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Star Illinois Football Transfer Expected to Make Debut Against Oregon Ducks
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- Star Illinois Football Transfer Expected to Make Debut Against Oregon Ducks
Illinois football is scheduled to take on coach Dan Lanning's Oregon Ducks this coming Saturday at 3 p.m. ET at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign, giving coach Bret Bielema 's team a chance at a signature win.
The Fighting Illini will be without star quarterback Katin Houser , who broke his throwing hand in their Week 6 win over Michigan State, and will instead turn to Michael Clayton , a true freshman who looked good against the Spartans.
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Clayton is expected to have a new weapon at the wide receiver position when he takes the field, a former Florida Atlantic transfer who has impressed Bielema and his staff in practice.
Oct 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls wide receiver Jayshon Platt (3) returns a kick during the second half against the South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium. Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images
Bielema Shares Update on Platt's Progress
Bielema shared an update on Florida Atlantic transfer Jayshon Platt during the bye week, and it was a positive one for a player the Illinois coach has spoken fondly of since before the first week of the 2026 season.
Bielema said he would be "very shocked" if Platt doesn't play against the Ducks.
"Just had a really good practice, I thought last week (against Michigan State) he was gettin' really close, started off good and then the end of the week, just wasn't quite there, and then I brought him in," Bielema said according to Glenn Kinley of WCIA-3 Champaign.
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"But I would be very shocked if he doesn't (against Oregon)...But yeah, he looks good, and I think we're getting a little bit healthier at all positions."
Receivers a Bright Spot for Fighting Illini
Illinois' receiving corps has been one of the team's bright spots this season, starting with Collin Dixon, who led the nation in touchdown catches earlier in the season. Dixon now ranks 14th nationally in that category with nine receiving touchdowns, five behind national leader Jesse Legree of Oregon State and three behind Heisman Trophy contender Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State.
His teammate Hudson Clement has turned up the heat with over 65 yards in his last four games for the Fighting Illini, season highs in catches, yards and touchdowns against the Spartans in Week 6 (6 for 105 yards and a touchdown).
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Platt has the game-breaking speed to open up the field for the entire Fighting Illini offense and is coming off of a 46-catch, 720-yard, five touchdown season with the Owls that also included 36 rushing yards on three carries with one touchdown.
Platt is a versatile weapon who could make life easier on Clayton in his first start with the Illini, and he'll have plenty of help with Hudson and Dixon along for the ride, among others. How Illinois' defense handles the versatile, unpredictable offensive attack of Lanning's Ducks could determine whether or not Illinois plays Oregon close, or falls behind early, in Saturday's game in Champaign.
