Illinois got a useful tune-up against Southern Illinois in Week 3, and the timing mattered. After the 31-27 loss to Duke in Week 2, the Illini needed more than a win over an FCS opponent. They needed cleaner football, and they got enough of it to leave Saturday with a better feeling about what comes next.
The biggest reason for that optimism starts in the trenches. Illinois’ offensive line was dealing with injuries and a constantly shifting lineup, yet it still held together well enough to keep the offense on schedule.
The Illini gave up two sacks, which isn’t ideal, but they also limited themselves to just three total negative offensive plays across the game. Southern Illinois had piled up double-digit tackles for loss in each of its previous two outings, so that was a meaningful step forward for an Illinois front that has already been through plenty this season.
The run defense was even more encouraging. Southern Illinois managed to get only one ballcarrier, Jake Curry, past 10 rushing yards on a single play, and Curry finished with just 22 yards on the ground.
The Salukis’ rushing total was inflated by a negative-16-yard play, but even without that one snap, Illinois would have allowed just 1.7 yards per carry. That’s the kind of number the Illini can build on, especially with Ohio State’s rushing attack looming in Week 4.
Katin Houser also kept giving Illinois reasons to believe. Outside of one badly telegraphed throw into triple coverage that was intercepted, he was sharp throughout the afternoon.
Houser finished 23-for-29 for 305 yards with two touchdowns and the pick, continuing the accurate passing that has defined most of his season so far. He was on target again, and this time the ball went to more than just Collin Dixon.
That distribution piece matters. In the first two weeks, Illinois had leaned heavily on Dixon, with only one other receiver outside of him topping three catches - Hudson Clement, who had four against Duke.
Against Southern Illinois, Clement and Brayden Trimble each caught five passes, and Houser also connected with three of his tight ends at least once. If Illinois is going to have any chance to move the ball against Ohio State on Saturday, that kind of spread-out passing game will have to hold up.
If it doesn’t, the Buckeyes are likely to clamp down on the Illini air attack.
In Other News...
Ohio States Easy Win Couldnt Quiet One Big Concern
Ohio State handled Kent State 59-3 and put the game away early, taking a 35-0 lead into halftime and never letting the outcome feel in doubt. The Buckeyes still found enough balance to lean on the run, finishing with 145 rushing yards on 38 attempts, with Bo Jackson leading the way with 73 yards and a touchdown.
Even in a blowout, though, the ground game remains a point worth watching. Ohio States rushing offense is still inconsistent overall, sitting 79th nationally at just under 159 yards per game, and that leaves a gap between what this roster can be and what it has shown so far. The schedule will get less forgiving from here, and the Buckeyes will need more than a comfortable win to answer that concern. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Fans Got A Big Noon Reminder Nobody Wanted
A rout should have sounded like a showcase, but Ohio States 59-3 win over Kent State came with a broadcast that drew as much attention as the score. FOX Sports announcer Gus Johnson delivered the game in a flat, muted tone, and he also made a factual mistake while discussing a players touchdown history, a rough combination in a matchup that was already struggling to hold viewers attention.
The bigger issue is one college football keeps circling back to every fall: games like this are increasingly hard to sell, even for a blueblood with a massive fan base. Ohio State can only do so much when the opponent is overmatched, and the broadcast only amplified the sense that fans, and maybe networks, would rather see a more competitive nonconference slate than another predictable Saturday afternoon tune-up. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State's Offense Still Has A Problem Fans Can't Ignore
Ohio State took care of Kent State 59-3 and piled up 527 total yards, a comfortable afternoon by the scoreboard and another reminder of how dominant the Buckeyes have been against in-state opponents, extending that streak to 55 straight games. Julian Sayin had a productive line, completing 18 of 22 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, and Jeremiah Smith again flashed why he has become such a centerpiece of the offense.
Still, the details inside the win are hard to overlook for a team with bigger goals ahead. The Buckeyes struggled to sustain drives when it mattered, and the issues showed up in the kind of situations that usually separate a polished attack from one still searching for consistency. Even in a blowout, those snaps left enough of a mark to keep the conversation going about how much cleaner this offense has to get. [Read more 🡒]