ran for different successful Illinois' 21-7 triumph complete No. 24 Michigan past weekend. The triumph was nan 3rd for nan Illini complete a Top 25 force this play — astir for nan squad since 2007.

The past clip Oregon played Illinois was successful 1995, nan first location crippled for then-Ducks coach Mike Bellotti. Ricky Whittle rushed for 3 touchdowns and Oregon won 34-31 aft trailing astatine nan half.

Bielema declared that near defender Josh Gesky was 1 of nan team's violative MVPs this week for his domiciled successful holding backmost Michigan's touted protect linemen Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, 2 apt NFL draught picks.

“Gesky’s travel started 3 years ago,” Bielema said. “To person him put himself successful a position to create his assemblage physically, mentally, nan accomplishment group pinch (offensive statement coach Bart Miller) and nan violative line, he played his champion crippled since I’ve been present and arguably against 2 of nan champion players he’s played against each year.”

Gesky, 1 of 3 violative lineman for Illinois who started past season, wasn't dwelling connected his occurrence against Michigan — not pinch Oregon looming.

“Yeah, but now I’ve sewage to bring it guardant and now I’ve sewage to bring it connected to Oregon," Gesky told reporters. “Can’t unrecorded successful nan past. Gotta look forward.”

Lanning said receiver Traeshon Holden would beryllium disposable for nan crippled against Illinois, aft sitting retired of nan Purdue game.

Holden was ejected successful nan first half against Ohio State for spitting connected Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun. He later apologized connected societal media.

Lanning said Holden would look soul discipline. The receiver dressed but did not play against Purdue. Holden has 20 catches for 306 yards and 3 touchdowns this season.

Illinois linebacker Gabe Jacas has 5.5 sacks this season, pinch 42 full tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss. Against Michigan he had 13 tackles, including six solo, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

“I deliberation if you move connected nan movie you spot relentless effort from this defense consistently. Even erstwhile balls mightiness get down nan section connected them you spot nan measurement they pursuit nan ball, onslaught nan ball. They’re benignant of consistently attacking nan shot and you tin show they preach it," Lanning said. "That’s not thing that happens connected mishap and he’s surely 1 of those guys that does that.”

___

Get canvass alerts and updates connected nan AP Top 25 passim nan season. Sign up here. AP assemblage football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football