Seventh-ranked Ohio State prepares to welcome Illinois to Ohio Stadium on Saturday for a Big Ten conference opener that carries nearly a century of football history. The clash kicks off at noon Eastern time and will broadcast live on FOX as part of the network’s Big Noon Saturday package.
The 105th Chapter of a Storied Midwest Rivalry
Saturday marks the 105th all-time meeting between the two Big Ten programs. It also represents the 93rd iteration of the Illibuck Trophy rivalry, an annual tradition dating back to 1924. The victor claims a unique wooden turtle trophy to mark their supremacy until the next meeting.
History favors the hosts heavily in recent decades. Ohio State has claimed victories in the last 10 meetings against Illinois. Illinois last tasted victory in Columbus back in 2007, when they stunned a then-top-ranked Buckeye squad. Last season, Ohio State secured a 34-16 victory over Illinois in Champaign.
Early-Season Big Ten Resumes
Both programs enter conference play holding identical 2-1 overall records. Ohio State opened its campaign with victories over Ball State (56-3) and Kent State (59-3), alongside a 24-23 road loss at Texas. Meanwhile, Illinois arrives in Columbus with wins against UAB (42-23) and FCS opponent Southern Illinois (48-10), paired with a 31-27 home defeat against Duke.
Ryan Day commands the Buckeyes in his eighth full season as head coach. Under his leadership, Ohio State has compiled a 55-5 record across his previous 60 Big Ten games, which includes a 29-2 mark inside Ohio Stadium against conference opponents. The Buckeyes also boast a 38-1 record against unranked Big Ten opponents during his tenure.
A Fortress in Columbus and Historic Stakes
Since the start of the 2019 season, Day’s teams have accumulated a nation-leading 46 home victories against just three losses. Factoring in his two wins as acting head coach in 2018, Day holds a 48-3 home record (.941 winning percentage). The Buckeyes step onto the turf Saturday holding the fifth-longest home winning streak in the country, aiming to stretch that run to 11 in a row.
Conference trends highlight Ohio State's historical dominance. The program sits second all-time with 39 conference championships, having captured four consecutive titles between 2017 and 2020. However, the current five-year drought without a Big Ten championship stands as the program’s longest dry spell since a seven-year stretch between 1986 and 1993. Overall, OSU leads all conference programs with 567 total league victories and five conference championship game wins.
Traditions, Pregame Festivities, and the Victory Bell
Adding emotional weight to the weekend, former Ohio State football All-American and current assistant coach James Laurinaitis has been selected to ring the Ohio Stadium Victory Bell prior to kickoff. Laurinaitis earns the honor as a member of the 2026 College Football Hall of Fame induction class.
FOX Sports will anchor its pregame atmosphere on campus, hosting the Big Noon Saturday broadcast starting at 10 a.m. The broadcast team—featuring former Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer—will set up camp on the lawn situated on the north side of the RPAC building, just southeast of the stadium. Supporters are invited to gather on-site and join the live broadcast as two rivals write a brand-new chapter in the heart of Columbus.
