Stephen Leonard
Ohio State Writer
After a 34-16 win, the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes move to 6-0 and 3-0 in the Big Ten. The game started exactly as I would’ve written it up. Ohio State comes out passing and dominates the Illinois Fighting Illini (5-2, 2-2) early on. Okay, I would have written it with a touchdown on the opening drive. Offensive coordinator Brian Hartline dialed up a pass to start the game and continued pressuring the Illini through the air.
For the game, Ohio State scored 21 points off three turnovers. This elite defense scored off a fumble and an interception in the first half and off another fumble in the 2nd half.
They mixed in a ground attack to balance the scheme, finishing the game with 166 yards passing and 106 yards rushing. The Illinois defense couldn’t get comfortable, and the pass-first approach opened the run just as a vocal majority of Buckeye Nation clamored to see. The identity of the Buckeyes’ offense is now established: pass to open the run.
The first half was a complete domination on the scoreboard, and after that, the game was never in question. Speaking of domination, I have to mention this defense. This is the engine that drives this team. Not only did the Silver Bullets hold the Illini to only 3 points in the first half, but they held the Illini to a field goal after starting 1st and goal from the two-yard line.
While Matt Patricia’s defense gained points off turnovers, it gave up some amazing streaks. It took the sixth game of the season to give up double-digit points and the first rushing touchdown.
After allowing two touchdowns in the second half, equaling the total touchdowns allowed through the first five games, this scoring defense took a hit. Now the scoring defense is giving up an almost pedestrian 6.83 points per game. In all seriousness, that is elite, and the Buckeyes will remain first in the nation.
Offensively, opponents aren’t willing to take any chances with the receiving threat Ohio State showcases, and the Illini were no exception today. Illinois was dropping the defensive backs and continuing to play to keep everything in front of them. While Julian Sayin didn’t complete 80% of his passes, he was cool, calm, and collected. Super Sayin hit his check-downs and read his progressions well, throwing for 166 yards with 2 TDs and completing 70.4% on 19 of 27 attempts.
Ryan Day’s Buckeyes are now in the driver’s seat for the Big Ten Championship. Halfway through the regular season, they are perfect in record and look like the most dominant team in the nation. Today, they bring home the Illibuck, tomorrow, it’s on to Wisconsin.
The high school football season is heating up, and the stakes are getting higher as teams battle for a chance to win it all. Several future Buckeyes are putting it all on the line to keep their playoff hopes alive for another week. The Southlake Carroll Dragons improved to a perfect 8-0 record on Friday […]
Adam Hicks
Author
The Good Northwestern’s Train Rolls On Northwestern is 5–2. That’s not a typo. It’s not a fever dream. It’s not a glitch in the standings. The Wildcats — who started this season under a cloud of low expectations and low preseason rankings — just shut out Purdue 19–0 and now sit one win away from […]
34-0 was the result, but even the shutout score doesn’t paint the full picture of this dominating performance. The Badgers (2-5, 0-4) only had 144 total yards on offense for the game. For comparison, Ohio State QB Julian Sayin had 169 yards passing in the first quarter alone. The No. 1 Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0) came […]