3 Takeaways From Ohio State Dominating Victory Over Illinois
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Ohio State opens Big Ten Conference play with one-sided win vs. Illinois
Everything Ohio State threw to Jeremiah Smith was a big deal on Saturday. The Buckeye star wide receiver led the way in a 42-19 victory over Illinois.
Ohio State used a four-touchdown day from Smith to win the Big Ten Conference opener. The Buckeyes will now turn their attention towards a showdown with Iowa, who knocked off Michigan.
Related:Ohio State Football: Ryan Day Continues Stressing Strong Fourth Quarter Play
Here are three takeaways from Ohio State’s win over Illinois:
1. Jeremiah Smith Is A Bad, Bad Dude
When it comes to memorable performances, Jeremiah Smith has several of them. The star wide receiver added another vs. an overmatched Illinois secondary.
Smith, who set the career record for receiving yards at Ohio State last week, added to that total. He hauled in 12 passes from Julian Sayin for 217 yards, scoring four touchdowns.
That included a 72-yarder, as Smith averaged just over 18 yards per catch.
2. Julian Sayin Has All The Tools To Lead This Offense
Any questions about the playing skills of quarterback Julian Sayin should be put to rest. Sayin was 27-for-36 for 367 yards passing, throwing four touchdowns.
Sayin had a QBR of 95.2, averaging just over 10 yards per completion. He even added 29 yards rushing and a score.
This is now Sayin’s team and his offense, and the Buckeyes are in great hands with the talented signal-caller.
3. When It Comes To The Ground Game, Balance Is The Key
Sure, it is great to have a running back like Derrick Henry or Jonathan Taylor. But for the rest of the football world, you need depth in the backfield.
That is something Ohio State has with the Jackson Brothers (not really). Ja’Kobi Jackson led the way this week, rushing 10 times for 56 yards with a score.
Bo Jackson finished with 53 yards on 11 carries, as Sayin added 29 yards and a touchdown. All together, the Buckeyes had 151 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, averaging almost five yards per carry.
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