⚡ CFB Dashboard

- Pick/market: @Illini_Guys VIDEO: #Illini OL coach Bart Miller ( @Coach_BMiller ) & WR coach Justin Stepp ( @coachjstepp ) both address issues ahead of this Saturday's matchup against Duke (2:30 p.m., FS1) & recap last...

- Illinois quarterback Katin Houser completed 13 of 17 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns and added 29 rushing yards and a score in the 42-23 win over UAB. - Ca'Lil Valentine rushed 11 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, while Collin Dixon established himself as Houser's lead target with six catches for 70 yards and two scores. - Illinois' offensive line protected Houser without allowing a sack and opened early rushing lanes despite four new starters, but its run push became inconsistent over the final three quarters. - Illinois allowed 189 rushing yards and four yards per carry, with missed tackles from the non-MIKE linebackers offset only partially by stronger fourth-quarter pressure. - Tywan Cox and Jakwon Morris split the No. 2 cornerback reps opposite Juice Clarke, while Matthew Bailey led the secondary with eight tackles.

- Illinois moved Jershaun Newton from quarterback to receiver in June after Alex Perry's likely season-ending shoulder nerve issue thinned an already inexperienced position group. - Freshman King Liggins has gained roughly 15 pounds to reach 300 and is competing with Carter Janki for backup nose-tackle snaps behind presumed starter Darrell Prater in the new one-gap 3-3-5. - Freshmen Javari Barnett and Nelsyn Wheeler appear to have passed John Forster and Cedric Wyche in the running-back rotation, although Ca'Lil Valentine, Aidan Laughery and Jordan Anderson remain the clear top three. - Early enrollee Will Vala has emerged as Illinois' clear fourth tight end behind Christian Abney, Kaden Feagin and Davin Stoffel and could earn limited freshman snaps if the offense again uses four players at the position. - Josh Lorick is practicing in full pads while Illinois awaits an eligibility ruling tied to the fifth-season court injunction, with the program expecting clarity within roughly a week.

- Illinois' new 3-3-5 asks its off-ball linebackers to read clear or cloudy space like running backs, attack open gaps and stay patient at depth when the path is blocked. - James Kreutz and Ismael Kante are taking first-team linebacker reps, while Robert Edmonson and Grant Beerman have been limited and the staff still considers the largely inexperienced depth chart open. - Cornerback Tywan Cox has returned from last year's season-ending shoulder injury with 15-20 pounds of added strength and is competing with Nick Hankins Jr. and RJ Jones III for a two-deep role. - Freshman receiver Nas Rankin is back in limited work after offseason leg surgery but must catch up schematically as Illinois evaluates which young receivers can join its four established veterans and Brayden Trimble in the rotation. - Jayshon Platt appears set to return punts, but the punting competition remains inconsistent while Ethan Moczulski and Lucas Osada each made kicks from roughly 35, 42 and 45 yards before missing from 55.