Game Thread Illinois at tOSU, Sat. Sept. 26, 12pm ET, FOX

[BB73]

Bret Bielema leads the Fighting Illini into C-Bus.

The Buckeyes have won 10 straight in the series since the Juice Williams game in 2007.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ohio State Linebackers Coach, College Football Hall of Famer James Laurinaitis to Ring Victory Bell Before Illinois Game

James Laurinaitis will ring the Victory Bell before Ohio State’s Sept. 26 home game against Illinois, Ryan Day revealed in a speech to official visitors last month.

www.elevenwarriors.com

Ohio State Linebackers Coach, College Football Hall of Famer James Laurinaitis to Ring Victory Bell Before Illinois Game​

“The Victory Bell was built in 1954 so that everybody in the area could hear when the Buckeyes won. Not everybody could get to the stadium; they didn't have as much TV and radio, there was not as much coverage as what you see, no TikTok back in 1954. So people in the area, when they heard the bell ring, they knew the Buckeyes won. It was a big deal,” Day said while speaking to official visitors and their families inside Ohio Stadium. “Then we started a tradition last year that we have some of our former players come back and ring the victory bell before a game. And next year, before the Illinois game, Coach Laurinaitis, who's being inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame, is going to ring the Victory Bell before that game.”

 

[ScriptOhio]

https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/news/2026/8/14/football-new-at-the-shoe-ohio-state-unveils-2026-home-game-themes-and-fan-experience-upgrades

New at the ‘Shoe: Ohio State Unveils 2026 Home Game Themes and Fan Experience Upgrades​

• Sept. 26 vs. Illinois:
  • The weekend of Sept. 25-27 will serve as Ohio State's Hall of Fame Weekend, celebrating the latest class of Buckeye legends.
  • Ohio State's game vs. Illinois will serve as the 'Buckeyes for a Cancer Free World' contest as it represents the collective initiatives of Buckeye Nation to support cancer research and patient care at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – OSUCCC – James.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ohio State Kicks Off Against Illinois at Noon.

Ohio State football's game against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Ohio Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 26 will officially kick off at noon and will be televised on FOX. With kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m., gates to The 'Shoe will open at 10 a.m.

 

[Bestbuck36]

Oh Bert, that turtle hardly knew ye

 

[OHSportsFan]

Better test here. Keep cleaning things up, get the W and get better.

 

[BuckBackHome]

26.5 point favorites. Seems excessive.

 

[Bestbuck36]

26.5 point favorites. Seems excessive.

3-0 against the spread so far. Just saying

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[JCOSU86]

Bret Bielema leads the Fighting Illini into C-Bus.

The Buckeyes have won 10 straight in the series since the Juice Williams game in 2007.

And I'm still pissed about it.

 

[Bestbuck36]

It'll be a good test for our Offense but the Defense should shut them down

 

[BuckeyeNation36]

So what did we learn from this Saturdays scrimmage that can be carried forward ? Playing in the 2nd half perhaps ?

 

[ScriptOhio]

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-football/2026/09/164055/ohio-state-opens-as-a-27-5-point-favorite-over-illinois-in-the-battle-for-the-illibuck

Ohio State Opens As a 27.5-Point Favorite Over Illinois In the Battle for the Illibuck​

Ohio State will open up Big Ten play as a four-touchdown favorite over head coach Bret Bielema’s Fighting Illini.

DraftKings Sportsbook has the Buckeyes favored by 27.5 points for their Sept. 26 matchup against Illinois in Columbus.
Ohio State moved to 3-0 against the spread this season with its 59-3 win over Kent State. Meanwhile, Illinois has failed to cover the spread in all three games this season.

The game’s over/under opens at 53.5 points. Illinois has hit the over in all three of its games this season, while Ohio State has done so twice. The Buckeyes and Longhorns fell short of the total in their Week 2 matchup in Austin.

Ohio State has won its last 10 games against Illinois, including Ryan Day’s only matchup with the Illini as a head coach last season. The Buckeyes covered the spread in that game, while the total went under in Day and Bielema’s first head-to-head matchup.