The Master of Disguise would tell you Jeremiah Smith is now officially turtle-y enough for the turtle club.
A 34-16 win over Illinois for Ohio State on Saturday afternoon means the Buckeyes can once again claim Illibuck as their own. The 11th edition of the coveted wooden turtle quickly found a home in the arms of several OSU players after the game, chief among them Jeremiah Smith.
100 years after the birth of the Illibuck tradition, it's coming home to the Buckeye State. https://t.co/wWL5U7alhF
— Ohio State (@OhioState) October 11, 2025
Jeremiah Smith holds the Illibuck trophy @OhioStateFB | @BarstoolOSU pic.twitter.com/NCoSMjhR4G
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 11, 2025
Ryan Day wanted the Illibuck to be a part of Carmen Ohio pic.twitter.com/Sj0564pPM0
— Dave Holmes (@DaveHolmesTV) October 11, 2025
Jeremiah Smith is carrying a big-ass wooden turtle around because this is the greatest sport on Earth. pic.twitter.com/DjL2oVWsJT
— Spencer Holbrook (@SpencerHolbrook) October 11, 2025
Given the afternoon proved to be the product of yet another team effort, Smith made sure Illibuck had a shared presence across his teammates in wake of the win. Kayden McDonald told Andy Anders that holding Illibuck, "felt like Simba, the Simba moment [in the Lion King]." Jermaine Mathews Jr. did the honor of carrying the trophy into the locker room.
The Illibuck Trophy is heading to Columbus pic.twitter.com/LJsnUKpI2f
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 11, 2025
Give me that Turtle
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) October 11, 2025
Only in College Football. pic.twitter.com/0lPyaJAXdY
When the turtle replica finally made its way indoors, Ryan Day could not help but emphatically celebrate himself, holding the turtle aloft and letting out a triumphant yell.
6 - 0.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Yp9zMjKvwP
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) October 11, 2025
The win moves Ohio State to 6-0 on the season and 69-30-4 all-time against Illinois in the Illibuck rivalry. Today's game served as a 100th-year celebration of sorts for the rivalry after the schools began the Illibuck trophy tradition in 1924 with a live turtle. However, this was the first opportunity for the schools to celebrate crossing the century milestone in the rivalry trophy's history given the sides had not met since the Buckeyes beat the Fighting Illini by a 52-14 final score during the 2017 season.
