Illinois Faces Road Test at Duke, Needs Clock Control for Victory
DURHAM, N.C. – The Illinois Fighting Illini travel to Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6,for an 11 a.m. CT matchup against the Duke Blue Devils in Week 2 of the collage football season. Coming off a dominant Week 1, Illinois (1-0) aims to secure a key early-season road win against a Duke team (1-0) riding high on a recent home-field advantage.The game will air on ESPN.
Illinois’ success hinges on managing the game effectively and avoiding a shootout, according to a scouting report. The illini, returning 18 starters from last year’s 10-win Citrus Bowl championship squad, including quarterback Luke Altmyer, must leverage their experience and a balanced offensive attack to control the clock.Duke’s transfer quarterback, Darian Mensah, presents an early challenge. Mensah threw for 389 yards in his Blue Devils debut against Elon. Illinois will need to adjust defensively and capitalize on potential turnovers or special teams plays to secure the victory.
Key to Victory for Illinois: The Illini need to establish a consistent running game and utilize short passes to keep Duke’s offense off the field. Their experienced offensive line and Altmyer’s ability to orchestrate game-winning drives – he has five career game-winning drives, including three last season – will be crucial.
Duke boasts a potent passing attack led by Mensah and a strong home record, going 17-3 at Wallace Wade Stadium since the start of the 2022 season. Illinois’ defense must contain Mensah and his receiving corps, featuring transfers Andrel Anthony (Oklahoma) and Cooper Barkate (Harvard), alongside returnee Que’Sean Brown.
Score Prediction: Illinois 27, Duke 24.
