The Battle for the Illibuck opened Big Ten play with Ohio State already setting the tone.
Julian Sayin put the Buckeyes on the board fast, hitting Jeremiah Smith on a 7-yard touchdown to give Ohio State a quick start against Illinois at the Horseshoe.
On the other side of the ball, Devin Sanchez wasted no time making his presence felt. He came up with two straight pass breakups on Ohio State’s first defensive possession, a strong early sign for the Buckeyes as the conference opener got rolling.
Before kickoff, the day had the usual Ohio Stadium buildup. The Best Damn Band in the Land took the field pregame, adding to the atmosphere ahead of the matchup with the Fighting Illini.
The scene also included the arrival of the Illibuck itself, along with the Buckeyes making their way in for the start of conference play.
Ohio State entered the game at 2-1, just like Illinois, though the Buckeyes were expected to be the heavy favorite. Still, the opener carried its share of questions, from offensive development to which players would step up as the Big Ten schedule began.
The Buckeyes were without Phillip Daniels, Zion Grady and Bennett Christian against Illinois. James Smith and Legend Bey were cleared to return.
Going into the matchup, the Eleven Warriors staff had Ohio State winning by at least three touchdowns. The preview for the game pointed to the Buckeyes’ running backs needing to step up, the defensive tackle rotation needing sorting out and Devin Sanchez’s matchup with wideout Collin Dixon as one to watch. Another piece highlighted Jeremiah Smith as a player capable of reaching another milestone, while Bo Jackson drew attention after Ryan Day challenged him publicly.
In Other News...
Ohio State Freshman Jay Timmons Is Earning Trust Faster Than Expected
Jay Timmons has moved quickly from newcomer to a player Ohio State is comfortable leaning on in the defensive backfield. The true freshman nickelback has already started for the defense, which is not something this program has asked of many freshmen in recent memory, and he has given the staff reasons to keep trusting him. Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has praised his work, and veteran teammates have noticed the same thing after seeing how he has handled the job.
The early returns have been strong enough that Timmons is already being talked about as a prospect with a very high ceiling down the road. His play against Texas stood out as another sign that the moment has not been too big for him, even in an environment where young defensive backs are usually brought along more slowly. For Ohio State, the bigger question now is how far his rapid rise can continue as the schedule gets tougher and the expectations keep growing. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Commit Jamier Brown Is Quickly Regaining Lost Time
Jamier Brown is making up for a late start in a hurry. The Ohio State commit missed Waynes first two games because of a suspension, but he has wasted little time showing why he remains such a key piece for the Warriors, catching six passes for 63 yards and finding the end zone in a 49-24 win over Clayton Northmont in Greater Western Ohio Conference play.
Kye Graham kept the offense humming with 284 passing yards and three touchdowns, while Wayne backed it up with timely defensive stops and scoring drives to put the game away. For Ohio State, Browns recent stretch is the encouraging part, because the Buckeyes are getting a look at a receiver who is already helping his high school team settle in and build momentum after an unusual start to the season. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fans Will Love The Standard Indiana Just Exposed
Curt Cignetti is already talking like a coach who knows success changes the conversation. After Indianas recent surge, the Hoosiers head coach used a message to the fan base to push back on rising expectations, pointing to the programs history of thin crowds and asking supporters not to grumble about lopsided wins. It was a blunt reminder that, around college football, a winning stretch can quickly turn into a referendum on how much winning is enough.
For Ohio State fans, the contrast lands cleanly. Ryan Day has made his own standard public and unmistakable, setting a much higher bar for the Buckeyes than simply stacking victories and keeping people content. So while Cignetti was managing the temperature in Bloomington, his comments served as a useful backdrop for what Ohio State expects of itself, and why the conversation in Columbus usually starts where other programs hope to finish. [Read more 🡒]