Jeremiah Smith scores four times as Ohio State beats Illinois 42-19

Ohio State beat Illinois 42-19 at Ohio Stadium, opening Big Ten play with a 23-point win. The Buckeyes built a 14-0 lead and were ahead 28-10 at halftime.

Julian Sayin completed 27 of 36 passes for 367 yards and four touchdowns. Jeremiah Smith was his dominant target, catching 12 passes for 217 yards and all four of Sayin's touchdown throws. Smith scored from 7, 72, 9 and 26 yards, giving Ohio State scoring plays in three different quarters. Sayin also ran for a 7-yard touchdown just before halftime.

Illinois answered with Jordan Anderson's 22-yard run and two Ethan Moczulski field goals. That produced a 28-13 score after the third-quarter kick, but Ohio State regained separation when Smith caught his fourth touchdown, a 26-yard play with 10:07 left. Illinois cut the deficit to 35-19 on Ty Robinson's 27-yard touchdown catch from Katin Houser, and the Buckeyes closed the scoring when Ja'Kobi Jackson ran two yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown.

The final yardage shows why Illinois remained competitive despite the margin. The Illini produced 462 yards, including 263 passing and 199 rushing, and held the ball for 30:38. Ohio State generated 518 yards and converted eight of 12 third downs, while Illinois went 6-for-14. Neither side committed a turnover. Ohio State's 27 first downs and clean possession profile kept the Buckeyes in control even as Illinois continued to move the ball.

Illinois' offense kept producing first downs, but Ohio State consistently finished drives with points. Smith's 72-yard catch built the early 14-0 lead after his opening seven-yard score. Illinois then scored on Anderson's run, but Ohio State answered with Smith's nine-yard catch before Sayin's keeper widened the halftime margin. The 28-10 halftime margin came from four different Ohio State touchdown plays, including Sayin's keeper just before the break.

Smith's four-touchdown receiving day supplied the defining individual performance, and Sayin's 367 passing yards made it possible. Ohio State's 518 yards included 367 through the air and 151 on the ground, while Illinois' 462-yard effort included 199 rushing. Those totals show that the Buckeyes won through explosive passing and drive finishing rather than by eliminating every Illinois drive.

The Buckeyes scored twice in both the first and fourth quarters, keeping Illinois from turning its own yardage into a comeback. Ohio State improved to 3-1 and stayed unbeaten at home. Illinois fell to 2-2. The official game center lists Ohio Stadium in Columbus and the noon FOX kickoff; ESPN's final event log records the ten scoring plays.