Riding high after a huge victory over Nebraska last Friday, the 6-3 Illinois football team will face their biggest challenge yet against the unbeaten, No. 4 ranked UCLA Bruins.

UCLA, 9-0, comes in off of a back-and-forth but ultimately decisive 34-20 victory over Minnesota. The two sides will square off at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in what Illinois head coach Bret Bielema views as a launching point for their College Football Playoff bid.

Already eligible for postseason play but jockeying for position in the CFP bracket, Bielema explained over the weekend that finishing the season at 9-3 will be enough to get a look for the 12-team playoff with upcoming conference games against UCLA, No. 19 Iowa, and Northwestern.

The Illini cannot afford another loss, but the Bruins don't have much room for error with just one win over a ranked opponent this season (17-15 over No. 18 Oregon). With all the stakes involved, it looks to be shaping up for a big-time clash of Big Ten squads playing their best football at the right time with eyes on the postseason.

Despite Illinois' active win streak and high hopes for a playoff bid, they enter as 10-point underdogs to UCLA (Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook).

With three losses on the season and no ranking beside their name, it's understandable that Illinois comes in as a big underdog to an undefeated UCLA in California. But this line could be deceiving.

UCLA has yet to face the upper echelon teams of the Big Ten. It remains to be seen if Illinois can be considered in this group, but UCLA's best win to date is over Oregon, who the Illini also dispatched in more impressive fashion. The Bruins will face USC in Week 13, but their schedule to this point has indeed lent itself to the unblemished record.

Illinois comes into the game red-hot four-straight wins in the conference. Lead by the mindset of their head coach, the game will be seen as an opportunity to shock one the last unbeaten teams in college football and earn the respect of the playoff committee. 

Bielema has lauded the selflessness and grit of his team, something that can be used to their advantage should Friday's game become a rock fight. With Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Oregon all able to keep it close against the Bruins, there is no reason to believe the Illini can't do the same.