Illinois heads to Ohio Stadium on Saturday with a chance to do more than just pick up a win. A strong showing against Ohio State could shift the mood around the program in a hurry, and after a 2-1 start, the Illini are looking for something that gives the season a jolt.
That won’t come easily. This is the biggest challenge Illinois has faced so far, and Ohio State brings a roster loaded with talent at every level.
The Buckeyes also have multiple Heisman Trophy candidates, and their ground game is already dangerous enough before you even get to a running back named Bo Jackson. That alone is enough to make you pay attention.
Illinois will need its best football of the year to keep this one competitive. Even getting into the game would mean plenty.
The matchup kicks off at 11:00 a.m. CT/12:00 p.m.
ET on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in Columbus, Ohio, at Ohio Stadium. FOX will carry the broadcast, and the game is also available on FuboTV.
Illinois enters at 2-1, while Ohio State is also 2-1.
FanDuel Sportsbook has opened the Buckeyes as heavy favorites. Ohio State is listed at -27.5 (-105), while Illinois sits at +27.5 (-115). The over/under is 53.5 points (-110), and the moneyline has Ohio State at -4500 and Illinois at +1600.
The injury report gives both teams a few names to monitor. For Illinois, linebacker Daniel Brown is probable, wide receiver Jayshon Platt is doubtful, and offensive guard Brandon Henderson is out. The Illini are also without tight ends Grant Smith, Tanner Hollinger, and BJ Thurman for the season, along with wide receiver Alex Perry and offensive guard TJ McMillen.
Ohio State has running back Legend By and wide receiver Devin McCuin listed as questionable, defensive tackle James Smith as doubtful, and defensive end Zion Grady out.
Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft will be on the call.
Weather should not be much of a factor. Kickoff is expected to bring about 73 degrees, with winds around 5 to 10 miles per hour and plenty of sun.
The series history is brutally one-sided. Ohio State leads Illinois 70-30-4 overall and has won the last 10 meetings.
Illinois’ last win in the series came in 2007, when the Illini upset No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus.
Since then, Illinois has not only lost every game to the Buckeyes, but hasn’t even gotten within single digits over the last 10 matchups, all of them decided by at least 10 points.
In Other News...
Illinois May Be Losing Ground In A Crucial 5-Star Battle
Brad Underwood has been on the road and on the phone as Illinois keeps working to capitalize on a stretch of momentum that has put the program in bigger recruiting conversations. The Illini have hosted several prospects lately, including five-star targets Moussa Kamissoko and Darius Wabbington, and that kind of company speaks to where Illinois is trying to stay after a Final Four run and a recent top NBA draft pick helped raise the programs profile.
Still, the picture is not entirely settled on one of those marquee battles. Rivals prediction model now points more toward Syracuse for Kamissoko, even though no commitment has been made, leaving Illinois with a live but increasingly difficult fight on its hands. The Illini have other recruits committed or visiting, so the board is far from empty, but the next move in this particular chase could tell a lot about how much of that recent success can be converted into another elite class. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Is Building A Frontcourt Puzzle Fans Will Want Solved
Illinois keeps piecing together its frontcourt board, and the next notable name in the mix is Benjamin Berrouet. The five-star class of 2028 big man has set an official visit to Champaign for Nov. 5, giving the Illini another chance to make an impression on a prospect whose stock is already rising well beyond his age group.
Berrouets profile got a major boost through his play with Latvias U16 team, where he earned MVP honors at the FIBA U16 EuroBasket. Illinois is viewing him as part of a broader frontcourt search, and there is at least some consideration of him as a reclassification candidate for 2027, which makes his visit one more important step in a recruitment that could shape how the roster is built down the line. [Read more 🡒]
Illinois Women Have A Big Chance To Build March Momentum Early
Illinois womens basketball has spent the past few seasons pushing itself into the national conversation, and the early part of the 2026-27 schedule gives it another chance to keep that momentum rolling. After finishing 13-3 against non-conference opponents last season and reaching the NCAA tournament for the third time in four years, the Illini now know the first stretch of tests that will shape the tone of the year. Marquette, Saint Josephs, Missouri and Southeast Missouri State are all on the slate, offering a mix of regional familiarity and opportunities to show that last season was more than a one-off run.
The encouraging part for Illinois is how much continuity it brings into those games, with more than 90% of the roster returning from the previous season. That matters in non-conference play, where cohesion can separate a team that is simply expected to win from one that uses early games to sharpen its identity. The schedule is out, the core is intact, and the only real question now is how quickly the Illini can turn those early chances into the kind of resume-building stretch that carries real weight once March starts getting closer. [Read more 🡒]