Game Details

When: Saturday, Nov 18, 2017 
Where: Columbus, OH, Ohio Stadium

Ohio State is 68–30–4 all-time against against Illinois and is 29–18–4 as the home team.  

There is a theme for Ohio State and its 2017 opponents and that is at quarterback. Illinois will be the third straight team, and sixth overall, that the Buckeyes' defense will face that is replacing its 2016 signal-caller. Wes Lunt finished his Illini career with 550 completions, 5,900 yards and 36 touchdowns. Lovie Smith will turn to Jeff George Jr. to direct the offense.

If George lives up to the family name, Illinois will have an improvement in the passing game. His dad, Jeff George Sr., was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1990 NFL Draft. Last year, as a redshirt sophomore, George Jr. played in five games and started four of them. The Georges became the first father and son combo to start at quarterback for Illinois. 

Defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson will need to replace the team's leading tackler and a slew of players that accounted for 25 of the team's 29.5  sacks. Nickerson's son, linebacker Hardy Nickerson, led the Illini with 107 tackles in '16. The elder Nickerson will likely turn to linebacker Tre' Watson to fill the void.

The Last Time...​

• Ohio State played Illinois was 2015. The second ranked Buckeyes won 28-3 in Champaign.
• The Buckeyes lost to Illinois was 2007. Juice Williams (and some officiating calls) led the visitors to a 28-21 victory.
• Illinios defeated Ohio State in Memorial Stadium was 1991. The Illini were coached by John Mackovic and won 10-7.

Game 11, The Last Time...

• Ohio State played the 11th game of the season on the road was 2016. No. 2 Ohio State defeated Michigan State 17-16 in East Lansing.
• The Buckeyes lost the 11th game of the season was 2015. No. 9 Michigan State upset No. 2 Ohio State in Ohio Stadium.
• Ohio State was defeated as the away team on the 11th game of the season was 1993. John Cooper's fifth ranked Buckeyes lost to unranked Michigan 28-0 in Ann Arbor.  

Illinois' 2016 Season

Record: 3–9
Bowl Game: Nope.
Coaching Status: Lovie (3–9) 2nd season.

Leading Returning Offensive Players From 2016
Passer: Jeff George Jr. (470 yards)
Rusher: Kendrick Foster (720 yards)
Receiver: Malik Turner (712 yards)

Leading Returning Defensive Players From 2016
Tackles: Tre' Watson (107)
Sacks: Austin Roberts (1.5)
Interceptions: Julian Hylton (1)

Top 2017 Recruits

Notable Missing Players

• QB Wes Lunt (1,376 yards and 8 TDs)
• Hardy Nickerson (107 tackles)
• Carroll Phillips (9 sacks)
• Darius Mosley (2 INT)
• RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn transferred to Vanderbilt

Five Things November 18th

1. This is the 19th time the Buckeyes have played on November 18th.
2. No. 1 Ohio State defeated No. 2 Michigan 42-39 in Ohio Stadium the last time the program played on this date.
3. The Buckeyes have won seven of the last eight games played on Nov. 18.
4. Ohio State has only played three ranked opponents on the 18th of November and is 1–2 in those games.   
5. The Buckeyes have five shutout wins on this date. The last occurred in 1939 when Francis Schmidt's team defeated Robert Zuppke's Illinois squad 21-0 in Ohio Stadium.

2016 Statistical Comparison

OFFENSE
39.4	13th	POINTS FOR	19.7	122nd
245.2	11th	RUSHING OFFENSE	140.5	105th
213.9	81st	PASSING OFFENSE	174.6	109th
459.2	31st	TOTAL OFFENSE	315.1	123rd
.467	17th	3rd DOWNS	.284	127th
.871	40th	RED ZONE	.774	109th
DEFENSE
15.5	3rd	POINTS ALLOWED	31.9	94th
124.5	19th	RUSH DEFENSE	219.2	105th
172.2	7th	PASS DEFENSE	185.9	17th
94.4	3rd	PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE	131.1	72nd
296.8	6th	TOTAL DEFENSE	405.1	61st
.322	11th	3rd DOWNS	.446	107th
.725	5th	RED ZONE	.895	102nd
SPECIAL TEAMS
5.2	105th	PUNT RETURN	4.4	109th
24.4	13th	KICKOFF RETURN	18.9	108th
43.1	2nd	NET PUNTING	35.0	110th
MISCELLANEOUS
+ 1.2	3rd	TURNOVER MARGIN	- 0.1	82nd
6.3	70th	PENALTIES	6.3	70th
18		EDGE	1

Leftovers

Ohio State is 28–21–1 when playing the 11th game of the season and is 14–6 when playing the 11th game on the road.

Lovie Smith is 3–9 as a collegiate head coach and was 89–87 in the NFL.

Ohio State has played 13 games as the home team on 11/11 and is 10–2–1.

The Buckeyes are 1–1 when the 11th game of the season is played on November 18. In 2000, No. 12 Ohio State lost to No. 19 Michigan 38-26 in John Cooper's last appearance in The Game.  The Buckeyes destroyed Indiana 42-3 in Ohio Stadium in 1995.

This is the first time in Ohio State's history that the team has played the 11th game of the season on November 18.