How to Watch Illinois vs. Duke
Game Time: 2:30 p.m. Saturday
TV Channel: FS1
Online Streaming:
FoxSportsGOOdds: ILL -5.5, O/U 51.5
Quick Hits:
Illinois Fighting Illini (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Bret Bielema (6th season)
- 9-4 in 2025, 5-4 in conference
Last Game: Illinois 42, UAB 23
Duke Blue Devils (1-0, 0-0 ACC)
Head coach: Manny Diaz
- 9-5 in 2025, 6-2 ACC (ACC Champions)
Last Game: Duke 17, Tulane 3
What Happened the Last Time These Two Teams Played?
Sept. 6, 2025: Illinois 45, Duke 19
DURHAM, N.C. — It fell into his arms, the opportunity to swing momentum on a musty day at Wallace Wade Stadium. Tyler Strain looked on as Duke’s Que’Sean Brown was unable to catch a punt.
For a second, he paused, realizing the opportunity in front of him, and he jumped on it, putting Illinois
deep into Duke territory. The Florida native’s recovery would lead to the first Illinois touchdown of the day. Up until then, Illinois was sluggish on offense, struggling to muster hardly any momentum.
And while the recovery did not necessarily swing momentum in the game at the time, it was the first of a slew of Duke mistakes that Illinois would exploit in their 45-19 rout of Duke.
“Just to go on the road and have success and really in the second half to play the way we did at halftime, a lot of things happened there at the end,” Illinois head coach Bret Bielema said after the game. “Just really good teaching moments.”
The effort earned Illinois a rare road win against a power conference opponent outside of the Big Ten. Early on, it looked like Illinois’ history with these kinds of opponents would rear its ugly head with a 14-13 lead at half. But an offensive ramp-up, coupled with a defense and special teams that forced five turnovers, propelled Illinois to a win.
Quarterback Luke Altmyer completed 22 of 33 passes with 296 passing yards, throwing for three touchdowns. He and wide receiver Hank Beatty continued their mastery in the passing attack. Beatty finished the day with eight receptions for 128 yards and a touchdown.
“This was the first of many tests, but I think we handled it pretty well,” Beatty said.
In the second half, Illinois wide receiver Justin Bowick would catch his third touchdown of the season on a 4-yard pass. The 6-foot-4 wide receiver continues to get end zone targets early.
Star linebacker Gabe Jacas disrupted the game by bolting toward the Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, who managed to escape the pocket. In a heads-up effort, Jacas bypassed a Duke lineman and wrapped up Mensah for a forced fumble.
