Duke Is Getting Another Crack At Illinois Because Duke Is Opposing Illinois Saturday In Champaign Illinois
In 2025 season Duke lost to Illinois by score of 45-19 on September 6, 2025 in Durham!
The reason why Duke lost to then 11th ranked Illinois 45-19 in Durham was because Duke lost four fumbles Darian Mensah who is now quarterback of Miami threw an interception.
While Duke was busy making mistakes Illinois was busy converting Duke’s fumbles Darian Mensah’s interception into points!
In the 1st quarter Kaden Fegain ran for 1 yard run , David Olano kicked made extra point giving Illinois a 7-3 lead before Illinois extended that lead to 14-6 in 2nd quarter as Cole Rusk caught 8 yard pass from Luke Altmyer David Olano kicked, made extra point. In the 3rd quarter Justin Bowick caught 4 yard pass from Luke Altmyer, David Olano kicked made extra point extending Illinois lead over Duke this time 21-13 before Hank Beatty ran for 25 yard touchdown, David Olano kicked, made extra point extending Illinois lead over Duke yet again this time, 28-13. In 4th quarter David Olano would kick 35 yard field goal extending Illinois lead over Duke yet again this time, 31-19 before Collin Dixon would catch 2 yard pass from Luke Almyer David Olano would kick, make extra point before Illinois would yet again extend their lead over Duke this time 45-19 as Ca’ Lil Valentine would run for 23 yard touchdown , David Olano would kick, make extra point.
According to espn app
Following Duke’s 45 - 19 loss to 11th ranked Illinois Saturday wide receiver Andrel Anthony had this to say!
You take the good from that and carry that on, then you take the bad and fix it,”
It’s a long season.”
Following Duke’s 45 - 19 loss to 11th ranked Illinois Saturday Head Coach Manny Diaz had this to say about the difference between Duke, Illinois his teams mistakes!
I know for a fact there’s not that much separation between the two teams, and it’s a great lesson for us on our journey as to where we need to get to,”
“We were the architects,It felt like trying to do too much,”I had to think of our turnovers, the game is decided on six or seven plays — holding onto a ball too long, not throwing it away or scrambling or whatever, and doing extra things, fighting for extra yards, all with good intentions.”“We’ve got to look at this as some painful lessons today of what it takes to win big-time football games.” “All that being said, I think there’s enough evidence over the course of the 60 minutes that this is a really good football team. Some of the things we were able to do on both sides of the ball against a really good football team should give us a lot of reason to stick together and get it corrected.”
According to Luke Decock, Chip Alexander’s News & Observer articles https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article311999940.htmlhttps://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article311928974.html
Duke is getting another crack at Illinois because they opposing Illinois in Champaign Illinois Saturday afternoon.
Before gets another crack at Illinois Chip Alexander who took over covering Duke for News & Observer from Stephen Wiseman when he was promoted to Sports Editor on May 12, 2025 wrote an article titled How much has Duke’s defense improved? The next test at Illinois where he talks about how Duke defensively has improved.
Ahead of Duke , Tulane game what turned into 17-3 win over Tulane for Duke on Saturday September 5, 2026 Manny Diaz stated the defense has a different feel . There is a bite . there’s an urgency about them but you’ve got to go out there and do it
Though,
Duke Head Coach Manny Diaz wasn’t the only one to share his thoughts as Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Patke did as well by saying I thought our guys prepared with an edge played with an edge.
According to Chip Alexander News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article317150607.html
Duke is a member of Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the game with Illinois with record kicked off the 2025 season with 17-3 win over Tulane on Saturday September 5, 2026 because Duke’s defense held Tulane to 3 point points.
Those 3 points came in 4th quarter on a Jackson Courville 37 yard field goal!
Nate Sheppard who is a sophomore who is a running back scored two touchdowns had 35 carries for 227 yards , 2 touchdowns
Nate Sheppard’s first touchdown came on a 9 yard run in first quarter before Cosme Salas kicked, made extra point putting Duke ahead 7-0. In the 4th quarter Nate Sheppard ran for 14 yards Cosme Salas kicked, made extra point.
Though,
Before Duke’s defense could hold Tulane to three points Nate Sheppard would provide all the offense for Duke mother nature took over as their was thunderstorms lightning in the area in Durham that had the game originally scheduled to kickoff at 3:30pm in delay though they finally kicked off.
Following Duke’s defense Nate Sheppard’s offense helped Duke beat Tulane 17-3 Saturday to open 2026 season in Durham Head Coach Manny Diaz shared his thoughts by saying For them to put together a plan to stop him unable to stop him is a sign of a great player.
According to Chip Alexander News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article317145796.html
Illinois comes into the game with record of 1-0 like Duke because they kicked off the 2026 season with 42-23 win over UAB on Thursday September 3, 2026 in Champaign Illinois. In the 1st quarter Collin Dixon who is a wide receiver caught pass from Katlin Houser, Ethan Moczulski kicked, made the extra point giving Illinois a 7-0 lead before Cal Lil Valentine who is a running back ran for 51 yard touchdown , Ethan Mozulski kicked made extra extending Illinois lead over UAB 14-3 . In the third quarter Ty Robinson who is wide receiver caught 54 yard pass from Katlin Hauser, Ethan Moczulski kicked, made extra point going 21-13 after Roderick Robinson II caught 10 yard pass from Ryder Burton getting UAB within 14-13 before Illinois would score two touchdowns. The first touchdown Ty Robinson would 54 yard pass from Katin Houser Ethan MocZulkski would kick, make extra point to go up 21-13 . In the 3rd quarter Collin Dixon caught 14 yard pass from Katin Hauser, Ethan Moczulski extending Illinois lead 28-13 before UAB would get on scoreboard yet again with Jonah Delange 35 yard field goal. In 4th quarter Illinois would score two more touchdowns Ismael Kante who is a linebacker would have an interception return Ethan Moczulski would kick, make extra point making 42-16 Illinois before UAB would get the final points of the game as Ryder Burton would run for 5 yard touchdown, Jonah Delange would kick, make extra point
Following Illinois 42-23 win over UAB Head Coach Bret Bielema shared his on quarterback Katin Houser by saying I thought Katlin had a 50 yard arm . I think he surprised some people there.
According to article on ESPN App
Kickoff is set for 3:30pm from Gies Memorial Stadium!
The game is going to be televised on FS1 with Jack Kizer, Mark Helfrich commentating!
Jack is a freelance play-by-play broadcaster with experience calling games for Big Ten Network, the University of Louisville, and other Division I schools.
Jack has broadcasted various sports for BTN including football, men's/women's basketball, baseball, softball, lacrosse, men's/women's soccer, field hockey, and gymnastics. Jack is also currently the TV voice of Louisville Baseball on ACC Network Extra and Bellarmine basketball on ESPN+.
Other recent opportunities for Jack include filling in as a radio host/sideline reporter for the Indiana Pacers along with calling games for the Indiana Mad Ants (G-League), Indy Eleven (USL Professional Soccer), Indy Ignite (Pro Volleyball Federation), and on radio for the Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A Affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates).
Jack served as the the No. 2 broadcaster and media relations assistant for the Dayton Dragons (High-A Affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds) in the summer of 2021 after graduating from Ball State University in May of 2020.
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My broadcasting journey (Carmel, IN native) began at Carmel High School's student radio station, WHJE, in 2014. I officially caught the broadcasting bug and found my passion. My new dream led me to Sports Link, an immersive learning program at Ball State University. While at Ball State, I was fortunate to create many new friendships while gaining phenomenal sports media experience.
I'm blessed with an amazing wife, daughter, and two dogs - Winnie and Moose. Believe it or not, I enjoy watching sports in my free time and visiting family. While I don't play often, my hidden talent is ping-pong. I strongly believe I could challenge Forrest Gump.
A career counselor once called me a sports neurotic, and I've embraced it ever since. I'm very fortunate to have found my passion and am excited for what the future holds.
Mark Helfrich was fired as Head Coach of Oregon in 2017 when Oregon 4-8 on the season.
At the time of being fired Mark Helfrich shared his thoughts by saying "It is a great honor to have served as the head football coach at the University of Oregon," Helfrich said in the release. "It is with respect and disappointment that we receive this decision. Plain and simple — we didn't win enough games this season. Thank you first to my wife, Megan, and our family, the fans, the campus community, the board, our donors and administration. To our coaches, staff and their families, it is impossible to communicate my gratitude for the environment we got to work in every single day. Finally, to the players — thank you, and I love you. The future is bright for this young, talented team, and we will be supporting them and their new leadership.”
According to Fox Sports article https://amp.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/oregon-fires-head-coach-mark-helfrich-after-fou