The Ohio State Buckeyes pick up an impressive 34-16 road win against the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini, in what can be described as a “suffocating” and “relentless” performance. The Buckeyes win the Illibuck trophy and move to 6-0, 3-0 in Big Ten play.
The methodical offense only put up 272 yards, but scored 21 points off of three Illinois turnovers, which proved to be the biggest story in the game. They were 8-15 on third down and flashed a balanced attack all afternoon long.
Julian Sayin completed 19 of his 27 pass attempts for 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Jeremiah Smith was the lead target, catching five passes for 42 yards and a touchdown to further seal the win late. Carnell Tate caught four for 41 yards, and Max Klare had four receptions for 38 yards.
Bo Jackson was the recipient of the other Sayin touchdown throw on a check-down route he took 17 yards to the house. Jackson led the team in rushing with 47 yards on 10 carries. CJ Donaldson scored two touchdowns on the ground on 13 carries for 44 yards.
The three turnovers, two fumbles and one interception, forced by the Silver Bullet defense led to many momentum changes. They also forced four sacks and collected six tackles for loss.
While the Illini gained nearly 250 yards through the air, they were held to only 1.7 yards per carry and 4-of-14 on third down.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
“Relentless” and “suffocating” style of play isn’t flashy, but if you haven’t already, get used to it.
This team is a boa constrictor. They get better as the game goes along and were routinely described on the TV broadcast with the two adjectives above.
A boa constrictor is not flashy. This version of the Buckeyes has amazing talent individually, but it’s slow and methodical offensively, will confuse the living daylights out of you defensively, and when the moment is right, it strikes. Ohio State will only turn into a viper or cobra when it needs to, and so far, they haven’t had to show their fangs.
They find ways to get everything done, and today they added forcing turnovers to their game. The offense has flashed nothing crazy, with only one game against a power opponent where they had more than one play of 20+ yards. Consistency has been the formula all year long, and they will continue to be the model for it across the country in the future.
However….
The holes in this defense started to be exposed, and it could provide a formula for other opponents.
Look, the defense has been spectacular. Yes, it gave up its first rezdone touchdown and allowed double-digit points for the first time this year, and yet the rush defense was great, it got pressure in the backfield, and forced three turnovers to prevent any source of momentum from being built.
This series of articles doesn’t include analysis for nothing. The defense gets no criticism from me, as they’ve been the country’s best unit. Today does not change that fact.
Yet, when you analyze how Illinois put up the most yards of anybody on the Buckeye defense, two major things stick out.
The first is tempo. Illinois started to work quickly late in that first half, and it led to an 11-play drive that took only 2:43 off the clock. Now this ridiculous goal line defense came up with a stop, AGAIN, but there were other moments the tempo worked.
The second is that they found the soft spot in the zone coverage over the middle of the field. For those who care about technicalities and defensive schemes, the Matt Patricia system is a multiple system. They flash a lot of different coverages, show a lot of different numbers on the defensive front, and you’ll even see the backend split into man and zone coverage at the same time.
It confused Illinois, but when the Buckeyes played true zone, Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer did well to take advantage of the open spot. This is something that has been prevalent in previous matchups, but no one has taken as big an advantage of it as Illinois did.
Both are things to watch for moving forward. We will see if anyone else on the schedule takes advantage of it and what the Buckeyes do to prepare for it
Let’s highlight Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese, potentially the top linebacker duo in the country.
Coming into this season, many Buckeye fans expected Sonny Styles to be the best linebacker on this team. Don’t misunderstand this. Styles has been good, but Arvell Reese has been special.
On the season, he has 38 tackles, including a season-high nine today, and 4.5 sacks with 1.5 coming today. When you look for next-level talent at the linebacker position, you want a Swiss Army knife. A guy who can play anywhere and give you a bunch of different looks.
Both Styles and Reese can provide that, but Reese gets extra flowers today for his ability to get into the backfield consistently. He’s been the guy lined up in every single position imaginable; edge rusher, quarterback spy, SAM, MIKE, WILL, etc.
Scouts are paying attention. Reese is grading out as a top NFL talent and one of the best linebackers in the country. It’s scary to think Styles isn’t getting the same spotlight, but he can also grade out as a top performer in the country. Both are for sure future NFL players and the versatility of both players will continue to be a strength moving forward.
GAME RECAP
1st Quarter
9:35 – Ohio State FG:
The Buckeyes open the game with a 12-play, 67-yard drive that eats up 5:25 of clock, but Illinois holds inside the 10. Jayden Fielding knocks through a short field goal to give OSU an early lead. (3-0 OSU)
6:55 – Ohio State Interception:
On 3rd-and-5, Jermaine Matthews Jr. tips a Luke Altmyer pass into the air, and linebacker Payton Pierce hauls it in for Altmyer’s first interception of the season. The Buckeyes take over at the Illinois 35-yard line.
3:40 – Ohio State TD:
Ohio State capitalizes quickly off the turnover. CJ Donaldson plunges in from one yard out to finish a six-play, 35-yard drive. (10-0 OSU)
2nd Quarter
9:22 – Ohio State Big Break:
Illinois appears to convert a 4th down, but the play is overturned on review for an incomplete catch. The Illini punter fields the next snap with his knee down, setting OSU up at the Illinois 38-yard line.
6:43 – Ohio State FG:
The Buckeyes add to their lead after the short field. Fielding hits from 31 yards to cap a six-play, 25-yard drive. (13-0 OSU)
6:38 – Ohio State Fumble Recovery:
Kayden McDonald rips the football out before the Illinois running back goes down, and Ohio State takes over at the Illinois 25-yard line. The turnover stands after review.
3:48 – Ohio State TD:
Julian Sayin checks down to running back Bo Jackson, who turns the short pass into a 17-yard touchdown. The Buckeyes extend their lead after a crisp 63-yard drive. (20-0 OSU)
1:05 – Illinois FG:
Illinois drives inside the 5 but is stuffed again by the stellar OSU goal-line defense. The Illini are forced to settle for a field goal from short range after having 1st-and-goal from the 2. (20-3 OSU)
3rd Quarter
10:06 – Illinois TD:
Illinois responds on 4th-and-goal with a well-designed pitch play to score from short range, trimming the deficit. (20-10 OSU)
2:08 – Ohio State TD:
The Buckeyes grind out a 14-play, 63-yard march capped by a 2-yard CJ Donaldson plunge — his second rushing score of the game. (27-10 OSU)
1:33 – Ohio State Fumble Recovery:
Jermaine Matthews Jr. punches the ball loose, and Caden Curry recovers at the Illinois 24. A massive momentum swing late in the quarter.
4th Quarter
13:25 – Ohio State TD:
Julian Sayin connects with Jeremiah Smith in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. The Buckeyes stretch the lead to three possessions. (34-10 OSU)
4:25 – Illinois TD (Final Score):
The Illini score again through the air inside the 5-yard line off play action, but fail on a two-point attempt. (34-16 OSU)
The Buckeyes will be back in action Saturday as they travel to Madison to take on the Wisconsin Badgers at 3:30.
Listen live on 98.3 WPKO, as pregame begins at 2:00.
