Gabriel has 3 TD passes to lead No. 1 Oregon to a 38-9 rout of No. 20 Illinois

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) – Dillon Gabriel threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, and top-ranked Oregon defeated No. 20 Illinois 38-9 on Saturday to remain undefeated.

Gabriel finished 18 of 26 for 291 yards and Oregon racked up 527 yards of total offense. Tez Johnson caught six of Gabriel’s passes for 102 yards and a score.

The Ducks (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) haven’t started a season with eight straight wins since 2013. It was Oregon’s third win over a ranked team this season.

The Fighting Illini (6-2, 3-2) haven’t faced the nation’s top-ranked team since 2007, when they defeated Ohio State 28-21 on the road.

Luke Altmyer threw for 161 yards for Illinois, which came from a 21-7 win over No. 24 Michigan last weekend. That victory was the Illini’s third against a Top 25 opponent this season – the most for the team since 2007.

Oregon ignored Purdue Last weekend 35-0. But that’s what it was a 32-31 victory over then No. 2 Ohio State the week before, the Ducks boosted their first season in the Big Ten.

Gabriel, who emerged in the Heisman conversation, led the nation with a 77% completion rate. He has 18 passing touchdowns and five rushing scores.

Oregon scored on Gabriel’s 31-yard pass to Johnson on the team’s opening drive. With little defense, Gabriel had enough time to find Johnson.

Oregon scored on the next series when Justius Lowe caught Gabriel’s 34-yard pass and fell into the end zone. It was Lowe’s first TD of his career.

Davi Olano’s 38-yard field goal for Illinois made it 14-3.

Gabriel moved ahead of Timmy Chang (17,072) in the first half and was second on the NCAA passing yards list. Case Keenum is the record holder with 19,217.

Gabriel scored on a 7-yard keeper to make it 21-3 before Noah Whittington ran 18 yards up the middle, bringing down a defender, for another score.

Whittington caught a 2-yard TD to make it 35-3 at halftime.

Illinois reached the Oregon 2 to open the third quarter, but turned the ball over on downs with an incomplete pass. But later in the quarter, Ca’Lil Valentine’s touchdown run made it 35-9.

Andrew Boyle had a 44-yard field goal for the Ducks in the fourth quarter.

The last time Oregon played Illinois was in 1995, the first home game for then-Ducks coach Mike Bellotti. Ricky Whittle rushed for three touchdowns and Oregon won 34-31 after trailing at halftime.

Takeaways

Illinois: Illinois got involved in the loss. Receiver Malik Elzy had to be helped off the field by a pair of trainers late in the first half, but he remained on the sideline with his helmet on and eventually returned. Defender Kaleb Patterson also had to be helped off the field before halftime and did not return. Starting receiver Pat Bryant was hit hard twice in the fourth quarter and went to the locker room, but the nature of his injury was unclear.

Oregon: Tight end Terrance Ferguson was sidelined for the second straight week after undergoing an appendectomy. … Traeshon Holden played against Illinois after sitting out the Purdue game. Holden was ejected a week earlier against Ohio State for spitting on Buckeyes cornerback Davison Igbinosun. He later apologized on social media.

Illinois: Hosts Minnesota next Saturday.

Oregon: Visits Michigan next Saturday.

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