Illinois Fighting Illini at Maryland Terrapins

Injuries noted

Illinois Fighting Illini: Jayshon Platt (out) — WR #1 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Katin Houser (questionable) — QB #4 listed Questionable on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Ca'Lil Valentine (out) — RB #5 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Tywan Cox (out) — DB #32 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Grant Beerman (out) — LB #33 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Carter Smith (out) — DL #48 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Kai Pritchard (out) — OL #53 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Demetrius John (out) — DL #54 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; TJ McMillen (out) — OL #55 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; BJ Thurman (out) — TE #87 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report

Maryland Terrapins: Zahir Mathis (out) — LB #9 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Ryan Manning (probable) — WR #11 listed Probable on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Josiah Teasley (out) — WR #18 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; DJ Samuels (out) — RB #20 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Sean Williams (out) — WR #21 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Jordan Williams (out) — LB #23 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Harry Dalton III (out) — RB #25 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Keyari James (probable) — LB #35 listed Probable on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Trevor Szymanski (out) — OL #50 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Delmar White (probable) — DL #90 listed Probable on the Big Ten Update 2 report; Jayvon Parker (questionable) — DL #97 listed Questionable on the Big Ten Update 2 report

QUARTERBACK

• Michael Clayton II is ILL's projected starter

  5.88 Y/A

  Michael Clayton II is ILL's projected starting quarterback. News-Gazette (Oct 30) names freshman Michael Clayton II as the replacement for Katin Houser (broken right hand, Oct 10 at Michigan State), with Carson Boyd as the backup. SB Nation/Yahoo (Oct 30) says Houser is out. IlliniGuys (Oct 30) says Houser was upgraded from doubtful to questionable on the league availability report and traveled to Maryland. No opened dated team statement confirms Clayton as the starter. Clayton started the last game, a 21-10 win over Oregon, going 11 of 18 for 84 yards and 2 TD, and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week. No injury in that game or limited practice this week was reported for Clayton. 2026 line: 147 passing yards, 64.0% completions, 5.88 yards per attempt, 3-0 TD-INT over 2 games.

• Malik Washington is MD's projected starter

  6.21 Y/A

  Malik Washington is MD's projected starting quarterback. The SB Nation/Yahoo preview (Oct 30) and SI (Oct 29) discuss Washington as Maryland's quarterback for the Illinois game. Neither cites a team statement, release or depth chart saying he starts. No injury in the last game or limited practice this week was found for him. 2026 line: 1615 passing yards, 59.6% completions, 6.21 yards per attempt, 9-6 TD-INT over 7 games.

TURNOVERS

• MD: 1.43 takeaways per game to ILL's 0.57

  0.86 TO

  Maryland forces 1.43 takeaways a game across 7 games, while Illinois forces 0.57 across 7. Turnover rates move around more than most defensive numbers. Maryland is the defense more likely to flip field position in this one, so Illinois ball security on the road matters.

MISMATCH

• ILL: 25.3 points allowed a game to MD's 33.3

  25.3 VS 33.3

  The widest gap between these two is points allowed a game: ILL's defense allowed 25.3 points a game over 7 games; MD's defense allowed 33.3 points a game over 7 games this season. Last season ILL was at 23.6 over 13 games and MD at 26.5 over 12 games.

REPLACEMENT

• Jayshon Platt (WR) is out for ILL

  OUT

  WR #1 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Ca'Lil Valentine (RB) is out for ILL

  OUT

  RB #5 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Tywan Cox (DB) is out for ILL

  OUT

  DB #32 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Grant Beerman (LB) is out for ILL

  OUT

  LB #33 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Carter Smith (DL) is out for ILL

  OUT

  DL #48 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Kai Pritchard (OL) is out for ILL

  OUT

  OL #53 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Demetrius John (DL) is out for ILL

  OUT

  DL #54 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• TJ McMillen (OL) is out for ILL

  OUT

  OL #55 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• BJ Thurman (TE) is out for ILL

  OUT

  TE #87 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Zahir Mathis (LB) is out for MD

  OUT

  LB #9 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Josiah Teasley (WR) is out for MD

  OUT

  WR #18 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• DJ Samuels (RB) is out for MD

  OUT

  RB #20 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Sean Williams (WR) is out for MD

  OUT

  WR #21 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Jordan Williams (LB) is out for MD

  OUT

  LB #23 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Harry Dalton III (RB) is out for MD

  OUT

  RB #25 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

• Trevor Szymanski (OL) is out for MD

  OUT

  OL #50 listed Out on the Big Ten Update 2 report Big Ten availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 19:00:00 CT) (2026-10-30)

SITUATIONAL

• MD has 7 more days of rest

  7d vs 14d

  Maryland is at home off a bye with 14 days of rest, and Illinois comes in on a normal 7. The bye week gives Maryland time to heal and tailor its plan to Illinois. Rest and home field both lean Maryland, so check whether the line already gives them credit for both before treating it as an edge.

TEAM RECORD

• Big Ten game: ILL 2-2, MD 0-4 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the Big Ten. ILL is 2-2 against it, MD is 0-4. 2026 standings through 2026-10-31.