5 things to know about Illinois

5 things to know about Illinois

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5 things to know about Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 03: Katin Houser #4 of the Illinois Fighting Illini celebrates a touchdown pass to Collin Dixon #17 (not pictured) against the UAB Blazers during the first half at Gies Memorial Stadium on September 03, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Non-conference play is over, and the No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1) are ready to host the Illinois Fighting Illini (2-1) at Noon ET on FOX.

Here are 5 things to know about Illinois.

Katin Houser is a familiar face

This may be quarterback Katin Houser’s first season at Illinois, but he is a familiar face in the Big Ten. Houser spent the first two seasons of his career at Michigan State before transferring to East Carolina and ultimately to Illinois.

In 2023, Houser was the starting quarterback in a 38-3 win for Ohio State. Houser threw for 92 yards on 12-for-24 passing and no touchdowns. Kyle McCord threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns in that game. Marvin Harrison had seven catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

The Illibuck is awesome

Originally, the “trophy” was a live turtle when the tradition began in 1925. From 1919 to 1933, the Illinois–Ohio State game was the regular-season finale for both teams. Since the original turtle died in 1926, ten wooden replica Illibucks have been carved, each with the scores from games on its back.

The Illibuck is the second oldest trophy passed between Big Ten Conference football programs, behind the Little Brown Jug. Two junior honorary societies, Bucket and Dipper of Ohio State and Atius-Sachem of Illinois, are responsible for the care of the Illibuck.

Robby Discher has friends on both sidelines

Discher was hired as Ohio State’s special teams coordinator in February 2026 after spending the previous three seasons at Illinois as the Fighting Illini’s special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. In Champaign, Discher helped guide one of the Big Ten’s most consistent special teams units, including a 10-3 season in 2024.

Kickers David Olano and long snapper Lane Hansen earned back-to-back All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and 2025, a run of three straight seasons in which Illinois produced All-Big Ten kickers and returners.

YouTube was founded there

Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, the founders of YouTube, are both Illinois alumni.

Chen grew up in Arlington Heights while Karim grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota. They met while working at PayPal after college, and Karim uploaded the site’s first video in 2005.

Ohio State has won 10 straight in the series

The Buckeyes beat the Fighting Illini in 2025, 35-16, marking the 10th straight win in the series.

The last game Ohio State lost to Illinois is one that a lot of fans will remember, as Juice Williams threw for only 12 completions but four touchdowns, while Todd Boeckman finished 13-for-23 for 156 yards and three interceptions, and unranked Illinois defeated No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus 28-21, marking the first loss of the season.

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