Kansas football vs Illinois: Scouting report, prediction for Jayhawks’ road game

LAWRENCE — Kansas football will attempt to start its 2024 season with back-to-back wins Saturday, when it faces Illinois.

The No. 20 Jayhawks (1-0) are going up against a Fighting Illini (1-0) squad that’s looking to do that same. While Kansas topped Lindenwood, Illinois topped Eastern Illinois. Although the Jayhawks beat the Fighting Illini last year 34-23, in Lawrence, this game is taking place in Champaign, Illinois.

What things are Kansas’ coaches considering as they prepare for this matchup? What do the Jayhawks need to do in order to remain undefeated this season? Before the 6 p.m. (CT) scheduled kickoff, check out this scouting report and prediction for the game:

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Lance Leipold previews Illinois

Leipold described Illinois as a Big Ten Conference team that’s improved a lot from last year, and highlighted the Fighting Illini’s starting quarterback — junior Luke Altmyer — is back for his second season as Illinois’ starter. Leipold’s well aware the Fighting Illini have a big, lead running back. Leipold anticipates a much-improved offensive line, especially because of the transfers Illinois brought in ahead of the season.

Jeff Grimes highlights what Illinois is capable of

Although Jeff Grimes wasn’t with Kansas last season when the Jayhawks defeated Illinois, and he doesn’t want to spend too much time dwelling not the past, he does think lessons can be learned from the matchup. One of those, is the reality the Fighting Illini are going to be motivated for this rematch. So, Grimes, the Jayhawks’ assistant head coach/offensive coordinator, wants to make sure his team is motivated as well.

Grimes described Illinois as playing an aggressive style of football. He outlined that the vast majority of the time, the Fighting Illini are going to have five players up on the line of scrimmage and test the offensive line. He thinks they disguise their coverage as well as anyone he’s ever competed against.

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Brian Borland, Kansas’ defensive coordinator, mentioned Illinois addressed an area of need — the offensive line. It’s something that played out when the Fighting Illini topped Eastern Illinois, and something that will be a test to see where the Jayhawks are defensively at this point in the season. Keep an eye on Illinois’ top running back, too.

Kansas players scout out Illinois

Kansas redshirt junior running back Sevion Morrison outlined that while Illinois might have lost some significant talent from last season, it’s still an aggressive group with a sound scheme. When Morrison references the Fighting Illini’s scheme, he’s highlighting how well the secondary disguises things and how well the defensive line can play.

Kansas redshirt junior defensive tackle D.J. Withers mentioned how physical Illinois is, when asked about Illinois. Last year Kansas jumped out to a fast start against the Fighting Illini, so Withers knows his Jayhawks can’t allow that to happen Saturday.

Kansas senior offensive lineman Michael Ford Jr. recalled Illinois was a physical group last year, that was well-coached. He anticipates the Fighting Illini being a group that’s going to try to stop the run.

Prediction: Kansas 40, Illinois 24

Kansas won’t be able to coast to a victory in the same way it did last year, but that doesn’t mean it’ll lose. The Jayhawks have the more talented roster, and are poised for more success this fall. Things may be competitive at the start, but they’ll find their way on the way to a win.

Jordan Guskey covers the University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas football vs Illinois: Scouting report, prediction for Jayhawks’ road game