This season, the Illinois football team has played one of the toughest schedules in the country according to NCAA rankings — the fourth toughest to be exact. Three of Illinois’ four losses have come from top-20 BCS teams, and its opponents hold a combined 49-23 record, not counting Illinois.

The Illini’s next opponent, the Minnesota Golden Gophers, have more losses (eight) than the combined seven losses of the four teams that have defeated Illinois. But Illinois head coach Ron Zook said one can’t take a conference opponent for granted.

“Just like any team in the Big Ten, anybody can beat anybody on any given day if we’re not ready to play,” Zook said. “On any given Saturday, I don’t care who you play, you can get beat. They’ve played some pretty good teams in the last few weeks and they know how good those few teams are, but if you go back and look at how the game started, they were in the game … I think, once again, they’re capable of causing a lot of problems.”

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said the Illini can’t focus on the Gophers as much as they focus on themselves this weekend.

“We’re not so much focused on their record and the things that have gone on with them,” Scheelhaase said. “I think there’s a lot that we can look forward to for ourselves for this week.”

After firing head coach Tim Brewster following a 1-6 start to the season, the Gophers are coached by former co-offensive coordinator Jeff Horton, who has since tried to install a more balanced offense.

“I think if you look at what Minnesota is trying to do a little bit, they’re almost trying to do 50-50 as well. And that causes you some issues,” Zook said. “I think the biggest change is how you think in game-time situations.”

When they turn to the passing game, the Gophers feature quarterback Adam Weber, who earlier this season became fifth player in conference history to pass for over 10,000 yards.

“I mean, this guy has been around forever, it seems like,” Zook said. “And I have said it every year; that he is a great player and does a lot of great things. So as I said, we’re going to have to be ready to play.”

Safety Trulon Henry appeared impressed by Weber’s accuracy after he saw film of the Gophers quarterback.

“I didn’t know he threw the ball that far down the field that accurately,” Henry said. “He’s a good quarterback … To see him throw the ball down the field on point, on the money, consistently throughout a football game, I’d say that’s dangerous.”

In recent weeks, it has been the Illini who have developed their aerial attack, and have gotten running back Mikel Leshoure involved. Leshoure has caught four passes for 98 yards in the past two games, three which went for touchdowns.