SportsQuest
All games

Week 8, Fri, Oct 23, Time TBA local

Oregon Ducksat Illinois Fighting Illini

Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign. Fly into ORD.

Build the quest
Tickets on Ticket Squeeze

1,846 listed, from $29 each. Check the total at checkout.

The matchup

Oregon

3-2

Illinois

3-3

78% to winESPN's model22% to win
Form, ESPN's model and the stat leaders
Form

Illinois has won 2 of its last 5.

Oregon has won 3 of its last 5.

ESPN's model

ESPN's model gives Illinois a 22 percent chance at home.

Oregon

W34-27 vs BOISL39-31 @ OKSTW84-0 vs PRSTW41-27 @ USCL17-15 vs UCLA
  • Passing YardsD. Moore, 69/99, 926 YDS, 9 TD
  • Rushing YardsJ. Davison, 62 CAR, 301 YDS, 6 TD
  • Receiving YardsE. Stewart, 27 REC, 352 YDS, 4 TD

Illinois

L31-27 vs DUKEW48-10 vs SIUL42-19 @ OSUL24-17 vs PURW38-37 OT @ MSU
  • Passing YardsK. Houser, 122/184, 1,440 YDS, 12 TD, 4 INT
  • Rushing YardsA. Laughery, 62 CAR, 391 YDS, 1 TD
  • Receiving YardsC. Dixon, 47 REC, 608 YDS, 9 TD

Win chances come from ESPN's model.

What we know about Gies Memorial Stadium

Where visiting fans stay

From a specialist guide
  • Campustown. 15 to 20 min. Walk south about three quarters of a mile. Closest place to stay, with the student bars and cheap food of Green Street on the doorstep.
  • Downtown Champaign. 25 min. Walk about 1.2 miles, or ride the MTD game-day Tran-Sport route. Older bars and restaurants such as the Esquire Lounge, and the Illinois Terminal for Amtrak and Peoria Charter buses.
  • Main Quad and Urbana side of campus. 20 to 25 min. Walk about a mile southwest. Quieter, by the Alma Mater statue and Krannert Center. The Illini Union, at the north end of the Quad, has a hotel inside.

Around the stadium

From a specialist guide
Campustown, the bar and food strip on Green Street, sits about three quarters of a mile north of the stadium. Kams and The Red Lion are both on East Green Street.

Getting in from the airport

From a specialist guide
CMI Willard Airport sits about five miles south of downtown Champaign, with American Eagle flights to Chicago O'Hare and Dallas Fort Worth. For more flights, use Chicago O'Hare, about 135 miles north.

Getting to the stadium

Checked at the source
MTD Tran-Sport game-day route to Gies Memorial Stadium. Athletics lot shuttles. Stadium; pickup points are the white squares on the game-day parking map. Peoria Charter bus from O'Hare. Armory stop, 505 E. Armory Ave., or the Illinois Terminal downtown. Amtrak Illini or Saluki to Illinois Terminal, downtown Champaign.

Tailgating

Checked at the source
Grange Grove, on the west side of the stadium, is the main tailgate. There are no free walk-up spots: reserve a bring-your-own space, a full-service tent or a group tent through RevelXP before Tuesday of game week. It is open 7 AM to 10 PM on game day, with setup from 5 to 7 PM the night before. Tents up to 10 by 10 feet only, no vehicles, no open fires and no smoking. Lots open at 7 AM. One parking pass equals one space: tailgate right in front of or behind your car, and keep the driving aisles clear. No saving spaces with cones, ropes or flags. Fires and hot coals must stay in a grill, attended, at least 25 feet from people, tents and buildings. Keep a fire extinguisher at any tailgate with a live grill, and take used charcoal home. Ground fires are banned. RVs and motorhomes park in Lot 33 for $150 on game day. It opens at 6 PM the night before for overnight stays; Lot 33 is the only overnight option. Lot 44 is set aside for large group tailgates, by reservation only. Groups of 50 or more buy tickets first; tent size goes up with the number of tickets. RevelXP sells turnkey tailgates in Grange Grove, from 10 people with one 10 by 10 tent, a table, chairs and an iced cooler, up to 40-person packages with catering add-ons.

Getting in

Checked at the source
  • Bag policy: One clear bag per person: a clear tote up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a clear drawstring bag up to 12 x 12 inches, or a one-gallon clear storage bag, plus a small clutch up to 4.5 x 7 inches. All backpacks are banned. Diaper bags (with a child) and medical bags are allowed after inspection.
  • Cashless: Every concession stand is cashless. Alcohol sales stop at the start of the fourth quarter.
  • Re-entry and items: No re-entry once your ticket is scanned. No umbrellas, strollers, flags, signs, noisemakers or coolers. Sealed water bottles up to 20 ounces and empty bottles are fine, and there is no storage at the gates.
  • Game-day cash lots: Lots shown in orange on the parking map sell spaces on game day for $30. Teal lots sell spaces in advance for $30. Navy lots are pass only. Cars with trailers park in Lots 47 and 49 for $50.

After the final whistle

Checked at the source
The Fourth Street gate is exit only after the game. Illinois posts a postgame traffic flow map on its gameday page. If you parked in Lots 46, 47, 49, Vet Med or Research Park, the athletics shuttles run back to those lots after the game.

One thing to avoid

From a specialist guide
Don't bring a backpack: all backpacks are banned regardless of size, and there is no storage at the gates. Don't drive in without checking your lot's assigned route; from 2026 every lot has one, starting about 3.5 hours before kickoff.

Bars near the stadium

Checked at the source

  • Kams

    102 E Green Street, Champaign, IL 61820

    Kams calls itself the Home of the Drinking Illini. It sits on East Green Street in the middle of Campustown.

    Away fans: student crowd in orange and blue; go early and expect a line.

  • The Red Lion

    211 East Green Street, Champaign, IL 61820

    Big college bar on East Green Street, a short walk from the stadium.

    Away fans: student bar; busy on game nights.

  • Joe's Brewery

    706 S 5th St, Champaign, IL 61820

    College bar with drink specials, live music and themed nights. It opened at 10:30 AM for the Illinois and Ohio State game.

    Away fans: students; it opens early on big Illini game days.

  • Esquire Lounge

    106 N Walnut St, Champaign, IL 61820

    Downtown Champaign bar serving since 1975, known for its pineapple margarita, with TVs, live music and simple bar food.

    Away fans: mixed, older crowd; easier for visiting fans than the student bars.

Sidequests in Champaign

Listed in the order they happen. Each one earns points.

  1. Outing40 points

    Walk the Main Quad from the Illini Union

    The Illini Union, dedicated in 1941, marks the north end of the Main Quad. Walk the Quad through the heart of campus the day before the game.

    Free. The day before

  2. Photo50 points

    Photo with the Alma Mater

    Lorado Taft's bronze statue, dedicated in 1929 at Green and Wright Streets, greets visitors with open arms. Climbing up to sit on the throne is a campus tradition.

    Free. The day before

  3. Landmark40 points

    Krannert Center for the Performing Arts

    Max Abramovitz designed this 1969 arts center, which holds four theaters, a teak lobby floor from Thailand and marble from Carrara. Check for a show on Friday night.

    Free. The day before

  4. Eat75 points

    Deep dish at Papa Del's

    Champaign's thick-crust pizza spot serves the Original Sicilian Pan and the cheddar and mozzarella Super Stuffed pie, about a mile from the stadium.

    $$. 19 hours before kickoff

  5. Tailgate100 points

    Tailgate in Grange Grove

    The main Illini tailgate is on the west side of the stadium and opens at 7 AM. You need to reserve a space before Tuesday of game week, since there are no free walk-up spots.

    $$. 4 hours before kickoff

  6. Landmark50 points

    The memorial columns

    The stadium honors Illinois students who died in World War I, with their names carved on the columns around its facade. Red Grange scored five touchdowns against Michigan at its dedication in 1924.

    Free. 1 hour 40 minutes before kickoff

  7. Drink65 points

    A drink at Kams

    Self-styled Home of the Drinking Illini, it sits on Green Street in Campustown, about 0.8 mile north of the stadium.

    $. 3 hours 30 minutes after kickoff

  8. Drink50 points

    Pineapple margarita at the Esquire

    This downtown Champaign bar has been open since 1975 and is known for its pineapple margarita and a calmer crowd than Green Street.

    $. 4 hours after kickoff

Seats and views

Where each part of Gies Memorial Stadium sits, and what you see from it.

What kind of game day do you want?

Pick one and Scout shows you where to sit.

Main level, end zoneMain level, corner, home sideMain level, home sidelineMain level, corner, home sideMain level, end zoneMain level, corner, visitor sideMain level, visitor sidelineMain level, corner, visitor sideBalcony and Colonnades Club, end zoneBalcony and Colonnades Club, corner, home sideBalcony and Colonnades Club, home sidelineBalcony and Colonnades Club, corner, home sideBalcony and Colonnades Club, end zoneBalcony and Colonnades Club, corner, visitor sideBalcony and Colonnades Club, visitor sidelineBalcony and Colonnades Club, corner, visitor sideWest suites, end zoneWest suites, corner, home sideWest suites, home sidelineWest suites, corner, home sideWest suites, end zoneWest suites, corner, visitor sideWest suites, visitor sidelineWest suites, corner, visitor sideHomeVisitors
Main level101 to 137Balcony and Colonnades Club201 to 231West suites600, 700 and 800 level suitesTap any part of the stadium to see its view.