Ohio State officially wins the Big Ten East, will face Wisconsin in Big Ten title game
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The postseason rematch with the Badgers is set.

Just in case this fact got lost in all the hubbub of last night: Ohio State’s season, officially, got one game longer.

No matter what happens against Michigan, Ohio State will win the Big Ten East division and will head to the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis against the West division champs, the undefeated Wisconsin Badgers.

Kickoff is currently set for 8:17 PM on Saturday, Dec. 2.

It seems a little strange, given the level that Ohio State has dominated the conference over the last few seasons, but this will just be Ohio State’s third appearance in the title game. The Buckeyes lost to Michigan State in 2013, and memorably demolished Wisconsin in 2014. The Badgers have been a mainstay in the event, as this will be their fifth appearance.

A win would tie Ohio State with Wisconsin and Michigan State for the most Big Ten Championship wins with two. But far more importantly, it could vault them right back into the College Football Playoff, depending on whatever else happens in the sport.

Ohio State has a big game that you might have heard about this coming Saturday, and they’ll need to win that one to remain in the Playoff chase, and also because that’s the Michigan game, but all indicators right now point to Ohio State/Wisconsin being a classic as well.

It’s been a bit of a roller coaster season, but despite a few hiccups along the way, Ohio State has put themselves in position to take home some big trophies if they can take care of business against some very talented teams.

For more information on the Big Ten Football Championship Game, including travel arrangements, you can go here.

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Mike Weber, Binjimen Victor lead Ohio State charge in demolition of Illinois
Chuck McKeever via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes were projected to win big. They delivered.

The rain couldn't stop Ohio State's offense, and neither could Illinois.

In the last game at Ohio Stadium for 19 Buckeye seniors (and potentially another handful of underclassmen), Urban Meyer's squad cruised to a 52-14 victory over Lovie Smith's Fighting Illini. It was as businesslike a win as you could ask for—at no point did the Buckeyes really struggle, trail, or look out of sorts—and Ohio State locked up a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game with the W.

Let's break down some of the top performances from Saturday's win, the ninth straight for the Buckeyes over the Illini.

Blue chip stocks


Mike Weber, RB: Is the redshirt sophomore trying to show NFL scouts a little something? It's sure felt that way these last two weeks, as Weber has chewed up consecutive defenses to the tune of 270 yards and four TDs total. He got 108 of those and a pair of scores against the Illini on Saturday, including a 43-yard sprint to pay-dirt late in the first quarter.


There's a decent chance Weber decides to test the waters of the NFL Draft this spring rather than face another season's risks for injury and split carries. We'd be sad to see him leave, but the way he's playing since returning to full strength would make him a hard guy to pass up if you're an NFL owner.

Binjimen Victor, WR: Earlier this week, we wrote about the matchup nightmare that Victor poses for just about every team, including Illinois. He made us look smart on Saturday. The sophomore wideout found the end zone twice, somehow reaching the ball across the goal line while being tackled by the neck in the opposite direction toward the end of the first quarter, and connecting with Dwayne Haskins for a pretty score in the fourth.


The two scores—a career high for Victor—were part of an overall three catch, 39-yard day. He's got at least another year left in the Scarlet and Gray, and a few more games in 2017 to wreak havoc on opposing secondaries. If that doesn't brighten your day, I'm not sure what can.

Solid investments


J.T. Barrett, QB: Barrett didn't get to spend much time padding his stats on Saturday, since the team played so well that he got yanked before halftime. (He later returned for a single series in the third.) But it was time well-spent nonetheless, as it saw Barrett throw for his 100th and 101st career touchdowns. The greatest QB in program history got to walk off in the rain a winner. For all his struggles, it's heartbreaking to know that we'll never again see this guy take the field at Ohio Stadium.


Jonathon Cooper, DL: Cooper is considered one of the future stars on a Buckeye defensive line that's made a habit of churning them out. He had a decent day in relief on Saturday, coming up with a pair of sacks all on his own. This is what the next few years might look like for opposing QBs with Cooper lining up against them; we're honestly pretty okay with that. Check out the dang wrestling move here:

Junk bonds


Michigan. Y'all get a load of the Wolverines on Saturday? Woof.

Buy/Sell


BUY: J.T. Barrett's large wooden son.


BUY: Next week's game's coast potential. We know, we know: when you face off against a rival, you're supposed to throw the records out. But as mentioned above, Ohio State's Hate Week opponent is, uhhh, not very good. They're a mess at QB, they've lost to teams they were supposed to handle, and they just can't seem to stay ranked. Even in Ann Arbor's Big House, this one might be over by halftime.

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Buckeyes' wacky season reaches Big Ten title game - Richland Source
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes' wacky season reaches Big Ten title game
Richland Source
Senior quarterback J.T. Barrett smoothly guided the Buckeyes to a 38-0 second-quarter lead over hapless Illinois and Meyer pulled him in the first half to avoid injury. It was a nice scene, a big ovation from the home crowd in Barrett's final game in ...
7 numbers to know about the Ohio State-Michigan seriesDayton Daily News
Buckeyes clinch Big Ten East DivisionToledo Blade
Watch: Buckeyes beat Illinois; it's Michigan week247Sports
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette -Landof10.com -Saturday Blitz
all 434 news articles »

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Runaway train: Buckeyes crush Illini - Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Runaway train: Buckeyes crush Illini
Champaign/Urbana News-Gazette
Ohio State running back Mike Weber found plenty of open space against the Illini's defense on Saturday afternoon at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Weber rumbled for 108 yards and two touchdowns, as the Buckeyes churned out 325 rushing yards en ...

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Watch: Buckeyes beat Illinois; it's Michigan week - 247Sports
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Watch: Buckeyes beat Illinois; it's Michigan week
247Sports
Ohio State beat up on Illinois on Saturday, but nearly everyone expected that. The Buckeyes defeat the Illini 52-14 to clinch a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis in two weeks. Our team writers Steve Helwagen and Patrick Murphy were ...

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Buckeyes bash Illini on Senior Day - WDTN
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Buckeyes bash Illini on Senior Day
WDTN
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — No. 8 Ohio State scored on its first six possessions — including J.T. Barrett's 100th career touchdown pass — as the Buckeyes routed Illinois 52-14 on Saturday and clinched the Big Ten East title. Barrett, playing in his last ...
Ohio State: Trophy Season underway, but Buckeyes hunting bigger gameLandof10.com
Buckeyes' wacky season reaches Big Ten title gameRichland Source
Runaway train: Buckeyes crush IlliniChampaign/Urbana News-Gazette
cleveland.com -News-Herald.com
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Ohio State win, Michigan loss hands Buckeyes B1G East, date with Wisconsin in league title game - NBCSports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State win, Michigan loss hands Buckeyes B1G East, date with Wisconsin in league title game
NBCSports.com
If the Buckeyes can somehow manage wins in each of those two games, they could have an outside chance to become the first two-loss team to qualify for the College Football Playoff, although they would still need some help. Unbeaten UW, meanwhile ...

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Big Ten Power Rankings: Wisconsin, Ohio State continue to lead way in post-Week 12 list
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

Wisconsin remains on top of my latest Big Ten Power Rankings, present by ArcelorMittal, and keeps its playoff hopes alive. Meanwhile, Ohio State wrapped up the Big Ten East. [ MORE: Week 12 video | Week 12 picks revisited ] See my latest list below. 1. Wisconsin (11-0, 8-0). The Badgers remain on track for a playoff slot, as they are 11-0 for the first time in school annals. Last week: 1 Up next: at Minnesota 2. Ohio State (9-2, 7-1). The Buckeyes have won the Big Ten East for the first time since 2014. Playoffs hopes remain alive. Last

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Week 12 Big Ten football game predictions revisited
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Before we turn our attention to Week 13, it’s time to revisit how BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart and Big Ten fans did with their Week 12 Big Ten game predictions.

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7 numbers to know about the Ohio State-Michigan series - Dayton Daily News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


7 numbers to know about the Ohio State-Michigan series
Dayton Daily News
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle John Simon (54) chases Michigan Wolverines punter Will Hagerup (43) after his fumble of the snap in the third quarter of the game between Ohio State and Michigan at Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Michigan ...
Ohio State Football: How the Buckeyes can clinch the Big Ten East in 2017Saturday Blitz

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WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Buckeyes earn series split with Beavers - Bemidji Pioneer
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Buckeyes earn series split with Beavers
Bemidji Pioneer
The Buckeyes (10-2-2, 8-2-1-1 WCHA), however, quickly countered with two goals in 37 seconds. Emma Maltais scored the equalizer on a partial breakaway and Grace Zarzecki put OSU up 2-1 with 9:42 to go in the frame. The Beavers hung with the ...

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No. 8 Ohio State crushes Illinois, clinches Big Ten East crown
Alex Roux, BTN.com editor via Big Ten Network

No. 8 Ohio State walloped Illinois, 52-14, to secure a spot in the Big Ten Championship game against Wisconsin.

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Ohio State's focus already turned to The Team Up North - 247Sports
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Ohio State's focus already turned to The Team Up North
247Sports
As of 2017, Michigan leads the series 58–48–6, but Ohio State has won 12 of the last 13 meetings. Meyer has not lost to the Wolverines in five contests with the Buckeyes and Jim Harbaugh, the Maize and Blue's head coach, is yet to beat the Scarlet and ...


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Buckeyes can't control playoff scenario, only what's in front of them | Opinion - The Morning Journal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes can't control playoff scenario, only what's in front of them | Opinion
The Morning Journal
The scenarios can be debated all day long — and then some — but after the Buckeyes annihilated visiting Illinois, 52-14, Nov. 18 in a game that amazingly wasn't as close as the score indicates, Ohio State is correctly leaving the playoff talk where ...

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Illibuck stays in Columbus
Richard Tongohan via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here



In Columbus, on their last home game for the season, J.T. Barrett and the other seniors on the roster looked for a perfect send-off from friends, families, and coaches before heading to Ann Arbor to cap off their rollercoaster regular season.

The game began with Ohio State taking the first possession of the game and it really did not take long for the Buckeyes to impose their will against the Illini. Their main objective was to run into the defenses teeth and they definitely made that happen. By the time the game ended, after all the smoke, the Buckeyes ran all over the defense and registered 325 rushing yards for 4 TDs.

Mike Weber proved that he is healthy once again and for the second consecutive game, he went over the 100-yard mark again after busting through for a 43-yarder to essentially put the game further out of reach. Weber also notched another game where he scored multiple times.

Dobbins and Barrett combined for 84 yards, with a TD a piece. After their day was done Antonio Williams came in for relief duty and he ran with determination and power before finishing the game with 19 carries and 74 yards.

Barrett did not have a turnover this game, but he was an effective passer as he reached 101 total passing TDs in his career. He was 11 for 19 with 2 TDs hitting Victor and Baugh for touchdowns. Once the game had been decided, the backups Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow got their chance for a few reps, and Buckeye nation got a snapshot at what should be one hell of a QB battle next season along with Tate Martell for the starting QB spot.

On the initial Haskins drive, he tried to take it past the first down marker, but he was hit hard and he fumbled the football and it was returned for Illinois’ first score of the game, effectively breaking the shutout. He was quickly benched in favor of Barrett for one last drive and after he finished the drive, Burrow was put in and he also fumbled but was able to recover before punting the ball.

Illinois score with a younger QB after Crouch went down with an injury and he made the most of his shot because, on the first play, he rushed for a 9-yard score. The backups got a lot of work, but they showed a lot of promise.

With the Buckeyes rolling, the game ended with a 52-14 victory as they have retained the trophy for another year. Another bit of good news is with TTUN losing to Wisconsin, Ohio State have secured the BIG 10 East division spot for the Conference Championship Game, but the next opponent on the docket is TTUN, which should be interesting, to say the least. For now, enjoy the win. Go Bucks.




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Ohio State, still trying to impress Playoff committee, blows out Illinois - USA TODAY
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State, still trying to impress Playoff committee, blows out Illinois
USA TODAY
The Buckeyes' first series went 75 yards in about three minutes, capped by a short touchdown run from Mike Weber, and the rout was on. This was always going to get ugly for Illinois, for two reasons: one, the talent and experience gap was and is ...
Ohio State football: Wisconsin's win over Michigan positive for Buckeyes' CFP bidLandof10.com
The Wisconsin-Ohio State Big Ten Championship Game is happening, but that's the only certain thing about itSB Nation
No. 9 Ohio State 52, Illinois 14: Relive the Buckeyes' senior day win vs. Illinoiscleveland.com
Akron Beacon Journal -WKYC-TV
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How will you remember J.T. Barrett?
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Perhaps the greatest QB in Ohio State history has played his last game in Columbus. How will you remember him?

COLUMBUS—The stadium was mostly empty at this point. Ohio State’s showdown with Illinois ceased being competitive around the ten minute mark, and a windy downpour drove most of the fans to warmer, drier climates.

But those who were smart enough to bring ponchos were rewarded, as the seconds ticked down on Ohio State’s 52-14 win. J.T. Barrett, with his teammates, triumphantly hoisted one of the more ridiculous of the Big Ten rivalry trophies, and then plunged towards the crowd for high fives and hugs.


One of the greatest quarterbacks in Ohio State, heck, Big Ten history, then headed off the field, never to play in his home stadium again.

Barrett’s final legacy still has room for a few more chapters. After all, there’s another game against Michigan, another opportunity for a Big Ten title, and perhaps, despite those two losses, a trip to the College Football Playoff.

But there’s enough there to still tell a good story, no matter what happens the rest of this season.

During the game, Barrett threw his 100th, and then 101st, touchdown pass. He’s the proud holder of 35 different Ohio State and Big Ten records. He cracked the top five in Heisman voting as a freshman, and could crack at least the top ten this season. He’s won every meaningful award that the Big Ten gives. A decade from now, when somebody logs on to Sports-Reference.com, they’re going to see eye-popping numbers, a slew of records, and likely conclude that Barrett is one of the most celebrated players in Ohio State history. And hey, maybe he will be.

But we also can’t forget that Barrett is one of the only college football players to approach such rarified feats while also facing skepticism from his fanbase, from the national press, even to the point where credible people, not just shrieking message board posters, could call for his benching. You can even find some of those words on this website.

After all, Barrett had to battle to even secure his starting job the year after he laid the groundwork for a national title run. His flaws, perhaps due to his health, or coaching, or the composition of the roster around him, and yes, even his own execution, were often laid out front and center to the sporting world in a different way from a lot of other players.

Being a 5th year senior college QB is a bit of a weird position. You need to be good enough to continue to hold on to a starting job and perform at a high level, but you either need to have health concerns, or have just enough flaws where bolting early for the NFL wouldn’t make sense.

If one was say, a Barrett skeptic — a group that does still exist on the internet — you could point to the struggles with throwing deep passes or the occasional departures from perfect velocity. You could point out that Barrett’s gaudy rushing numbers were more a product of repeated carries, perhaps occasionally to the detriment of the rest of the offense, rather than the game-breaking athleticism of say, a Braxton Miller or a Terrelle Pryor. You could say that the success of Ohio State’s offense was more a reflection of the playmakers around him, rather than the QB himself.

And to be totally frank with you, I don’t think all of those arguments are wrong. And if that is how you want to remember Barrett, that’s your choice.

A more pro-Barrett perspective would be to recognize his excellent ability to make the right read from read option plays, or his awareness and body control allowing him to be a fearsome short yardage runner. You could remember his decisionmaking and distributing ability at his best, limiting turnovers and making the efficient decision, time and time again. And, that while there wasn’t the eye-popping WHOA moments of maybe other QBs, he is above average in nearly every on-field component of being QB. If he was a basketball player, maybe he’d be a white shooting guard at Duke that played lockdown defense that everybody hated. That is a complement.

You could remember him for his leadership, a trait that’s hard to really evaluate as an outsider. But we do have clues. After all, he’s the first three-time Ohio State captain ever. Urban Meyer and his teammates repeatedly gush over him.

And Ohio State wins under him. This recent run is one of the best in Ohio State history, with a national title, another playoff bid, a demolishing of a good Notre Dame squad in a big bowl game, and a mastery of the Big Ten. As of right this second, they have a chance to win the conference and perhaps make another playoff.

I can’t speak for anybody else. I can’t sit here and tell you how to fan. But for me, I can say that I’m happy that I got a chance to see him play. I’ll remember all the wins, the explosive offenses — which I’ll never take for granted after the Tressel era. I’ll remember how people whose opinions about football I respect praised him constantly. And yeah, I’ll remember stuff like this too, which was exciting and goofy and everything all at once.


There will be other good quarterbacks at Ohio State. There will be many other highly recruited ones, ones with physical gifts that may exceed Barrett’s. There may be players that will produce more SportsCenter highlights. There might even be players that win almost as much.

But J.T. Barrett’s don’t walk through the door very often. I can’t speak for anybody else, but once the years pass, and the memories of the less-than-perfect deep balls fade, I’ll remember the accomplishments, which are legion. And I’ll remember standing on the sideline, freezing my ass off because I didn’t bring a proper raincoat, while Barrett, snug in his Ohio State rain jacket, shook his head and judged me for my poor sartorial choices.

I’ll remember him as one of the best.

What about you?

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Ohio State’s defense made its offense unstoppable against Illinois
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Both sides of the ball did what they needed to do, and now we can turn to The Game.

That went exactly how it should — Ohio State entered garbage time after just 16 plays by Illinois’ offense, mounting a 38-0 lead before half time. Illinois was the worst team on Ohio State’s schedule going by the S&P+ rankings, and well, the score reflected that. Ohio State had a +49% success rate:


In the table above, scoring opportunity efficiency looks at the average points scored per scoring opportunity -- drives with a first down past the opponents' 40-yard line. Drive efficiency looks at the percentage of drives that were scoring opportunities. Rushing opportunity rate is the % of runs that gained five or more yards. Rushing stuff rate is the % of runs that were for no gain or a loss. Explosive plays are 12+ yard runs and 20+ yard passes here.

Garbage time kicked in a little before halftime, when Ohio State went up 38-0.

Here are the takeaways that I said would be most important in the game preview:

1. The Illini are overmatched in almost every statistical category, but have bright spots in their running offense with Cam Thomas at QB, tight end Louis Dorsey, and freshman receiver Ricky Smalling.
2. The young Illini offensive line has a very bad matchup with Ohio State’s elite defensive line, ranking 89th and 123rd in offensive stuff rate and adjusted sack rate.
3. The Illini defense is pretty solid, ranking 69th overall, and doing a great job preventing explosive plays.

Offense: Short fields will do that


Ohio State had six drives before the game went into garbage time, scoring on all of them (with one field goal). On those six drives, the last four averaged starting on the Ohio State 49 yard line due to five-straight three-and-outs by the Illini offense. With so many short fields, it was almost inevitable that the Buckeyes would score on all of them. While Ohio State’s 62% overall success rate is incredible (for comparison, Ohio State had only one better game in the 2015-2016 seasons — the opener vs. Bowling Green).

Everything went well for the Buckeyes, but I’ll highlight how dynamic Parris Campbell is with the ball in his hands — no one else on the team has his blend of vision, lateral quickness, and acceleration. That was most evident on his 44-yard touchdown run, but he also led the team with 59 receiving yards.

One surprise -- Mike Weber was the more explosive back for the second straight week, ripping off 43-yard and 22-yard runs by breaking multiple tackles and just outrunning the secondary. Weber looks healthy now — which will be huge for Ohio State’s next two upcoming games.

If you want to do some nitpicking, then you could talk about how Binjimen Victor’s touchdown was the only completion to a non-slot receiver before garbage time kicked in. So... there’s that, I guess.

Defense: Total domination, but an over-matched opponent


There’s not too much to say here: Illinois had five-straight three-and-outs before the game entered garbage time. Illinois’ offense was already in bad shape, but they had to go back to a quarterback that was previously benched, so their one successful passing play shouldn’t have been too surprising.

The Worley-Borland-Harrison/Baker combination seems to be working out well, but again, there’s not too much you can take away from this, to be honest. As of the mid-third quarter (when I’m writing this, for self-disclosure), Illinois still only had three completed passes for 9 yards, and just one first down.

But again — when the defense is this dominant, the offense gets some amazing field position.

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Ohio State clinches Big Ten Championship Game matchup with Wisconsin
Alex Roux, BTN.com editor via Big Ten Network

After clinching a Big Ten East Division title Saturday, Ohio State is headed back to Indianapolis for a Big Ten Championship Game matchup with Wisconsin.

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Ohio State earns a Big Ten Championship berth by beating Illinois 52-14
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


And with that victory, it is now officially M*ch*g*n Week!

The No. 9 Ohio State Buckeyes are heading back to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Championship game following their Senior Day victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini, 52-14. The win was the ninth straight in the series for the Buckeyes, dating back to 2008 (the teams did not play in 2016). With the win, OSU retains its only rivalry trophy, the beloved and iconic wooden turtle known as The Illibuck. The Buckeyes will face off with No. 5 Wisconsin in two weeks for the conference title, and perhaps a shot at the College Football Playoffs.

Coming into the game, S&P+ indicated that Illinois would be the lowest ranked team that the Buckeyes would face all year, and that was borne out early and often on Saturday. Quarterback J.T. Barrett, one of 19 seniors playing their final home game, orchestrated a nearly perfect offensive performance during his less than one half of action.

The Buckeyes opened the game with a methodical, nine-play, 75-yard drive to get the scoring started. Running back Mike Weber took the ball in from four yards out to put OSU up 7-0 just over three minutes into the game.


On the series, Barrett went 3-4 for 29, and freshman RB J.K. Dobbins picked up 14 yards on the ground. Also on the first drive, Barrett had an 18-yard rush to give him the school record for rushing yards by a quarterback, besting his former wide-receiver Braxton Miller, who had the old record at 3,054 yards.

After a three-and-out by the Illini, Parris Campbell took the ball from Weber on a reverse and went 44 yards inside the Illinois five-yard line. On the next play, Barrett kept the ball and lunged over the goal line to extend the Buckeye lead to 14-0 with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter. After the first two drives, Campbell had already picked up 65 yards in total offense.

After another Illinois punt, Weber took a third down-handoff and raced 43 yards into the endzone to put the Buckeyes up 21-0 less than ten minutes into the game. In the past two weeks, Weber has shown breakaway speed that he didn’t seem to have during his redshirt freshman season in 2016. Now that he is healthy, and apparently adding speed to his arsenal of weapons, Weber could be looking at his NFL options come season’s end.


After the third Illinois punt of the quarter, Barrett connected with Campbell again on a 38-yard catch-and-run, and then from the 11, the QB hooked up with Binjimen Victor on a touchdown. The scoring pass was Barrett’s 100th of his career, the most for a quarterback in both Ohio State and Big Ten conference history. The score put the Buckeyes up 28-0.


The Buckeyes’ fifth possession of the game ended with a Sean Nuernberger 33-yard field goal that extended the OSU advantage to 31-0 with 12:19 left in the first half. Despite the Buckeyes not being able to punch it in from the redzone, the offense was humming, with Barrett going 9-15 for 114 yards at that point in the second quarter.

Following Illinois’ fifth punt in as many drives, Barrett took the ball 53 yards on eight plays, seven on the ground, to up the score to 38-0. Dobbins capped the drive on a one-yard touchdown run. The score was the seventh for the true-freshman on the season. While head coach Urban Meyer has said that Dobbins has earned the right to be the team’s starting running back, Weber, the more physical of the pair, has been seeing the bulk of the carries around the goal line in recent weeks, upping his touchdown total.

On the first play of the next drive, Barrett handed the ball off to Dobbins with 6:10 left in the second quarter, and then on the next play, redshirt-freshman Dwayne Haskins entered the game at quarterback, which appeared to end Barrett’s career in Ohio Stadium... that is until the third quarter. On the drive, center Billy Price and the offensive line exited the game as well, just minutes before the clouds opened and heavy rains began to fall.

The starting quarterback finished the half with 126 yards passing on 10-16 passing. Barrett also had 33 yards rushing and two touchdowns, one on the ground and one in the air.

From there, OSU punter Drue Chrisman saw his first action of the game, and on the subsequent drive, Illinois picked up its first first down with 3:28 left in the half. At that point, the Buckeye defense was mostly comprised of second string players as well.

At the conclusion of the first half, Weber had 91 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while Dobbins had 44 yards and a score.

The domination wasn’t confined to the scoreboard either, as the Buckeyes had 358 yards of offense in the first two quarters and Illinois only had 43, including just nine yards through the air. OSU went into the locker-room with a well-balanced 229 yards rushing and 129 yards passing.

The Illini ended OSU’s hopes for a shutout on the Buckeyes’ first drive of the second half. Haskins kept the ball on a read option, and was hit immediately, and the ball popped out. Illinois DB Ahmari Hayes scooped it up in the pouring rain and ran 53 yards into the endzone. With 11:04 left in the third quarter, the Buckeyes led 38-07.


After the fumble, Ohio State’s offensive starters came back into the game. A pair of rushes and an incompletion later, and Chrisman punted again. In the wet conditions, Illinois’ Nate Hobbs coughed up the ball, and it was recovered by OSU’s Jeffrey Okudah, setting the Buckeyes up at the Illinois 29.

On third down, Barrett and the offensive line rolled left, but tight end Marcus Baugh snuck through and crossed the field to the right, where Barrett found him for an easy 12-yard TD pass, to increase the OSU advantage to 45-7.


On the next drive, Illinois was forced to punt after a three-and-out for the ninth time, and redshirt-sophomore quarterback Joe Burrow entered the game to lead the Buckeyes. However, after the new QB recovered his own fumble, OSU was forced to punt again.

With the second team defense on the field, Illinois did pick up its second first down before the end of the third quarter, but sophomore defensive end Jonathon Cooper picked up his second sack of the game to force yet another Illini punt.

On the ensuing drive, Haskins was back in for the Buckeyes, and even though the score was 45-7, the freshman QB was still throwing downfield, including 33 and 13-yarders to Terry McLaurin. The Buckeyes finished the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Haskins to Victor, moving the score to 52-14.

After the kickoff, Illinois was able to cross the 50-yard line for the first time in the game. As the Illini moved into the redzone for the first time, quarterback Chayce Crouch rushed to the outside and as he stepped out of bounds, freshman safety Isaiah Pryor was blocked into him, and flagged for a late hit. Crouch went down to the ground hard and needed assistance to get off the field.

On the next play, backup QB Cam Miller entered and kept the ball on the option and scampered to paydirt for Illinois’ first offensive score of the game. With just over 10 minutes remaining, the Buckeyes were up 52-14, as the rain continued to intensify, and that is where the day’s scoring ended.

The Buckeyes will conclude their regular season against the No. 24 Michigan Wolverines. The game will kick off at 12:00 p.m. ET from The Big House in Ann Arbor, MI.

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Buckeyes clinch Big Ten East Division - Toledo Blade
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes clinch Big Ten East Division
Toledo Blade
8 Buckeyes officially won the Big Ten East Division with a 52-14 victory against Illinois on Saturday at Ohio Stadium. Coupled with Michigan's 24-10 loss at Wisconsin earlier in the day, the Buckeyes hold a two-game lead over the Wolverines with one to ...

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Watch: Weber's 43-yard touchdown run extends the Buckeyes lead - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Weber's 43-yard touchdown run extends the Buckeyes lead
247Sports
Two weeks ago, people were questioning why Ohio State running back Mike Weber was getting as many carries as he was. On Saturday against Illinois, the sophomore rushed for his third 40-plus-yard scoring play in the first quarter against Illinois.

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Buckeyes carry 38-0 halftime lead over Illinois - NBC4i.com
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Buckeyes carry 38-0 halftime lead over Illinois
NBC4i.com
The scarlet and gray scored 28 points against visiting Illinois in the first quarter of Saturday's game and went into the locker room with a comfortable 38-0 halftime lead. Mike Weber (2), Binjimen Victor, J.K. Dobbins, and J.T. Barrett all scored ...
Watch: Weber's 43-yard touchdown run extends the Buckeyes lead247Sports

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J.T. Barrett becomes first Ohio State, Big Ten quarterback with 100 touchdown passes
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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On Senior Day, the QB sets yet another school and conference record.

There have been more lows during J.T. Barrett’s senior season than many people anticipated, but there have also been an incredible amount of highs, including the quarterback etching his name into the Ohio State and Big Ten record books multiple times. And, on Senior Day against the Illinois Fighting Illini, he did it again.

With his first quarter pass to Binjimen Victor, Barrett became the first QB in school and conference history to amass 100 touchdown passes in his career. The scoring throw was his 31st of the season, which pairs well with his eight rushing scores as well. Currently, the Wichita Falls, TX-native has an OSU and B1G record 139 touchdowns accounted for during his career.


Earlier this season, Barrett broke the conference total touchdown record, the OSU passing yards record, and the B1G passing TD record as well.

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Buckeye QB commit Emory Jones has huge game in playoff win - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeye QB commit Emory Jones has huge game in playoff win
247Sports
Heard County quarterback and Buckeye commitment Emory Jones had a huge game on Friday night. Jones led Heard County to a 41-28 playoff win over Lindale (Ga.) Pepperell 41-28 as he accounted for over 300 yards of offense and six touchdowns.

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