Oregon has 3 quarterbacks who could start Saturday. Illinois has a freshman who's never started before

The Oregon Ducks are set to face Illinois on Saturday, a team whose quarterback situation is even less desirable than Oregon's own. Illinois quarterback Katin Houser has suffered a broken hand and is sidelined for four to six weeks, making freshman Michael Clayton II the starter for the first time. Clayton, who never started before, will try to make his mark against the Ducks, who have been without their starter, Dante Moore, who suffered a concussion.

While Oregon has junior Dylan Raiola and senior Brock Thomas as backups, Illinois has no one else to rely on besides Clayton. Illinois head coach Bret Bielema is optimistic about Clayton's chances, as he received valuable practice time with the staff working on player development. Bielema hopes that the next starting quarterback at Illinois will come from within the program.

Oregon coach Dan Lanning acknowledges the difficulty in scouting Clayton due to his limited playing experience. However, Lanning believes that Clayton will be more prepared for the upcoming game against Illinois after missing the bye week. The Ducks will focus on Illinois' system and adapt accordingly.