No. 7 Ohio State beat Illinois 42-19 in Columbus, extending its winning streak over the Illini to 11 games. Jeremiah Smith set career highs with 217 receiving yards and four touchdowns, while Ohio State converted 10 of 14 chances on third and fourth down.
Smith’s four touchdown catches tied Ohio State’s single-game receiving-touchdown record. Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 27 of 36 passes for 367 yards and four touchdown passes, and added a rushing score. His scramble on third-and-7 kept a 19-play, eight-and-a-half-minute second-quarter drive alive; Smith finished it with his third touchdown of the half to make it 21-7.
Illinois’ offense also produced: quarterback Katin Houser threw for 263 yards and a touchdown, Aidan Laughery ran for 113 yards, and Hudson Clement caught five passes for 87 yards. Illinois’ offensive line allowed three sacks. The Illini host Purdue on Oct. 3.
