University of Illinois
Ohio State
Illinois Travels to #7 Ohio State to Start Big Ten Play
September 21, 2026 | Football
PREVIEW
| Illinois (2-1) vs. #7 Ohio State (2-1) | |
|---|---|
| Date | Time | Saturday, Sept. 26 | 11 a.m. CT |
| Location | Columbus, Ohio (Ohio Stadium) |
| Tickets | OhioStateBuckeyes.com |
| TV | FOX |
| Radio | Busey Bank Illini Sports Network | Listen | SiriusXM (179/233) | SXM App |
| Live Stats | illinois.statbroadcast.com |
| Illinois | Game Notes |
| Ohio State | OhioStateBuckeyes.com |
| Shop | Fighting Illini Store |
| Social Media | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |
| App | Fighting Illini App |
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Illinois travels to #7 Ohio State in the Illini's first roadtrip and first Big Ten game of the 2026 season. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on FOX.
Illinois (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) and Ohio State (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) will battle for the Illibuck rivalry trophy, a wooden turtle that is presented to the winning team. The Illibuck started in 1924 as a live turtle, but the coveted turtle died in 1926 and was replaced by a series of wooden replicas inscribed with the winning score following each matchup. The current trophy is Illibuck XI.
Saturday will be the 105th meeting between the Fighting Illini and Ohio State in the overall series dating back to 1902, and the 93rd contest for the Illibuck rivalry trophy which officially began 1924. It will be Illinois' first visit to Columbus since 2017.
Ohio State has won 10 straight in the series dating back to Illinois' upset over #1-ranked Ohio State in Columbus in 2007.
Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), and Jenny Taft (reporter) have the television broadcast streaming on FOX. The Busey Bank Illini Sports Network has the radio call with Brian Barnhart (play-by-play), Carey Davis (analyst), and Kevin Mitchell (sideline).
Press Conference
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema will host his weekly press conference on Monday at 1 p.m. CT. Fans can watch for free at FightingIllini.com/live.
Notes
The Illinois Offense
• WR Collin Dixon is among the top wide receivers in the nation:
» National leader in receiving touchdowns (7), the only player in the nation with seven receiving touchdowns
» First Big Ten player with seven receiving TDs through three games since 2004 (Taylor Stubblefield, Purdue)
» Broke Illinois' Gies Memorial Stadium record for receiving touchdowns in a season (7)
» Three touchdown receptions away from tying Illinois' single-season record of 10
» Fourth in the nation and second in the Big Ten in receptions (25)
» Sixth in the nation and third in the Big Ten in receiving yards (367)
» Fourth in the nation in total touchdowns (7), one back from three running backs tied for first with eight
• QB Katin Houser ranks 10th in the nation in ESPN's QBR metric (87.2) and ranks among the nation's top 20 quarterbacks in completion percentage (10th, 74.1), passing touchdowns (15th, 8), and passing efficiency (18th, 180.3).
• In the season-opening win over UAB, Houser had the eighth-best passing efficiency in a game in program history and the best ever in an Illini debut (224.6).
• WR Hudson Clement has caught a pass in 30 straight games, the sixth-longest active streak in the nation.
• Due to injuries, Illinois has been forced to start three different right guards through three games: Brandon Henderson, TJ McMIllen, and Champ Smith. Stanford is the only other team in the nation to have an OL spot with three starters through the team's first three games (also right guard).
The Illinois Defense
• DL Will Holmes is second in the nation among interior defensive linemen with a 22.2% pressure rate (data by PFF). Holmes ranks third in the nation among interior defensive linemen in total pressures (12).
• DB Matthew Bailey is the only player in the nation returning after leading his team in tackles in 2024 and 2025. Bailey is Illinois' second-leading tackler this season with 14.
• Bailey had an 88-yard interception return for a touchdown against Southern Illinois, the 9th-longest interception return in Illinois history and the 9th-longest interception return in Gies Memorial Stadium history (by either Illinois or an opponent).
The Battle for the Illibuck
• Saturday marks the 105th meeting between the Fighting Illini and Ohio State in the overall series dating back to 1902, and the 92nd contest for the Illibuck rivalry trophy which officially began in 1924.
• The Illibuck is the second-oldest rivalry trophy in the Big Ten, behind only The Little Brown Jug (Michigan-Minnesota) which dates back to 1909.
• "Illibuck" was a live turtle, but he died in 1926 and was replaced by a series of wooden replicas inscribed with the winning score following each matchup. The current trophy is Illibuck XI.
• Ohio State leads the overall series 70-30-4 with a 66-24-2 advantage in the battle for the Illibuck.
• The two programs met on the gridiron every year from 1914 to 2002, and again for 11 straight seasons from 2005 to 2015. OSU's scheduled visit to Champaign, Nov. 28, 2020, was canceled because of an elevated number of COVID-19 cases within the Buckeyes' program.
• Illinois' last win over the Buckeyes was in 2007. It marked the first time the Illini beat a top-ranked team since 1956. The victory ended OSU's 29-game regular-season winning streak and 21-game Big Ten win streak. The Illini rushed for 260 yards against a Buckeyes defense that came in allowing just 65 yards per game on the ground. Rashard Mendenhall set an Illinois season record (1,402 yards at the end of the game) with 88 yards on 26 carries. Juice Williams threw for four touchdowns and led Illinois on a 16-play drive lasting the final 8:09 to close out the win.
• Ohio State has won 10 straight over Illinois dating back to 2007.
