Top-seeded Oregon and Heisman hopeful QB Dillon Gabriel is home run at No. 20 Illinois

No. 20 Illinois (6-1, 3-1 Big Ten) at No. 1 Oregon (7-0, 4-0) Saturday at 3:30 PM ET (CBS).

BetMGM College Football Odds: Oregon 21 1/2.

Series History: Oregon leads 2-1.

What’s at stake?

Oregon is ranked No. 1 in the current AP Top 25 rankings, marking the first time the team has been at the top of the rankings since 2012. The Ducks are one of only 10 teams in the country to remain undefeated. Oregon is coming off a 35-0 win at Purdue last weekend, making its first road trip since 1992. Illinois is coming off a 21-7 victory over then-No. 24 Michigan. This was the team’s first qualifying win at home since 1991. This will be Illinois’ first game against a top-ranked team in the country since the Fighting Illini won at Ohio State in 2007. Rose Bowl.

Key Match

Illinois QB Luke Altmyer has 15 touchdown passes this season and just one interception for the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the Power Four. He is completing 65.9% of his passes and may be the biggest factor in the Illini’s chances. Oregon has allowed just four passing touchdowns and is holding teams to 175.6 passing yards per game. Overall, the Ducks rank 15th nationally in total defense.

Players to Watch

Illinois: LB Gabe Jacas had 13 tackles, including six solo tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the team’s victory over Michigan. He ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 5.5 sacks this season and has 42 total tackles this season, including 7.5 for loss.

Oregon: QB Dillon Gabriel returned to the Heisman conversation with his performance during Big Ten play. He leads the nation with a 77.0 completion percentage and is the only QB at the FBS level above 75%. He is averaging 297.2 passing yards per game, including 15 passing touchdowns and four rushing scores.

Facts and Figures

The Ducks have 12 straight wins at home. They won 7-0 at Autzen Stadium last season. … This is Illinois’ first regular-season trip to the West Coast state since visiting Washington in 2014. … The Illini have posted three wins over an AP Top 25 team for the third time in program history. Overall, Illinois is 3-1 against ranked teams this season. … . Oregon’s Tez Johnson leads the Ducks with 536 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. … Illinois has been ranked for six consecutive weeks, the highest number since 2007. … Gabriel has 140 career touchdown passes and needs just three more to pass Kellen Moore for No. 2 on the NCAA’s all-time list.