This post first appeared on Penn State University’s CommRadio website on October 07, 2025.
This Saturday, the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes will travel to Champaign for a top-20 matchup with the No. 17 Illinois Fighting Illini. This rendition of the Illibuck rivalry will be the first meeting between the teams since 2017.
Ohio State enters the weekend with an unblemished 5-0 record. The Buckeyes have held the No. 1 spot in the AP Poll since they defeated Texas 14-7 in their opening matchup of the season. They’ve since rattled off four consecutive wins against Grambling, Ohio, Washington and Minnesota by a combined score of 173-18.
Illinois comes into the matchup holding steady at 5-1 on the year. The Fighting Illini began the season hot, starting 3-0 with wins over Western Illinois, Duke and Western Michigan before being dismantled 63-10 by the then No. 19 Indiana Hoosiers. Illinois would bounce back, knocking off No. 21 USC in a tight, 34-32 nail-biter before handling business against a sub-par Purdue team.
For the Buckeyes, sophomore quarterback Julian Sayin has emerged as a star during the early parts of the season. The California native has passed for 1,313 yards, 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions through his first five games.
Sayin’s favorite target, as expected, has been wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. The sophomore receiver has racked up 463 receiving yards and six touchdowns to begin the year, both of which rank among the top 15 at his position.
Defensively, safety Caleb Downs has remained a steady presence in the Buckeye secondary. Defensive end Caden Curry leads the Ohio State defense with five sacks and is tied for the team lead in tackles with 29. Other notable players in the Matt Patricia-led unit include linebacker Arvell Reese and defensive lineman Kayden McDonald.
Standouts for the Fighting Illini include senior quarterback Luke Altmeyer, whose 1,573 passing yards currently sit at the sixth-most in the nation. The veteran signal-caller has also tossed 12 touchdowns while avoiding an interception through his first six games. Altmeyer’s aerial assault has been supported on the ground by the two-headed rushing attack of Ca’Lil Valentine and Kaden Feagin, who have rushed for 323 and 316 yards, respectively. The duo has also tacked on an additional eight touchdowns on the ground.
The last matchup between the teams saw Ohio State come out on top in convincing fashion. In that game, the Buckeyes would rally behind two-touchdown performances from running back Mike Weber and Binjimen Victor, cruising to a 52-14 victory. The matchup was slated to be renewed in the 2020 season, though that game would ultimately be canceled.
The Buckeyes are a -720 favorite to claim the victory on Saturday, per FanDuel Sportsbook. ESPN’s FPI Matchup Predictor gives Ohio State an 82.3% chance to defeat the Fighting Illini.
Ultimately, the Buckeyes’ offensive firepower will be too much for the Fighting Illini to overcome. While the Illinois offense is solid, it will not be enough to overcome such a stout and punishing defense. The Buckeyes take the victory in commanding fashion by a score of 38-17.
Elliott Inscho is a first-year student majoring in digital and print journalism. To contact him, email eli5026@psu.edu