Illinois left Columbus with a 42-19 loss to No. 7 Ohio State, but the full story of Saturday’s game was messier than the final margin.
The Illini (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten) were down 28-10 at halftime in their Big Ten and road opener, then trimmed the gap to 28-13 after three quarters before Ohio State (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) pulled away again. Illinois never got all the way back into the fight, but it also didn’t play like a team that was simply buried from start to finish.
There was real life in the run game. Even with Katin Houser taking three sacks, which count against rushing totals in college football, Illinois still averaged 6.0 yards per carry as a team.
Four different players ripped off runs of at least 12 yards, and Aidan Laughery gave the offense its best burst with 113 yards on 11 carries. All of that came while Illinois was missing four key linemen.
On defense, Matthew Bailey was the clear standout. He finished with a career-high 14 tackles and added one tackle for loss, and he played the way he usually does: with force. The hits were loud, the presence was constant, and he still made sure to finish plays instead of just throwing his body around.
The bigger problem was up front. Illinois finished with no sacks and never consistently bothered Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin, who had already shown some vulnerability in the first three games with five sacks against him. When the Illini did get close, Sayin was able to slip away and create with his legs, even though scrambling has not been a strength for him.
Houser had a strong overall day, but one missed connection loomed large. Late in the first half, he missed Brayden Trimble on a play that could have changed the shape of the game.
If that catch lands, Illinois goes to the break down 21-14. Instead, the margin sat at 28-10.
Houser’s performance still offered plenty to like for Illinois’ future in 2026, but the same issue kept showing up: the big throws that matter most have too often gone astray, including on plays where the target is wide open.
And then there was Jeremiah Smith. He was unstoppable, finishing with 12 catches for 217 yards and four touchdowns while working every level of the field.
Quick throws, intermediate routes, deep shots, red-zone finishes - he handled all of it. Illinois left him in single coverage too often, and Bobby Hauck’s defense paid for it.
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Illinois came away from Ohio State with a yardage total that usually keeps a team in the game, but the scoreboard told a different story. The Illini moved the ball for 462 total yards and still managed only 19 points, while the Buckeyes piled up 518 yards and six touchdowns in a matchup that exposed how thin the margin can be when one side finishes drives and the other does not.
Bret Bielema pointed his criticism squarely at the defense after the loss, citing communication issues, missed contain opportunities and a lack of pressure on Ohio States quarterback. Illinois had just one tackle for loss and did not create a turnover, numbers that underscore how little disruption the Illini were able to generate when the game started tilting away from them. [Read more 🡒]
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Illinois Came Close On A Five-Star But The Chase Isn't Over
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For Illinois, the miss stings, but it does not change the larger picture around a program that keeps drawing interest from high-profile talent. The pursuit of Kamissoko showed the Illini were in the mix deep enough to make the race meaningful, and that matters as they continue chasing more elite recruits who can reshape the roster down the line. [Read more 🡒]