Ohio State football went on the road and got a huge win against a ranked Illinois team. We give you five takeaways from all the action Saturday.
After Saturday afternoon’s matchup against Illinois, it wasn’t all smooth sailing, but Ohio State got the job done on the road. The Buckeye offense stalled a few times and had to settle for field goals. There were a couple of injury scares, with star wide receiver Jeremiah Smith tweaking his back and freshman running back Bo Jackson favoring his ankle. Even with some key pieces missing, the defense continued to dominate. At the end of the day, OSU added another win to the column and remains undefeated.
We were able to take away a few more things from what unfolded in Champaign as Ohio State pulled off another strong team performance in a rather dominant 34-16 victory to move to 6-0 with all of its lofty goals, including winning the Big Ten and defending its College Football Playoff national championship.
Here are five takeaways from Saturday's win over Illinois.
This Ohio State offense just finds ways to score
There wasn’t one player who completely stole the show statistically, but Ohio State still managed to put up over 30 points. That’s a testament to how dangerous this offense can be. Quarterback Julian Sayin took what the defense gave him and mixed in a few deep shots when the opportunity was there. The run game didn’t break out, as Illinois managed to contain all three backs fairly well. Still, Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate both made their usual impact with at least four catches each and kept the chains moving.
Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese is a future top 15 NFL pick
Arvell Reese continues to look like a star in the making. The junior linebacker has been consistently dominant with clutch tackles, stops behind the line of scrimmage, and pressure on the quarterback. In this game, he finished with half a sack, half a tackle for loss, and over six total tackles. His blend of speed and size is rare, and it’s clear he’s going to be one of the first defensive players off the board in April. He’s on track to become one of the best linebackers Ohio State has ever produced.
The Ohio State defense is still out of this world
It has been said over and over this season, but it’s worth repeating. This defense under Matt Patricia is something special. It continues to shut down opposing offenses, never giving up first-half touchdowns and constantly applying pressure. The one critique earlier this season was a lack of turnovers, but that changed in this one. Ohio State forced two fumbles and picked off a pass, showing it can take the ball away when needed. This is the best defense in the country and could go down as the best in program history -- despite giving up the most points it has all year (16).
Julian Sayin is playing on easy mode
Sayin’s stat line won’t blow anyone away, but his efficiency and poise are what stand out. For a freshman, his decision-making is beyond his years. He rarely puts the ball in harm’s way and always seems to find the right read, especially when taking the checkdown for guaranteed yards. He continues to play clean, smart football, and that’s a huge reason why Ohio State is in a position to win every week.
How many Buckeyes will be drafted in April?
After coming one short of the all-time NFL record with 14 players drafted last year, it might seem like a stretch to expect the same in 2025. But this year’s roster might actually feature even more high-end talent. Carnell Tate is well on his way to being an early selection. Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles are arguably the top linebacker duo in the nation, and both project as first-round picks. Caleb Downs is a game-changer in the secondary. Beyond that, there are standout offensive linemen, Caden Curry, and several other defensive backs who are draft-ready. The development pipeline in Columbus remains elite, and this group looks poised to make another big mark at the next level.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs. Illinois rapid reaction: 5 takeaways after the win
Category: General Sports
