ILL
Illinois · away
at
Final ILL 19 – 42 OSU
Saturday 2026-09-26 12:00 · Ohio Stadium
OSU
Ohio State · home
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What the news says about this game

Ohio State defeated Illinois 42-19 on 2026-09-26 in OSU's Big Ten opener. The game is complete. Jeremiah Smith's historic performance—200+ receiving yards and 4 touchdown catches, tying an Ohio State single-game record—was the decisive factor, as the Buckeyes dominated.

read 2026-09-27 01:08 UTC ·

What it means for the players

TeamPlayerDirectionNote
OSUJeremiah SmithmoreRecorded 200+ receiving yards and 4 TDs (tied OSU single-game record). Also holds OSU career receiving yardage record (2,958 yards as of 2026-09-19).

30 stories

OSU Jeremiah Smith explains his improvement from last year
Jeremiah Smith explains his improvement from last year
2026-09-26
OSU Smith's historic 200-yard, 4-TD game propels Ohio State
Jeremiah Smith joined Terry Glenn on Saturday to become just the second Ohio State player with at least 200 receiving yards and four touchdowns in a game, as the Buckeyes coasted past Illinois 42-19.
2026-09-26
OSU Who are the winningest college football coaches of all time?
From Saban to Paterno, there are many legendary college football coaches. Who has the best career record? Check out who has the most wins now.
2026-09-26
ILL Jeremiah Smith ties Ohio State record with 4 TD catches as No. 7 Buckeyes beat Illinois 42-19
— Another home game, another record for Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith.
2026-09-26
OSU Jeremiah Smith ties Ohio State record with 4 TD catches as No. 7 Buckeyes beat Illinois 42-19
— Another home game, another record for Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith.
2026-09-26
OSU JSN: Jeremiah Smith has a chance to be the best
JSN: Jeremiah Smith has a chance to be the best
2026-09-25
OSU 2027 college football recruiting class rankings: Top 45 schools
As recruiting season quiets down, here's how the top classes are shaping up.
2026-09-25
ILL Week 4 Game Day Kickoff: Can Oregon turn a corner? Is USC for real?
Week 4 will tell us if our knee-jerk reactions to the first few weeks of the season actually mean anything.
2026-09-24
OSU Week 4 Game Day Kickoff: Can Oregon turn a corner? Is USC for real?
Week 4 will tell us if our knee-jerk reactions to the first few weeks of the season actually mean anything.
2026-09-24
OSU Top 25 betting lines: Texas favored at Tennessee; Oregon favored at USC
This week's odds and FPI predictions for Tennessee-Texas, USC-Oregon, Michigan-Iowa and every top 25 matchup.
2026-09-24
ILL No. 7 Ohio State still looking to clean things up going into Big Ten opener against Illinois
Ryan Day has more than a couple areas of concern as seventh-ranked Ohio State hosts Illinois to open Big Ten Conference play on Saturday.
2026-09-24
OSU No. 7 Ohio State still looking to clean things up going into Big Ten opener against Illinois
Ryan Day has more than a couple areas of concern as seventh-ranked Ohio State hosts Illinois to open Big Ten Conference play on Saturday.
2026-09-24
ILL September surprises: Our unexpected all-portal team
Unlikely stars a month ago, here are the biggest portal surprises at every position.
2026-09-24
OSU September surprises: Our unexpected all-portal team
Unlikely stars a month ago, here are the biggest portal surprises at every position.
2026-09-24
OSU Connelly: Ranking the 10 best College Football Playoff games
Who takes the No. 1 spot? ESPN's Bill Connelly lists out his top 10 College Football Playoff games.
2026-09-23
ILL College Football Playoff 2026: Bubble Watch after Week 3
Putting the spotlight on select teams and questions around others as the early playoff picture takes shape.
2026-09-22
OSU College Football Playoff 2026: Bubble Watch after Week 3
Putting the spotlight on select teams and questions around others as the early playoff picture takes shape.
2026-09-22
OSU College Football Playoff predictions: Who's most likely to make the field?
Find out which teams our experts think will make this season's CFP.
2026-09-22
OSU 2026-27 Week 3 College Football Playoff, bowl projections
With thrilling finishes and some big upsets, here are projections for each postseason game following Week 3.
2026-09-21
OSU 2026 Power Rankings: What we learned about the Top 25 in Week 3
Week 3 brought big wins, plus a few wake-up calls. Take a look at how the Top 25 shifted this week.
2026-09-21
OSU Allstate Playoff Predictor
Select your favorite contender, make your picks for how its season will play out and see what the Allstate Playoff Predictor foretells.
2026-09-20
OSU Ole Miss climbs to No. 4, joined by 9 other SEC teams in Top 25
Ole Miss moved into the top five with its win over LSU, the Tigers stayed in the top 10, and Florida and Mississippi State cracked the rankings to give the SEC 10 teams in The Associated Press Top 25.
2026-09-20
OSU AP college football Week 3 poll reaction: What's next for each Top 25 team
A look at this week's Top 25.
2026-09-20
OSU Projecting the College Football Playoff top 12 after Week 3
We assess how the selection committee could stack the top teams in the country after Week 3.
2026-09-20
OSU 2026 college football SP+ rankings for all 138 FBS teams
The updated SP+ rankings, plus strength of schedule and résumé SP+, after this weekend's results.
2026-09-20
OSU Best of Week 3: Ole Miss gets revenge, an inexplicable NC State fumble and more
From a marquee matchup in Oxford to Vandy-NC State, college football's Week 3 was filled with wild games.
2026-09-20
ILL Collin Dixon catches two more TD passes, Illinois beats Southern Illinois 48-10
— Katin Houser threw two second-quarter touchdown passes to Collin Dixon to lead Illinois past Southern Illinois 48-10 on Saturday.
2026-09-19
OSU Jeremiah Smith sets Ohio State career receiving yardage record
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught five passes for 85 yards against Kent State to set a new Buckeyes' career receiving yardage record with 2,958 yards.
2026-09-19
OSU Jeremiah Smith: I still have more records to chase at OSU
Jeremiah Smith: I still have more records to chase at OSU
2026-09-19
OSU Smith sets Ohio State career receiving mark as 6th-ranked Buckeyes roll past Kent State 59-3
— Jeremiah Smith became Ohio State's career receiving yardage leader, Ja’Kobi Jackson scored twice and the sixth-ranked Buckeyes rolled to a 59-3 victory over Kent State on Saturday.
2026-09-19