The #1-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0) traveled to Urbana-Champaign for a Big Ten matchup Saturday with Illinois (5-2, 2-2). The teams had not met since 2017 and the Illini had not captured the rivalry’s Illibuck Trophy since 2007. The Buckeyes weren’t splashy on the day, but came away with a 34-16 win.

The Buckeyes received the opening kickoff and went 11 plays before stalling at the Illinois 8-yard line. Jayden Fielding made a 28-yard field goal to get OSU on the board first.

The Illini moved the ball to the middle of the field on their first drive, but quarterback Luke Altmyer was picked off by OSU linebacker Payton Pierce when his throw was deflected on a slant pass. The Buckeyes converted on the short field with C.J. Donaldson running it in from a yard out.

Ohio State repeated the sequence in the second quarter with a Fielding 31-yard field goal and a touchdown after an Illinois turnover. The turnover came when OSU lineman Kayden McDonald stripped the ball from running back Ca’Lil Valentine at the Illinois 25. The score came on a 17-yard pass from Julian Sayin to Bo Jackson.

Illinois put a short field goal on the scoreboard before the end of the half after a 69-yard, 11-play drive ended at the OSU 6-yard line. The Illini actually had the ball at the Ohio State 1-yard line, but were charged with a false start penalty, then threw an incompletion on third down. OSU has not given up a touchdown in the first half this season. It was 20-3 Buckeyes at the break.

The Illini started the second half with a scoring drive. They went 65 yards, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown run by Aiden Laughery. Ohio State responded with a long drive of their own, going 63 yards on 12 plays. Donaldson ran it in from two yards for his second touchdown of the day.

At the end of the third quarter, Illinois committed another turnover when Altmyer was sacked by Jermaine Mathews Jr. and lost the ball which was recovered by Caden Curry. The Buckeyes responded again with a touchdown on a Sayin throw to Jeremiah Smith from the 4-yard line.

The Illini scored a touchdown with 4:25 left in the game. Altmyer hit Collin Dixon from four yards out for the score, but a 2-point try was no good. With the victory, the Buckeyes remain undefeated overall, including three wins in Big Ten play.

Julian Saying finished the day 19-27 for 166 yards and two touchdowns. The top three receivers were Smith (5-42), Carnell Tate (4-41), and Max Klare (4-38). Jackson had 47 yards on 10 carries, while Donaldson ran it 13 times for 44 yards and two scores.

Pickerington Central alum Sonny Styles paced the Buckeyes with 10 tackles. Arvell Reese had nine stops, including 1.5 sacks. Caleb Downs also had nine tackles for Ohio State.

The Buckeyes stay on the road for their next Big Ten contest, as they take on the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison next Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. at Camp Randall Stadium. Fans can watch the game on CBS.