Ohio State cannot overlook Illinois in this mid-October matchup.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about this season’s marquee matchups. Whether they feature the Buckeyes, other Big Ten schools, or major teams across the country. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Game of the Year” articles here.
In the Buckeyes’ 2024 national championship season, their home game against Indiana became a much bigger matchup than originally anticipated when the schedule came out.
Games like that are always fun. They become another big mark on the schedule for the Buckeyes.
The trip to Illinois this season could be just that. Battles against Texas, Penn State, and Michigan are going to get the most attention and anticipation, but the game in Champaign, Illinois, on Oct. 11 could become a crucial matchup in the Big Ten this season.
Ohio State and Illinois haven’t played since Nov. 18, 2017, a game the Buckeyes won 52-14. It’s the latest of nine straight wins over the Fighting Illini, a streak that dates back to the 2008 season.
That being said, Illinois has as high of expectations as they have had in a long time. The Illini have 16 starters returning from a team that won 10 games in 2024. Fifth-year head coach Bret Bielema has built a strong culture in Champaign, and Illinois has aspirations of going to the College Football Playoff.
A 12-team bracket creates a safety net for teams like Ohio State if they happen to trip up against a team like Illinois. In the past, that could have been the end of any shot for the Buckeyes to get into the College Football Playoff. But this season, should the Buckeyes trip up against an up-and-coming team like Illinois, their chances of making the field would still be very good.
Another factor that I’m intrigued by is what time it will be played. There were a lot of complaints about Indiana vs. Ohio State last season being on Big Noon Kickoff. It marked the fifth of six times the Buckeyes played at noon on FOX. While Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Jenny Taft are synonymous with college football Saturdays, Buckeyes fans want more games to be played later in the afternoon or in prime time.
The Ohio State-Illinois game does not yet have a kickoff time or a network designation. This is a game that seems ripe for at least 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. I would love to see it on Big Ten Saturday Night on NBC.
Plus, it would be great to see a nationally televised prime time game in Champaign, which doesn’t get a lot of marquee matchups like this.
Yes, the Big Ten and Fox have a lucrative contract, but the Big Ten is also on CBS and NBC. They’re new to televising Big Ten football, and they both need games like this to boost their respective ratings.
Regardless of the time and network, this game could have major implications in the Big Ten. Illinois is not a team to overlook, and it will be a big test for the Buckeyes.