By IlliniGuys Staff

October 11, 2025

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois scored more points than any Ohio State opponent this season, but the Buckeyes' dominant defense forced three turnovers and held the 17th ranked Illini in check to score the 34-16 victory, their biggest road win of the year.

Ohio State (6-0, 3-0 in Big Ten) got two touchdown passes from Julian Sayin and a pair of rushing touchdowns from C.J. Donaldson in a patient offensive attack that didn't complete a play of more than 20 yards all afternoon. The Buckeyes scored 21 points off the Illini mistakes.

Illinois (5-2, 2-2) was looking to repeat history as their lone win over a number one ranked in a top-20 matchup was a 14-7 home victory as the 8th ranked Illini toppled No. 1 Ohio State at home back in 1950. But they were hampered by mental mistakes and couldn't penetrate a Buckeyes defense that hasn't allowed a first half touchdown all season.

Punter Keelan Crimmins kneeled while corralling a low snap on 4th down, giving the Buckeyes the ball on the Illinois 38-yard line and resulting in an Ohio State field goal. Later, on Illinois' deepest drive before halftime, tight end Christian Abney was called for a false start penalty on a 3rd and goal from the Buckeyes' 1-yard line, forcing Illinois to settle for a David Olano field goal and a 20-3 halftime score.

After just missing in the final minutes of the first half, Illinois put together its first touchdown drive to start the 3rd quarter, going 75 yards in 12 plays and culminating in an Aidan Laughery 1-yard scamper. It was the first score on the ground Ohio State had allowed in its last 190 rushing attempts and the first touchdown given up overall since allowing Ohio to reach paydirt back on September 13th, a span of more than 184 minutes on the field.

The Buckeyes hadn't allowed a red zone touchdown all season, but Illinois crossed the goal line twice. The first on Laughery's score and later on a Luke Altmyer to Collin Dixon 2-yard touchdown pass in the 4th quarter.

Altmyer suffered his first interception of the season on a deflected pass in the 1st quarter.  It was the first time he was picked off at home since Michigan State did it twice last November. He finished with 30 completions on 44 attempts for 248 yards.

Illinois now has a bye week coming up before making the trip to face Washington on October 25th.

Stay with IlliniGuys.com for complete coverage from Gies Memorial Stadium.