Preview & Picks: Illinois at No. 4 UCLA

The undefeated UCLA Bruins (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) host the Illinois Fighting Illini (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) in a Big Ten contest at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, Calif. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT on FOX, according to UCLA Bruins. A Bruins win would tie the program single-season record for wins in a season with 10. UCLA enters the game ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press poll, which is their highest ranking since Week 8 of the 2001 season. Bob Chesney is the first UCLA head coach in program history to start his tenure in Westwood with a 9-0 record.

Last week, UCLA secured a 34-20 road win at Minnesota, improving to 9-0 for the fourth time in program history. Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach completed 8 of 16 passes for a career-high 303 yards and three touchdowns, earning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors. UCLA's fifth-year running back Wayne Knight leads the Big Ten in rushing yards per game at 87.7, total touchdowns with 15, rushing touchdowns with 13, and total points scored with 90. Knight has scored a touchdown in nine straight games, matching a single-season streak set by Paul Cameron in 1953, and a score against Illinois would set a program record of 10 straight games.

The Los Angeles Daily News reported that UCLA's injury report lists quarterback Nico Iamaleava, wide receiver Mikey Matthews, wide receiver Jonah Smith, offensive lineman Sam Yoon, edge rusher Ryan McCulloch, defensive lineman Ashton Sanders, punter Curtis Gerrand, wide receiver Jalen Saint Paul, and Hall Schmidt as out, with offensive lineman Riley Robell listed as questionable. Illinois' injury report lists running back Ca'Lil Valentine, quarterback Michael Clayton II, running back Javari Barnett, defensive back Tywan Cox, linebacker Grant Beerman, defensive lineman Carter Smith, offensive lineman Kai Pritchard, and offensive lineman TJ McMillen as out, with wide receiver Jayshon Platt doubtful, and defensive back RJ Jones, defensive back Jacob Eberhart, defensive lineman Will Holmes, defensive lineman Demetrius John, offensive lineman Jake Renfro, and tight end BJ Thurman questionable.

This Friday's contest marks the 13th all-time meeting between UCLA and Illinois. The two teams are tied 6-6 in the all-time series dating back to the 1947 Rose Bowl Game, and are meeting for the first time since the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, which Illinois won 20-14. The Los Angeles Daily News predicted a final score of UCLA 27, Illinois 13.