Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Devin Sanchez (6) tackles Illinois Preventing Illini vast receiver Collin Dixon (17) through the second half of the NCAA soccer sport at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Oct. 11, 2025. Ohio State received 34-16. Large Ten Convention counterparts Washington and No. 23 Illinois will meet on Saturday in Seattle for what might be a pivotal matchup in ending out their respective seasons.
Every crew is available in off a league loss, although Illinois (5-2, 2-2) returns to motion from a much-needed bye week.
The Illini had a possibility to heal some accidents following their 34-16 loss to top-ranked Ohio State on Oct. 11, together with having main rusher Kaden Feagin prepared for Week 9.
Feagin, who has 338 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season, sustained a sprained AC joint within the Ohio State loss. His working again counterpart Ca’Lil Valentine, coach Bret Bielema mentioned, may also be prepared after taking a while off within the earlier week to get better from an undisclosed harm.
Illinois has handled loads of important accidents by the primary half of the marketing campaign, most notably the lack of 2024 All-Large Ten defensive again Xavier Scott. His absence looms for an Illini go protection that ranks No. 95 nationally with 240 yards allowed per sport and solely two interceptions towards 12 touchdowns allowed.
Washington (5-2, 2-2) has handed with some success in 2025, rating No. 32 nationally at 269.6 yards per sport. Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. has thrown for 10 touchdowns in seven video games, with the dual-threat signal-caller contributing to a multifaceted dashing assault on the core of the Huskies’ offense.
Williams has 4 dashing scores to complement Jonah Coleman’s 12, with Adam Mohammed including two. In 5 wins, the Huskies are dashing for 214.4 yards per sport.
In losses, nonetheless, Washington has averaged solely 50.5 dashing yards after netting simply 40 in final week’s 24-7 loss to Michigan. The midseason harm bug has examined the Huskies’ efforts to mount a floor assault.
“Once you lose your beginning left deal with (Carver Willis, knee), you lose your beginning left guard (John Mills, undisclosed) and also you lose your beginning vast tight finish (Quentin Moore, undisclosed), then you definitely lose your backup left deal with (Maximus McCree, undisclosed), there are some challenges working the soccer,” Washington coach Jedd Fisch mentioned on Monday.
Exterior of a disastrous Sept. 20 loss at Indiana, the Illinois protection has been strong towards the run, holding opponents to 151 yards or fewer in its different six video games.
Persevering with on that tempo might be central to an Illini highway win at Washington. So, too, could be dealing with the circumstances at Husky Stadium.
The famed venue, the place rain is predicted on Saturday, has a status as one of many loudest in school soccer, Bielema mentioned.
“Ever since I have been in school teaching, all people’s talked about Husky Stadium,” he mentioned. “And never simply the stadium itself, however the followers and the best way they make that place electrical. We’ll should do some crowd-noise preparation this week.”
Saturday marks the primary assembly between the 2 packages as counterparts within the Large Ten, and the primary matchup of any type since a 44-19 Huskies win in 2014. Washington has received 4 straight within the collection, with the final Illinois win coming within the 1964 Rose Bowl Recreation.
–Subject Degree Media
