Jeremiah Smith, fresh off passing Michael Jenkins to become Ohio State’s all-time leading receiver with a staggering 2,958 yards, leads the No. 7 Buckeyes into their Big Ten opener at home against Illinois this Saturday. After routing Kent State last week, Smith’s historic performance stole the show, and Ohio State is dialed in for conference action.
Buckeyes Own This Rivalry, Period.
If you’re an Illinois fan, history isn’t on your side. Not even close. The Buckeyes haven’t dropped a game to the Fighting Illini since 2007, a streak spanning nearly two decades, all the way back to Jim Tressel’s time. In the ten meetings since, Ohio State hasn’t just won, they’ve absolutely steamrolled Illinois, averaging 23.8 points more. None of those ten games were decided by a single possession, telling you everything about the gap. For six matchups, Illinois couldn’t even crack 20 points. Last season’s 34-18 Buckeyes victory, with Julian Sayin in his first year starting, just continued the trend. Now Sayin has a full season of experience, and the Buckeyes haven’t lost at home since 2024. That’s a fortress, folks.
Can Houser Flip the Script in “The Shoe”?
Illinois is coming off a 48-10 win over Southern Illinois, bouncing back from a Week 2 loss to Duke. Quarterback Katin Houser looked good against Southern Illinois, tossing for a season-high 305 yards and two touchdowns. Their ground game exploded for a season-high 198 yards, led by Aidan Laughery’s 93. They even shut out the Salukis in the entire second half! But here’s the kicker: Houser has been to “The Shoe” before, and it didn’t go well. Back in 2023, starting for Michigan State, he completed just 12 of 24 passes for a measly 92 yards. The Spartans scored a grand total of three points that day. Ouch. Now, Bret Bielema leads the Illini into Columbus to face a top-10 Ohio State squad. He might hope for a better showing, but the past suggests the outcome will be the same.
So, as the No. 7 Buckeyes kick off conference play, everything points to them rolling in their Big Ten opener. Jeremiah Smith is flying high, and the home field advantage is real. Illinois needs to bring something truly special to Columbus to break nearly two decades of Buckeye supremacy. Can Houser and the Illini shock the world, or will Ohio State just keep adding to the win column? My money’s on the latter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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