No. 7 Ohio State still looking to clean things up going into Big Ten opener against Illinois, tell me about this news in (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/25/ohio-state-illinois-football-preview/)
25-09-2026
The article previews the Big Ten conference opener between No. 7 Ohio State and Illinois, focusing on Ohio State head coach Ryan Day’s push to fix offensive inconsistencies before a grueling October schedule.
Key takeaways from the report:
Ohio State’s Areas of Concern: Despite a 2-1 start, Ryan Day expressed frustration with offensive execution, specifically in red-zone scoring and third-down conversions. Through three games, the Buckeyes converted just 12 of 33 third downs (36.4%), ranking tied for 102nd in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and managed only 2 touchdowns on 5 red-zone trips during their 24-23 loss to No. 1 Texas. Day stressed that these issues must improve quickly ahead of four tough matchups in October against ranked opponents.
The Running Game: Day called for more aggression and consistency on the ground, stating the team needs running backs who are “running angry.” Senior Ja’Kobi Jackson (7.1 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns) and sophomore Bo Jackson (5.9 yards per carry, 2 touchdowns) have shared the workload.
Key Matchup at Wide Receiver: The game features two of the nation’s standout wide receivers: Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith (400 receiving yards, ranking fourth nationally) and Illinois senior Collin Dixon, who leads the country with seven touchdown receptions and is tied for fourth with 25 catches.
Illinois’ Outlook: Also entering at 2-1, Bret Bielema’s Fighting Illini are led by quarterback Katin Houser, who has completed 74 percent of his passes for 758 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions. Bielema, who holds a 1-6 career record against Ohio State across his stints at Wisconsin and Illinois, noted the familiarity between the programs and emphasized preparing his team mentally for a difficult road atmosphere at Ohio Stadium.