Illinois defense seeks improvement during bye week before facing Oregon

Illinois (3-3, 1-2 Big Ten) is on a bye week ahead of its matchup against Oregon. Interim defensive coordinator Roger Cooper described the break as a reset for the defense, emphasizing the need to limit explosive plays and create turnovers. After a lackluster performance against Michigan State, Cooper and head coach Bret Bielema hope to build on recent improvements. The Illini defense aims to implement new strategies learned from Cooper's previous experience, addressing issues like missed tackles that can lead to big plays. The team will host Oregon on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Gies Memorial Stadium.

• 9:35 PMYahoo Sports — Bye-week allows more intentionality for Illinois defense