The Illini showed complete dominance over a gutty but outmatched Western Illinois squad in Champaign last Friday night. The final score was 52-3. It was a game that featured a Hank Beatty return for an Illini TD for the first time since 2013. Beatty also had 133 punt return yards, eclipsing the mark set by Red Grange of 125 in 1923. Newcomer Justin Bowick caught two TD passes. After recording two sacks,
Gabe Jacas is now tied for fifth in career sacks at Illinois. It was a great start to the season, but Saturday will be a more significant test.
Saturday, Illinois will travel to Durham, North Carolina, to face the Duke Blue Devils.
Duke rolled over Elon last week, 45-17.
Duke was picked to finish sixth in the ACC before the season began and does have a good team to put on the field. They are considered a long shot to win the ACC title or secure a playoff berth. So, they should be viewed as a dangerous opponent. They have an explosive offense and a very stout defense.
It starts with the man under center, QB Darian Mensah,
Mensah is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the game as a sophomore. CBS Sports has him as the No. 24 QB just ahead of Illinois’ Luke Altmyer.
As a true freshman at Tulane last season, he threw for 2,723 yards and 22 TDs with only six picks.
He transferred to Duke and accepted an $8 million NIL agreement. Saturday, he showed why he might be worth that investment, going 27-34 for 389 yards and three TDs
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Mensah has solid targets to throw to.
Cooper Barkate is a graduate transfer from Harvard, where he was an FCS second-team All-American after hauling in 63 passes for 1,084 yards and 11 TDs, and returning wideouts like Sahmir Hagans and Que’Sean Brown. Brown is a redshirt-sophomore who last season caught 41 passes for 445 yards and two scores. Hagans is a graduate student who, in his four years at Duke, has 109 receptions for 1,078 yards with eight TDs. They have capable hands to catch the ball.
The Duke running game has question marks
Running the ball last season was spotty, with 2023 leading running back Jaquez Moore being injured after five games. In 2023, he had 116 carries for 674 yards and six scores. He returns this season, as does Peyton Jones, who had 82 carries for 317 yards and three TDs filling in for Moore last season.
The O-Line returns intact, and if they can both protect and open up holes all season, Duke’s offense will be one to watch. This is the type of offense that could pose a tough test for the Illini’s new D-Line.
If there is one thing a Manny Diaz-coached team can be counted on for, it is defense. This year’s Duke team is no different.
The defensive stats from 2024 for Duke read like a pro team: 109 tackles for loss, 36 sacks, and 13 interceptions. The defense is led by returning sack leader end Wesley Williams, with 7.5 sacks; he also led the team in TFLs with 14. He is balanced out on the other side with Vincent Anthony Jr., who registered five sacks and 9.5 TFLs
The “weak spot” in the Duke defense, if there is one, is in the linebacking corps, with only one starting linebacker returning in Tre Freeman, 67 tackles, four TFL, 0.5 sacks, and two interceptions. They are hoping for big things from Nick Morris, who is coming off a season lost to injury, to step up. They are also hoping that Utah State transfer Jaiden Francois can shore up the numbers. Last season at Utah State, Francois had 51 tackles, four TFLs, one pick which he returned for a TD.
Duke boasts probably the best safety in the ACC in returning senior safety Terry Moore, who had a team-high four picks last season, had six passes defended, 71 tackles, seven TFLs, and one sack, then there is do-it-all corner Chandler Rivers, who had 54 tackles with 7.5 TFLs, three picks and nine passes defended.
This defense will put pressure on the O-Line, making it difficult to get the passing and running game going and be effective. OC Barry Luney Jr. will have a much larger test than he faced on Friday night against Western Illinois.
My take on this game?
The Illini are a 3-point favorite on the road; it could be just that close. Illinois’ defense will be under pressure to contain this high-powered Duke offense. The Illini offensive line will have to be on its game and ready to play. Many people believe Illinois can cover the spread, and while I think they can, it won’t be easy. I think it will be crucial for Illinois to score first and maintain a lead. My prediction Illinois 24 – Duke 22.
Go Illini!
