No. 7 Ohio State opens Big Ten play Saturday, hosting Illinois at Ohio Stadium at noon in a matchup that renews one of college football’s quirkiest rivalries — the battle for the Illibuck Trophy.
It will be the 105th meeting between the schools and the 93rd playing for the Illibuck, a wooden turtle trophy that dates to 1924 and goes home with the winning team each year. Ohio State has claimed it in each of the last 10 meetings, a run that stretches back to Illinois’ 2007 upset of the then-No. 1 Buckeyes in Columbus. The Buckeyes took last season’s meeting 34-16 in Champaign.
Both teams enter conference play at 2-1. Ohio State rolled past Ball State 56-3 and Kent State 59-3 but fell 24-23 at Texas two weeks ago. Illinois owns wins over UAB and FCS Southern Illinois along with a home loss to Duke.
The Buckeyes released their first Big Ten availability report Wednesday. Fourth-year starting right tackle Phillip Daniels and second-year defensive end Zion Grady are listed as questionable, while fifth-year tight end Bennett Christian is out. Daniels was playing well against Texas before going down late in that game.
Head coach Ryan Day previewed the matchup Tuesday, discussing quarterback Julian Sayin’s play, the running back rotation and efforts to improve in short-yardage situations.
Saturday’s game will be televised by FOX as part of its Big Noon Saturday package.
