Ohio State 17, 
Illinois 10
No. 1 Buckeyes want early domination against Illini
VIDEO PLAYLIST 
| Top 25 Overview |
CHAMPAIGN, IL - 3:30 PM ET   Ohio State has outscored its opponents 126-10 in its last three games. Expect the Buckeyes to pile on the points against Illinois as well. |
| Complete Top 25 Overview |
| Matchup | |||||||
| W-L | PF | PA | HOME | ROAD | DIV | CONF | |
| OSU | 10-0 | 333 | 73 | 6-0 | 4-0 | 6-0 | 6-0 |
| ILL | 2-8 | 188 | 252 | 1-5 | 1-3 | 1-5 | 1-5 |
| · Complete Standings | |||||||
| Record When Scoring... (Since 2001) | ||||
| 20 OR MORE | 30 OR MORE | 40 OR MORE | 50 OR MORE | |
| OSU | 52-6-0 | 31-0-0 | 11-0-0 | 2-0-0 |
| ILL | 22-18-0 | 19-4-0 | 8-0-0 | 2-0-0 |
| LESS THAN 20 | LESS THAN 30 | LESS THAN 40 | LESS THAN 50 | |
| OSU | 7-7-0 | 28-13-0 | 48-13-0 | 57-13-0 |
| ILL | 1-26-0 | 4-40-0 | 15-44-0 | 21-44-0 |
| TEAM AVERAGES & NCAA RANKS | ||
| OFFENSE | TM | PER GAME AVERAGE / NCAA RANK |
| Total Yards | OSU | |
| ILL | ||
| Passing Yards | OSU | |
| ILL | ||
| Rushing Yards | OSU | |
| ILL | ||
| Points Scored | OSU | |
| ILL | ||
| Full Team Stats: Ohio State | Illinois | ||
| THIS WEEK'S LINE | |||
| FAVORITE | SPREAD | UNDERDOG | OVER/UNDER |
| OHIOST | 0 | ILLINOIS | 0 |
| Full Daily Lines | |||
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Four years ago, on the way to a perfect season and national championship, Ohio State nearly slipped on a visit to Illinois.
The Illini kicked a field goal on the final play of regulation to force overtime before the Buckeyes regrouped, batting away a final pass and sweating out a 23-16 win.
So Saturday when top-ranked and unbeaten Ohio State returns to Memorial Stadium to face another huge underdog in Illinois, the Buckeyes' plan is make sure the outcome doesn't hinge on a play or two late in the game.
Guard T.J. Downing, redshirted during that memorable 2002 season, still remembers the close call.
"We were all still a part of that, even though a lot of us weren't playing," he said.
"We don't want to be put in that position so our focus every time is to go out and see if we can't make it a three-quarter game and that way we're sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter saying, 'Hey, good victory."'
The Buckeyes (9-0, 5-0) have had plenty of good wins and a lot of lopsided ones, too. Their average victory is by 28.5 points.
Their offense, behind Troy Smith, is averaging 35.9 points and 418 yards, while a defense that was supposed to be in rebuilding mode leads the nation by allowing a measly 7.3 points per game.
The Buckeyes, who have a 16-game winning streak stretching back to last season, are facing an Illini team (2-7, 1-4) that's lost four in a row and blew a 21-3 lead last week while losing to Wisconsin 30-24.
It would appear Ohio State has an easy road ahead against the Illini and the following week at Northwestern before the matchup everyone is already talking about against Michigan in Columbus.
"I can speak for the rest of the guys in here that we don't plan on losing a game the rest of the season," Downing said.
The Buckeyes' defense will try to put the squeeze on Illinois freshman quarterback Juice Williams, who is capable of a sensational play, running or passing, and also of making a mistake from lack of experience.
"Juice Williams is a playmaker. To be a freshman quarterback he does a great job out there, making plays with his feet, with his arm," Ohio State defensive tackle David Patterson said.
"And he's got a cool nickname, too."
But who's cooler than Smith and his assortment of offensive options like receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez and running back Antonio Pittman? Smith has completed 63 percent of his career passes, making him the school's most accurate passer. And Pittman needs 106 yards Saturday to become the fifth back in OSU's storied history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons.
That exclusive club includes Eddie George, Archie Griffin, Tim Spencer and Keith Byars.
Illinois' eager defense awaits its biggest challenge wide-eyed.
"If you're going to play the No. 1 team in the country, you might as well enjoy it," Illini defensive end Josh Norris said. "They are deemed a great team, so if they're the standard of measure, where do I stand? If they're the greats, where do I fall in comparison?"
The Illini have lost their last four games by a total of 25 points, so they've been close. That's not much consolation, but they know what being an underdog is all about.
"That's the advantage that we have is that we're not scared," Norris said. "We're used to the feeling of every other team thinking they're just naturally better than we are."
Ron Zook's team got its only Big Ten win at Michigan State earlier this season, causing a brouhaha when it tried to plant its team flag on the turf in East Lansing after the unexpected victory.
Now they can check their progress against the best in the country.
"I told them, 'How many times in your life do you have the opportunity to play a football team the caliber of Ohio State, a team that is the No. 1 team in the country and deservedly so?' " Zook said.
"It's an opportunity for us to go out and really see exactly where we are at."
College Football Scores
Other Scores:
Saturday, November 4th
| Ball State | 26 | Final |
| Michigan | 34 |
| Indiana | 26 | Final |
| Minnesota | 63 |
| Penn State | 3 | Final |
| Wisconsin | 13 |
| Northwestern | 21 | Final |
| Iowa | 7 |
| Purdue | 17 | Final |
| Michigan State | 15 |
| Ohio State | 17 | Final |
| Illinois | 10 |