Dante Moore is officially OUT for the Oregon Ducks’ Week 8 showdown against the Illinois Fighting Illini, but if you thought that was the only gut punch for the Ducks, you haven’t seen the full availability report. As college football hits the back half of its grueling schedule, availability truly is becoming the best ability, and Oregon is feeling the pain with a long list of key players missing time.
Oregon’s Depth Taking a Major Hit
Moore’s absence at quarterback is a huge blow, no doubt. But the Ducks are battling more than just their signal-caller being sidelined. The first Big Ten Availability report, released Wednesday evening, confirmed a slew of big-name players are also ruled OUT for Saturday’s game. This isn’t just a few backups. We’re talking about wide receivers Evan Stewart and Jeremiah McClellan, safety Aaron Flowers, defensive lineman Matthew Johnson, offensive linemen Trent Ferguson and Immanuel Iheanacho, and linebacker Brayden Platt. That is a brutal list of talent to be without, especially as the season gets more and more taxing. How do you replace that kind of production and experience when you need it most?
Illinois Has Its Own Injury Battles Ahead
While all eyes are on Oregon’s struggles, the Illinois Fighting Illini aren’t exactly coming into this game at full strength either. They’ve got their own significant list of players ruled OUT, including quarterback Katin Houser and running back Ca’Lil Valentine. Add to that linebacker Kayden Bennett, defensive linemen Carter Smith, Demetrius John, and TJ McMillen, offensive lineman Kai Pritchard, and tight end BJ Thurman. That’s a ton of firepower missing for Illinois. On top of that, wide receiver Jayshon Platt and offensive linemen CHamp Smith and Dezmond Schuster are all listed as Questionable, making their availability a game-time decision.
It’s clear both teams are limping into this Week 8 matchup. The final availability report for both teams will drop two hours before kickoff on Saturday. Until then, both coaching staffs are surely scrambling to adjust their game plans. This is a chance for some new faces to step up, but it definitely makes an already tough college football season even harder to navigate for both the Ducks and the Illini.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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