Gameday Central Ohio State 21, Illinois 10; 1:32 2nd
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
Sep. 26—Double dip on the table?
8 plays, 50 yards, 2:40
Bret Bielema loves to score at the end of the first half and, having deferred after winning the coin toss, score again to start the second half. Illinois is halfway there after Ethan Moczulski's 43-yard field goal capped another scoring drive. (Even if it could have been better had Katin Houser not missed an open Brayden Trimble in the end zone). The Illini just have to keep Ohio State from scoring in the last 92 seconds of the half.
Ohio State 21, Illinois 10
***
What can't he do?
19 plays, 96 yards, 8:31
This was peak "can't get off the field" for the Illinois defense, and there were chances. Like when Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin spun himself into trouble only to escape the clutches of the Illini's Cam Thomas and Joe Barna to pick up a first down on a third down scramble. Or a pair of quarterback sneaks by Sayin. And a fourth-down pass completion. All capped by a third Jeremiah Smith touchdown that included an insane toe touch.
Ohio State 21, Illinois 7
***
Under pressure
4 plays, 19 yards, 2:01
Katin Houser went two games before he was sacked this season. Southern Illinois got him twice last weekend. Ohio State's already taken him down twice in the first half. The second snuffed out what started as a potentially promising drive after a 27-yard completion to Hudson Clement and turned into another Lars Rau punt downed inside the 10-yard line. The sack culprit? That would be true freshman guard Champ Smith making just his second ever start.
Ohio State 14, Illinois 7
***
An honest to goodness stop
3 plays, 6 yards, 0:59
The Illinois defense actually bowed up here, holding Ohio State to a short rush, an even shorter completion, a pass breakup by Xavier Scott on third down and then a punt. The first three-and-out of the game.
Ohio State 14, Illinois 7
***
That's Jordan Anderson's music
6 plays, 75 yards, 2:35
Jordan Anderson went untouched for 22 yards to close out Illinois' drive with his second touchdown of the season. He was in position to do so thanks to a 37-yard rush by Aidan Laughery that was one Ohio State defender away from being another long touchdown run for the former GCMS star and a 21-yard catch by Collin Dixon in a second-and-20 situation.
Ohio State 14, Illinois 7
***
Even easier
4 plays, 93 yards, 1:48
Illinois' punt actually pinned Ohio State at its own 7-yard line. Not that it mattered. Julian Sayin found Jeremiah Smith running free down the middle of the field past the Illini coverage, and once the Buckeyes wide receiver hauled it in he twisted Mac Resetich into a pretzel. The Illinois free safety basically got juked out of his shoes multiple times in a manner of seconds, and Smith finished off the 72-yard score.
Ohio State 14, Illinois 0
***
A sliver lining
9 plays, 34 yards, 4:03
Illinois was backed up against its own end zone after an ill-advised kickoff return from Aidan Laughery was compounded by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Kaden Feagin. Not a great moment for the former area stars. But … unlike the last two times the Illini faced that situation, they were actually able to move the ball. Not enough to avoid a Lars Rau punt, but still got it close to midfield.
The score: Ohio State 7, Illinois 0
***
Too easy
The Buckeyes leaned on their running backs early in the opening drive of the game. Bo Jackson and Ja'Kobi Jackson combined for five carries for 23 yards, and Julian Sayin was able to use Bo Jackson as a safety valve in the flat for a pair of completions. But the chunk play — and the score — came by targeting Jeremiah Smith. The top wide receiver in the country hauled in a 31-yard reception in quasi-double coverage and then beat Juice Clarke in a one-on-one in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown catch.
Ohio State 7, Illinois 0
***
Kickoff is imminent at the Horseshoe. A few pregame photos from yours truly to tide you over the last few minutes.
***
Good morning from Columbus, Ohio. Hawthorne Heights told me Ohio is for lovers, but we'll find out Illinois football is loving it starting in about 90 minutes.
The Illini are certainly facing their toughest challenge of the season with No. 7 Ohio State fresh off a blowout win against Kent State but not all that far removed from a disastrous finish (and loss) at Texas.
The Buckeyes have, to be fair, basically every advantage. Not to mention it's been 19 years since Illinois has won in Columbus (and the last trip in 2017 was a nightmare … an Ohio State rout in a downpour).
Does that mean the outcome of today's game is pre-determined? Of course not. That's why, as the cliché says, you play the game.
One thing, however, will determine the result this afternoon at the Horseshoe. Can the Illinois defense get off the field? The Illinois offense has shown flashes where it might be able to keep up with high-powered Ohio State. But the Illini have to have the ball to make that happen, and if their defense struggles to get off the field that probably means the Buckeyes are scoring.
The line for today's game has moved slighlty from 27 1/2 points to 26 1/2. Some places had it a little lower. My pick — Ohio State 38, Illinois 21 — projects a somewhat closer matchup based on how the Illini fared last year at home against the Buckeyes and Bret Bielema's propensity to be in close games.
We'll see.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos