Saturday’s return to Autzen Stadium for the No. 1 Oregon football team against No. 20 Illinois will be the second ranked matchup in a row at the venue after the Ducks defeated No. 4 Ohio State two weeks ago.
Ahead of the game, Illinois head coach Bret Bielema spoke with media Monday about the matchup.
Illinois coach Bret Bielema complimentary of Oregon and coach Dan Lanning
Bielema was yet another coach that had nothing but praise for Oregon’s third-year coach during his weekly press conference.
The former Wisconsin and Arkansas coach said he met Lanning a few years ago and has only been impressed with what Lanning has done since.
“What you’ve seen him accomplish in his career already, he’s just a very bright and intelligent football coach who is very gifted and the background he shares being with Kirby (Smart) and Nick (Saban), you can see the accomplishments he has,” Bielema said.
Bret Bielema on playing No. 1 Oregon football
In his long coaching tenure, Bielema has played the No. 1-ranked team in the country many times. Whether it was Ohio State at Wisconsin or Alabama at Arkansas, Bielema is more than familiar with the ups and downs of trying to spring an upset on the road.
When asked about the opportunity to play No. 1 Oregon, Bielema said the prep doesn’t change, but that the Illini will bask in the chance on a big stage.
“For me, as a head coach, to ignore that would be silly,” Bielema said. “I think it’s an awesome thing. So we have to know that that’s the No. 1 team in the country and there’s a reason they’re No. 1. They’re a very good football team, they execute very, very well. But how we play is going to be in our hands and how we plan is in our preparation, that part doesn’t change very much.”
Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel ‘playing as good as anyone in the country’
During his lengthy opening statement, Bielema said that Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel was playing “as good as anyone in the country.”
Citing Gabriel’s story about looking up to fellow Hawaiian-born quarterback and former Duck Marcus Mariota before college, Bielema said Gabriel has only gotten more comfortable as the season has progressed.
“A guy that really gets rid of the ball, he’s been at a couple different spots, but he’s learned along the way and has made Oregon his home,” Bielema said. “When you’ve got a quarterback in that environment with a team around him, it’s always a challenge.”
The Ducks and Fighting Illini will kick off at 12:30 p.m. from Autzen Stadium Saturday.
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