Game day preview Duke at Illinois; 2:30 p.m. Saturday (FS1)

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Sep. 12—Beat writer Scott Richey previews the Illini's showdown with Duke ahead of the kickoff at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign: Three major storylines

Don't forget about second down

Illinois' struggles getting off the field last week against UAB led to several extended drives for the Blazers. UAB's first two drives went for 10 and 12 plays, respectively, and the Blazers finished the game with four consecutive drives of at least 10 plays that generated two touchdowns and a field goal. Third down was clearly an issue for the Illini, but second down was often the culprit when a stop on first down gave way to a big pickup the next play.

"First down is the most played down in football, so it's a very important down," Illinois coach Bret Bielema said. "Everybody talks about third down, but third down is literally 15 percent of the game. Second down is the most forgotten down, and nobody talks about it. … It's such a huge factor in success offensively and defensively. Offensively, if you execute and have a manageable second down, that makes it easy. I think it was a second-and-9 where Katin (Houser) took off on the quarterback scramble, and you saw the effect that had on the drive. Second down and long, defensively, if you can keep them in third-and-long, it makes you a great defense."

Next man up worked at linebacker

Daniel Brown will likely miss his second straight game Saturday against Duke dealing with an undisclosed injury that sidelined the fifth-year linebacker for nearly all of Illinois' training camp. That leaves Mason Muragin and Ean Rhea to split snaps again this week. Muragin started against UAB, but the 6-foot-2, 240-pound fifth-year senior Rhea was effective off the bench with five tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack in the win against the Blazers.

"His first play of college at now two different institutions have both been sacks," Illinois outside linebackers coach Archie McDaniel said. Rhea, a Glade Spring, Va. native, was a Division II First Team All-American at Emory & Henry last season after racking up 50 tackles, 171/2 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

"He's a freaking sponge," McDaniel continued. "He's extremely smart, and of course, it's easy to see he's very, very talented. Some of those situations (against UAB), that was designed for him, and he went in there and he executed exactly how we wanted him to."

Still trying to establish wide receiver depth

Collin Dixon and Hudson Clement were targeted a combined 11 times by Houser in the season opener, with Dixon catching all six of his for 70 yards and two touchdowns. The low number of snaps the Illinois offense played meant offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. and wide receivers coach Justin Stepp could keep their top receivers on the field most of the game. Establishing some productive depth behind Dixon and Clement, though, is still a goal moving forward this season for Lunney and Stepp.

"We played 19 plays in the first half and then 44 for the game, so it was kind of one of those weird deals being able to get guys in," Stepp said. "There's guys that are working really hard I trust to put in there. The number of plays we had, it was hard to get a rotation. There's no redos on Saturday. That's what we talk about. For the longest time, I've said, 'Your reps create your reps.' Your reps throughout the week create your reps on Saturday. I've got to trust them to put them in — and Coach B. and Coach Lunney — but Katin Houser's got to trust them."

Two key matchups

Illinois defense vs. Duke running back Nate Sheppard

The Blue Devils' offensive intentions were obvious in their season opener against Tulane, a 17-3 victory at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, N.C. It was a game plan clearly built on giving Sheppard the ball — and then giving it to him again and again. The 5-10, 190-pound sophomore delivered with 35 carries for 227 yards and two touchdowns. A performance that should have raised the alarm at the Smith Center last Saturday given Illinois' Week 1 tackling issues. Slow down Sheppard, though, and you slow down Duke.

Illinois quarterback Katin Houser vs. Duke defense

Tulane managed three points against Duke after the Blue Devils bottled up the Green Wave run game. Tulane's quarterbacks were slightly more productive, but neither presented the challenge Houser can this weekend in Champaign. The East Carolina transfer completed 76 percent of his passes and threw for three touchdowns in his Illini debut, as the 6-3, 225-pound fifth-year senior quarterback finished 13 of 17 for 182 passing yards. He should be more effective against a Blue Devils secondary that had six pass breakups in Week 1.

One stat that matters

Will Holmes' three quarterback hurries in Illinois' season opener against UAB were as many — or more — than the Illini had in nine games as a team last season. Six total hurries putting Blazers quarterback Ryder Burton in jeopardy topped last fall's high (five at Duke) and stand as the most since the nine Illinois got on Northwestern in the 2024 regular-season finale at Wrigley Field. It's a small sample size, but Bobby Hauck's defense is generating more pressure.

Illinois will win if …

its defense can get off the field more consistently and give what could be a potent offense more opportunities. Houser and Co. managed to score 42 points despite getting just 44 snaps against UAB. Imagine what they could do if they had the ball a little more. Success on third down is paramount for the Illini after allowing the Blazers to convert 53 percent of their opportunities in Week 1. Not to mention their 75 percent success rate on fourth down.

Duke will win if …

quarterback Walker Eget can provide more of a complement to Sheppard in the run game. The Blue Devils made Eget operating as mostly a non-factor work last week against Tulane when he completed just 13 of 26 passes for 131 yards, but a one-dimensional offense isn't sustainable long term. Eget did throw for 5,555 yards in two years as a starter at San Jose State, but playing at the Power Four level is a different challenge.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos