Presented by HOMAGE
The Illibuck is staying in Columbus.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Ohio State | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
| #17 ILLINOIS | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| OCT. 11, 2025 • GIES MEMORIAL STADIUM • CHAMPAIGN, IL | |||||
In its first game against Illinois since 2017, Ohio State continued its dominant start to the 2025 season with a 34-16 victory over 17th-ranked Illinois, improving to 6-0 on the year.
Ohio State scored the first 20 points of the afternoon in Champaign. Illinois scored the game’s next 10 points, but that was as close as the Illini would come to a comeback as Ohio State scored the game’s next two touchdowns to pull away.
The Illibuck trophy is going home with Jeremiah Smith and @OhioStateFB pic.twitter.com/VxhplxPtvn
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
Points off turnovers made the difference in the game as Ohio State’s defense made three takeaways and the Buckeye offense turned all three into touchdowns.
| Qtr | Time | Team | Result | Play Details | OSU | ILL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9:35 | OSU | FG | 26-YARD KICK, JAYDEN FIELDING | 3 | 0 |
| 1 | 3:40 | OSU | TD | 1-YARD RUN, CJ DONALDSON | 10 | 0 |
| 2 | 6:43 | OSU | FG | 31-YARD KICK, JAYDEN FIELDING | 13 | 0 |
| 2 | 3:48 | OSU | TD | 17-YARD PASS, JULIAN SAYIN TO BO JACKSON | 20 | 0 |
| 2 | 1:05 | ILL | FG | 24-YARD KICK, DAVID OLANO | 20 | 3 |
| 3 | 10:09 | ILL | TD | 1-YARD RUN, AIDEN LAUGHERY | 20 | 10 |
| 3 | 2:08 | OSU | TD | 2-YARD RUN, CJ DONALDSON | 27 | 10 |
| 4 | 13:25 | OSU | TD | 2-YARD PASS, JULIAN SAYIN TO JEREMIAH SMITH | 34 | 10 |
| 4 | 4:25 | ILL | TD | 4-yARD PASS, LUKE ALTMYER TO COLLIN DIXON (2-PT NO GOOD) | 34 | 16 |
Key Moments
Q1, 6:55: Pierce turns Mathews tip into interception
After throwing no interceptions in Illinois’ first six games of the season, Luke Altmyer threw one on the Illini’s very first drive of the game. Jermaine Mathews Jr. tipped a pass intended for Hank Beatty, and Payton Pierce caught the ball off the deflection for his first career interception.
LUKE ALTMYER IS PICKED OFF
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
The @OhioStateFB defense forces Luke Altmyer's first INT of the season @ATTBusiness pic.twitter.com/q3hCaa4Pt0
That interception gave the Buckeyes the ball at the 35-yard line, leading to their first touchdown of the game, which CJ Donaldson scored on a 1-yard run to give the Buckeyes a 10-0 first-quarter lead.
Q2, 6:38: McDonald steals ball from Illinois RB
Kayden McDonald forced Ohio State’s second takeaway of the day when he stole the ball out of Illinois running back Ca’lil Valentine’s hands, giving him both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in the box score.
The ball is out and the Buckeyes have it! @OhioStateFB makes another big play on defense pic.twitter.com/laCWFA6hfC
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
Like the first takeaway, that Illinois turnover led to another Ohio State touchdown, as Bo Jackson turned a screen pass from Julian Sayin into a 17-yard score.
Bo knows TDs
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
Bo Jackson dives for the @OhioStateFB touchdown pic.twitter.com/3qglSsYzSc
Q2, 1:08: Ohio State’s defense makes another goal-line stand
After a defensive pass interference penalty against Devin Sanchez brought Illinois’ offense to the 1-yard line, Ohio State’s vaunted goal-line defense continued its streak of not allowing a red zone touchdown this season. Caden Curry chased Luke Altmyer outside the pocket for a 3-yard sack on first down, Tywone Malone Jr. snuffed out a shovel pass for a tackle at the 1-yard line on second down, and Illinois settled for a field goal after Davison Igbinosun forced an incompletion on third down.
This tackle by Tywone Malone Jr. @ohiostatefb pic.twitter.com/40Sf3us5MZ
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
STOPPED ON 3RD & GOAL
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
What a goal-line stand by the @OhioStateFB defense pic.twitter.com/CK9KS6LxnT
Ohio State’s defense finally allowed a red-zone touchdown for the first time all season on Illinois’ opening drive of the second half as Illini running back Aiden Laughery scored on a creative 4th-and-1 play for what was also the first rushing touchdown allowed by the Buckeyes this season.
THERE IT IS@IlliniFootball has scored the first rushing TD of the season against Ohio State pic.twitter.com/Wo8rFUDNgl
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
Q3, 1:33: Mathews forces another turnover
Mathews – who typically plays outside cornerback but played primarily at nickel against Illinois with Lorenzo Styles Jr. sidelined by injury – forced his second turnover of the game when he got to Altmyer on a corner blitz and knocked the ball out of his hands, forcing a fumble that Curry recovered at the 24-yard line.
ANOTHER FUMBLE AND OHIO STATE HAS IT AGAIN@OhioStateFB continues to be unstoppable on defense pic.twitter.com/Fi1hUANGcx
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
As with the first two turnovers, Ohio State turned its third takeaway into another touchdown, finishing a seven-play drive with a 2-yard third-down pass from Sayin to Jeremiah Smith.
It was only a matter of time until Jeremiah Smith scored @OhioStateFB is running away with it in Champaign pic.twitter.com/XIq9RHB6A5
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
| Stat | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| PASSING | JULIAN SAYIN | 19-27, 166 YARDS, 2 TD |
| RUSHING | BO JACKSON | 10 CARRIES, 47 YARDS |
| RECEIVING | JEREMIAH SMITH | 5 CATCHES, 42 YARDS, 1 TD |
| TACKLES | SONNY STYLES | 10 TACKLES |
Team Stats
| OHIO STATE | METRIC | ILLINOIS |
|---|---|---|
| 272 | TOTAL YARDS | 295 |
| 406 | RUSHING YARDS | 47 |
| 37 | RUSHING ATTEMPTS | 27 |
| 2.9 | AVERAGE PER RUSH | 1.7 |
| 2 | RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS | 1 |
| 166 | PASSING YARDS | 248 |
| 19-27 | COMPLETIONS–ATTEMPTS | 30-44 |
| 8.7 | YARDS PER COMPLETION | 8.3 |
| 2 | PASSING TOUCHDOWNS | 1 |
| 17 | 1st DOWNS | 22 |
| 64 | TOTAL PLAYS | 71 |
| 4.3 | YARDS PER PLAY | 4.2 |
| 8-15 | 3RD DOWNS | 4-14 |
| 7-59 | PENALTIES | 4-19 |
| 33:11 | POSSESSION | 26:49 |
| 0 | TURNOVERS (PTS OFF) | 3 (21) |
What’s Next
Ohio State plays on the road for the second week in a row as it travels to Madison next week to play Wisconsin. Kickoff at Camp Randall Stadium next Saturday is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at CBS.
Game Notes
- Ohio State is now 70-30-4 all-time vs. Illinois with 10 straight wins over the Illini.
- Ohio State has won 10 straight games dating back to last season.
- With Lorenzo Styles Jr. out due to injury, true freshman Devin Sanchez made his first career start at cornerback as Jermaine Mathews Jr. slid inside to cornerback.
- Defensive tackle Eddrick Houston and wide receiver Bryson Rodgers were also among 11 players who were unavailable for the Buckeyes due to injuries.
- Jeremiah Smith briefly left the game in the third quarter with an injury after being flipped onto his back on a tackle, but returned to the field later in the drive.
- Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort were among the NFL representatives in attendance. The Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings also had representatives at the game.
Delivering dominant performances and carrying the torch for a legacy like no other: it’s an Ohio State thing. Cruise through the best season of the year, OSU football season, with expansions of iconic OSU logos, co-brand looks with some pop culture heavyweights (Bart x Buckeyes, anyone?) and more Scarlet and Gray garb.
