# Preview & Picks: Illinois at No. 4 UCLA

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-11-12 04:40 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Undefeated No. 4 UCLA hosts Illinois at the Rose Bowl on Friday night in a key Big Ten matchup.

## Intelligence Brief
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.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| CBS Sports | Today's top games to watch, best bets, odds: No. 4 UCLA vs. Illinois, Knicks at Pacers and more | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxPUEM5RFFGbE4yempHWVFCWG1LbDlibHRFLXlDTjBFNWRzdlNjMmRxV1BwWDRPVUQwTGdOZjNkTHpIX1BaRHY0WXJYdzQ4OGV4a3l4XzcxemNUb3lDOVBqVXpDdEU3S0FWdThOSTZWLW1XSnppaUlkWmdMNVJXV2JfdndlM25uSnl6NWxIdl9tYUVKWTFYMjJ2NlI4eVBzTWpTbGdaRXFIOFQtU2NrSVZBdkZaZmxXSmtORUVWTVI3V3JMRGNFcndB?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | TST Best Bets: November 13, 2026 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMif0FVX3lxTE0wVXUxSVhDQ2Q1ZXdickZvM0dMLVBiTVZQcW1VRjlkdDVSTzZla1llcjN5bjVUdmd4Tk9oS2NOTDlMZjJFWkgzN1V2UUxDOFFFRGRObTJ1azNqNWpzcmRNWjFNcW93V1VKaTlXNC0tS2dsTjNVVXd3d1JaaUpxZjA?oc=5) |
| UCLA Bruins | Gameday Information – UCLA vs. Illinois | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigAFBVV95cUxOV2RkeEU4RXhTbTdXbUFZSk9sRV9GM0hVdnRweVhrYUhmekhveHJKa2NRWktGeFdJUGlEYVdpdnlUUTliSTZzX3Rpb2UxZnduQlM0Vy00ZGs4NGlYcDZPQm94NzU3aVQ4aXpEb3FCQ19FdFhhcFVqMjRSMlpuX0JWdQ?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | UCLA vs. Illinois prediction, odds, time: Week 11 college football Friday picks from proven model | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxQM0NxU1I3NlljYUdrRmJqc2JMOEs5aFA1aXEtR0lfdWZpYi1hUU9hcm5tamxKSDVjcWRBNlBaUU5DTV9CYVl6SWw1dEdoUWJNMUdWTlFGSWxMRW5EbDJoQVNKZzM4TVpyNXZMX1lnUVBmZTM3QUJXVS1KbTRGWWRUMFh4dG0wRnU2UTEyVTJtZXlfYnpSbnd3b1FOcTFSYV9yLWI2UXdjdlpVd2I0Y3BqT0IxalowNVM0eVFZanpnSQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Where To Watch UCLA Football vs. Illinois: TV, Radio, Announcers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxOaU5FYmI2WEFrX2tPYVBOSDhQVnhaY3hPZGZPdGxvZzEyUFJ4RExRd3FTYWpIZzJnNi01Uk5HdElPRmNLQlJtN3BWOFVSUTJpQWJYbUM0dG81cVVUaDgzaFBlSzRYa2dPSGFhank3cXpmTVhheG5panNWbjZOSWpYTGlTMA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | 3 UCLA Football Players To Watch Against Feisty Illinois | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxNVVNBZlNUU3daY3cxYnhEMnpjNzV0U0tkWWYzU29tYTdDVWZzLVQ3Q040eV95dHVka25PVHMwajdvUTFET0xUa3FQVzRVMFROMlJmTUJiUW9qTmc1QVdJTzFhNzktbUNTZmN2UXdiOWhlNDloaVRfSzlSS3ZWXzlySDhUSlA?oc=5) |
| Chicago Tribune | Illinois rides 4-game winning streak into showdown at Rose Bowl against unbeaten No. 4 UCLA | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxNOUdfbGhETEZGSFpWa0NwU0h0TzFOSUR2NENmcTVVRVV4ZWRDUDN0S1VQOVp2SkFPbHJ2TDFTUlUyQkN5bjBEY1JCcERvZzhEbmhWOEpSNHRfbmRBaDR6U3RXTkIySUdNZmVPOHFlTGt6LVhZZEZxNFNWa2VoT1VYY1pvZjluVkF6?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | 3 Matchups That Will Decide UCLA Football's Game Against Illinois | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxNRENvdzFHNkxXbkhYRHNDSEszdzZIeVZHelNDc1JKT0xQVi1lcDVsdlc3OGpxTFllYjhFR1lnZlJ2VWFkdy1jTWllb3YzZmQ4MmZfbmNmZGI0U2tCaVFKMU1TU3JNQzhCTXY1N182RlVjM1B3RzhTYUNTM01vaWFvWXJzTkFkaTR2?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | College football picks on Friday: Use Polymarket promo code CBSSPORTS, get $25 bonus for Illinois-UCLA, more | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi5AFBVV95cUxOLUtVYkE3b29rUUwwM2JfdTdoVVh4R2JaSW1pLXQ0S3I1VDlkQU9zLWt6QnZsbVZ6N0lfZW9qcm9sQndpc0dHZ3h3eXZCV2FzWTI5dGU0UGhWcDJKWEhZNGJTMUUwX0szZ2hRZktMbzdqVGp5bG9OeE1Nb1h4SkxOTEVTRUU3eTR3Qm5xcFJjOEVSbHVDZnU5azdRSGdkOUJrbmcxRUY3OHFOOF8zdUd3VGVXMzBadVhHTm5UcjVWaHo2QUdjNjFaeTFnN1lzOXlOd01ScmRTTWo0UkU2MWhWNjAtRzA?oc=5) |
| FOX Sports | UCLA vs. Illinois Prediction, Odds, Pick For College Football Week 11 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisgFBVV95cUxQSENXMXE2ZnY4Ri1BRk9CLS1HR2hDZUVsc0JUSzVnODJoTEtPbXF5VEtQNEZIOXphLTVGanJrQVhhZWhwN2dNcWp2cXVuV0l2TW42SVdFa252NTFTc3RIblV0eTJPOTg1VE9fWW9VRFY5eEpRUnFLYU9YQ3p5eTNSNVltQnF5LXpNVG5tbVFSbGhWV1gxckNWc3JleVNXaHFGXzRpUlZxU3h1SC1GY2ZYNFZB0gGyAUFVX3lxTFBVb2hNVzFXSWplRDk1WW02V2NIRE5nV3IyMENpcUhaQ0Z6U1llVUo4WVlMeUNXT2J4ZHluc0RQVmN6NTlXYWhfeno3NFdJMC14NmdIWWRqWmgyVTVBU2ZLZTN0RC1zQm8tazhWckhub1A4a29Oamo3ZEdxX0dlNjhGZUhyT2hBc2xyam4yZ2M5eTJUdzRRV3VKb1VaV3hud1d) |
| Yahoo Sports | Where to watch UCLA vs. Illinois today: Time, TV channel | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxPUzgwMVVQSFh6aTZ6b0ZXbThjNXBqSGRDRlBFRjlhTm5BeGVMYjd2dWpLcDl1NHZxR2F6aFg4OERPS1N6cGI0bFROU3JXWF96bUQyUkRNSnpQSkYxbUxjbkdQZE5KLTJJWm5DNFV6ZFNCQmxtZUtubXVtQXZvQ19XdnkzMA?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Illinois vs. No. 4 UCLA CFB picks, odds: Rainy weather could help Illini grab upset | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiuwFBVV95cUxOSERvelp6dnhlZUtTbms5d2trRE5fUURZQ2NTZEFIeUk1SDMtUngzSmNJS0dsS2VsZFBtLTRBZ0tRWERHZlNSY0d6TTJEcHIzS05uNXF3ZXROMFl6S19jdFRqN0lrMUZRaVZHUlI5MENwRC1jaEZJTDFMVzdLdXNsM0I0UkFzaEU2d2V4czBxSGpZblk2dWZRY2tIT1NoMTBmVzhiLS1fcWlFN3JzMG5uclJhM1ROTUNYa1Zv?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Illinois vs. UCLA odds: Use Polymarket promo code CBSSPORTS for $25 bonus on college football picks | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1gFBVV95cUxPU2xKajBVMVR3RFA4V3hwVVRaaEU4LUdmcHB5b3FsemhmUGluUy0zdVZPcHdJWW5tZjFPV0RTbnlPR29qNUJrbFhMbEFmekpnNEY1ZkFHc1E4VGZUaXQ1dUFUcFdfdVAtbmVqUk9QdWZvLVZSbFhEN25qUnJVRlFOVzZ6dFQyYXdiVW1JeldiajJwTEo2amhQc0l6dEM2eGYzamZmSVhfcjFDSkJXUmJneS1KMUx3bWM3ek9NMkdsaW5wTFIyZG1KWi1OOHhrRUpWenZub0JB?oc=5) |
| Sports Illustrated | 3 UCLA Football Players To Watch Against Feisty Illinois | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxOT3RUWHg2and3WGI3ZFFUZlY1dEd4TDRibDJyNVJpU0QwT2s0MGc1cGRuWEZzanQ3M0FfdHNmN1dfaTk1OS1iYU9ScU1WX1NrWUdxM2g0dkZSa2t5a3lRM3gyMTRiS1NGZUVkMEZlQ0tXdWxCN0hJcGlQbVh1bG1VSm9raDBVRTBabmU2M0YtYnM?oc=5) |
| Sports Illustrated | 3 Matchups That Will Decide UCLA Football’s Game Against Illinois | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMingFBVV95cUxPQkRCYU1QSEtjUGduT1J6aUdkUTRCR0U0SlhmS3ZFVzI1RnZLbU1PMjlsZlZxUGZCRGVNay1ZcWhSVl83QWd4WDBlbFZYSlpPeGdxZHF5OGRlZkhhMV83Q3F6UnYxWWtrVXN6ejBMcUR6TnozT0R4ellsd1FPdjNUUjhqTjlORnpRMXBYbFhramN4eEppN3ROTk03NmxzZw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoaiapps.com/trend/2026-11-12/preview-picks-illinois-at-no-4-ucla*