One week is in the books, and Illinois is still staring at a clean slate. The Illini are 1-0, and that puts them in the same boat as most of the Big Ten after the opening weekend.
The real test, of course, is what comes next in conference play - and the first league trip is a nasty one, with No. 1 Ohio State waiting on the road to start Illinois’ Big Ten schedule.
Before that stretch arrives, here’s how the next five opponents looked in Week 1.
Ohio State didn’t waste time reminding everybody why it opened the season at No. 1.
Julian Sayin carved up the defense for 320 yards and three touchdowns, and the bulk of that production went to Jeremiah Smith. Sayin was sharp all afternoon, missing on only four throws, while the Buckeyes also rolled on the ground at 6.8 yards per carry.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State gave up just 165 total yards. Business as usual in Columbus.
THE best wide receiver in the country doing what he does best. @Jermiah_Smith1 | #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/9iQKN9LRvQ
Purdue’s opener had a little more drama, even if the final result turned comfortable. The Boilermakers broke things open with a 21-0 third quarter against Indiana State, but there were still some familiar issues hanging around, including three completions surrendered for 40-plus yards.
Offensively, though, Purdue looked lively. Ryan Browne threw for 317 yards and three touchdowns, and Fame Ijeboi turned 11 carries into 87 yards and a score without much trouble.
Southern Illinois had to grind for its win over Samford in a game where points were hard to come by and both quarterbacks had a rough afternoon. The Salukis leaned on the run game, piling up 181 rushing yards at 4.2 per carry, and their defense held up well against the run too, allowing just 2.6 yards per carry. It was a tight road win that got Southern Illinois back to 1-1 after its Week 1 loss to West Florida.
The opener for Pat Fitzgerald’s first season in East Lansing came with plenty of tension. Toledo did a good job of slowing Michigan State’s rushing attack and even nudged ahead 20-19 in the fourth quarter. Michigan State answered, though, and Alessio Milivojevic helped the Spartans score the final 11 points to close it out.
The Blue Devils also made quick work of their opponent, rolling past Tulane behind a huge day from Nate Sheppard. The running back handled 35 carries for 227 yards and two touchdowns, and his all-purpose total climbed to 246 yards with receiving yards included. That number nearly matched Tulane’s entire offense, which finished with 258 total yards.
In Other News...
Ohio State Faces A More Dangerous Texas Test Than Last Year
The rematch on the schedule already carries enough weight, but this one comes with a different feel for Ohio State. The Buckeyes and Texas are meeting for the third straight year, only this time it is in Austin at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, with ESPNs College GameDay on hand and the Longhorns carrying a 1.5-point edge. After the last two seasons gave both programs a fresh look at each other, the matchup now arrives with even more attention and a bigger stage.
For Ohio State, the challenge is not just the venue or the buildup, but the version of Texas waiting on the other side. Arch Manning gives the Longhorns a new layer at quarterback, while new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp adds a familiar edge to that side of the ball. For a Buckeye team used to measuring itself against the nations best, this one feels less like another early heavyweight game and more like a true test of how much has changed since the last time these teams lined up. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Kienholz Just Sparked An Ohio State QB Debate
Lincoln Kienholz spent enough time around Ohio State to know how unforgiving the quarterback conversation can be there, and his latest outing at Louisville gave the discussion a fresh jolt. In his debut against Ole Miss, the former Buckeye showed the kind of production that turns heads quickly, topping 300 yards and throwing three touchdowns while looking comfortable as both a passer and a runner.
For Ohio State fans, the appeal is obvious because it feeds into the never-ending question of what might have been and what the Buckeyes missed when Kienholz moved on. His path also says something about the fit in college football: sometimes a player needs a different setup, a cleaner runway and a coach like Jeff Brohm to let the full skill set show up on game day, even as the foundation built in Columbus still shapes how he leads and handles the position. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan's QB Uncertainty Just Added Intrigue To The Game
Ohio State opened its season with a comfortable win over Ball State, while Michigan had a far less reassuring afternoon in a narrow escape against Western Michigan. That alone would have been enough to keep Buckeyes fans watching closely, but the storyline got more interesting when Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham left the door open on Bryce Underwoods status at quarterback, a notable twist for a position that usually settles the tone for the rest of the rivalry week chatter.
Underwoods uneven play has only deepened the questions around Michigans offense, and it carries extra weight because of what this game means beyond one Saturday in September. For Ohio State, any uncertainty on the other sideline only adds to the intrigue heading into a meeting where the Buckeyes will be paying attention to whether Michigan can steady itself, or whether the Wolverines are heading toward a bigger change than anyone expected. [Read more 🡒]