Oregon kicker Gage Hurych named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after Nebraska win

Oregon kicker Gage Hurych was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday. He made all three of his field goal tries in the Ducks' 17-14 win over Nebraska, and he is the first Oregon player to pick up a conference weekly award this season.

According to University of Oregon Athletics, Hurych hit from 36, 36 and 37 yards, which added up to nine of Oregon's 17 points. Ducks Wire reported that all three kicks came in the second half, the stretch where a game that close was decided. The junior from West Linn is in his first season as the starter. Ducks Wire noted that Oregon has not asked him to kick often, but he has not missed when it has.

The season numbers show why the award matters. Hurych is 9-for-9 on field goals and 19-for-19 on extra points. His longest make is 44 yards, in the opener against Boise State. Both outlets said he is one of only seven FBS kickers with at least nine attempts who have not missed a field goal. Ducks Wire also pointed out that the last Oregon specialist to win this award was Atticus Sappington, who did it last November with a game-winning kick at Iowa.

The recognition reflects a change in how Oregon is winning. Through the first four games the Ducks scored at least 31 points every week, including 84 against Portland State and 41 at USC. The last two games were much tighter. They lost 17-15 to UCLA, then beat Nebraska by three. When the offense stalls in the red zone, a kicker who has not missed becomes part of the plan, not a backup option.

What it means for Saturday at Illinois

Oregon (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) travels to Illinois for a noon Pacific kickoff on Big Ten Network. University of Oregon Athletics lists Illinois at 3-3 and 1-2 in league play. The Ducks have been inconsistent on the road this year. They won 41-27 at USC but lost 39-31 at Oklahoma State.

On this site's board for the game, which tracks 11 venues, Oregon is favored. Novig has the Ducks at -317 on the moneyline and Illinois at +300. Novig's spread is Oregon -8.5 at -108, with Illinois +8.5 at even money. The best number anywhere for the underdog is Illinois +9.5 at -110 on Fanatics, so the venues are a full point apart on the spread. Sportsbook hold on the spread runs from 3.9% to 7.0%. Novig's total is 50.5, with the over at -108 and the under at +102.

That total sits well above what Oregon has produced lately. The Ducks put up 15 and 17 points in their last two games. If Illinois keeps this one close, as UCLA and Nebraska did, Hurych could again be the difference.

Nebraska drops to 5-2. Both of its losses came by three points, in back-to-back weeks against Indiana and Oregon. The Cornhuskers host Washington on October 31.