Big games loom for Buckeyes after game at IL

The two teams actually battled over a real turtle until it died in 1927. Since then, the teams have played for the Illibuck trophy.

Its the 2nd oldest trophy in the Big 10, only the Little Brown Jug is older.

Before any of those games come, however, OSU (9-0, 5-0) has a meeting with a team that has played spoiler in the past. The Fighting Illini stadium known as Memorial Stadium has another nick name. From figuring out a game plan to contain the explosive Ohio State offense to finding a way to block the Buckeyes’ risky defensive line, the to-do list is expansive.

At kickoff it should be in the low 50’s with winds only 5-15 miles per hour. College Football Playoff is coming up, Big Ten championship is coming up, so keep on making big plays in those games and having those moments of keeping everybody on the edge of their seats. He was suspended for last Saturday’s 28-14 win over Minnesota after being cited early Halloween morning when he was stopped at a police checkpoint. Their 5 wins are from teams who have a combined 17-30 record.

“You can tell the difference in our offense when Fergie is in there”, Cubit said of the back who had been sidelined with a shoulder injury. Only four scholarship players have played a minute for Ohio State.

While the team understands the season-defining importance of the games following Saturday’s, sophomore linebacker Raekwon McMillan said the team’s coaches have made sure the team is only thinking about the task immediately ahead.

Scouting the passing game: QB Wes Lunt threw for just 169 yards last week on 19-of-33 accuracy and threw three TDs. The team is led by Ezekiel Elliott, who has run for 1,244 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

Freshman Ke’Shawn Vaughn ran 16 times for a season-high 180 yards and two TDs, while Josh Ferguson had 133 yards on 12 carries in his first game since October 3. He could give his pro stock a boost this week with a good game against an opponent that features a roster stocked with future pros. They were shut out vs Penn St, scored just 14 against both Nebraska and North Carolina. Now you’ve got to get them back to Ohio State. “He studies the game, he works the game, he practices the game and it shows on Saturdays”. Ferguson also caught six passes for 41 yards and a TD, flashing the versatility that makes him one of the conference’s best backs when healthy.

The conventional wisdom going around this week is that something weird always happens when Ohio State plays IL in football. J.T. Barrett, the superior thrower to Cardale Jones, gets the call this week for Ohio State and he can hurt you with throws to the likes of Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall and Braxton Miller.

There’s just no question about it. Can he solve Illinois’ run defense? Ohio State has allowed just 49 percent completions and 163.9 yards per game, and has notched 27 sacks, giving it one of the league’s best pass rushes. The Buckeyes have won their last four games by at least 14 points.

Sometimes his excitement spills over enough that Bell puts in a request for work on the offensive side of the ball, which would give him a couple extra chances to potentially score and probably an easier path than from his full-time spot in the secondary.