A large wooden turtle was on the line for the winning team as Ohio State invaded the Wind Tunnel in Champaign, Ill., to take on Tim Beckman’s Fighting Illini. Memorial Stadium has long been, well, an interesting place for the Buckeyes to visit.
The Illini entered on a Big Ten losing streak that dates back to that really ugly 2011 game in which Ohio State completed one single, solitary forward pass and still won by double digits. Tim Beckman was still searching for his first conference victory and a signature win to hang his hat on, and perhaps cool off a seat that has become uncomfortably warm over two seasons.
Would trends continue for the Buckeyes and Fighting Illini vis-à-vis their respective streaks? Could Tim Beckman pull the huge upset to score his first B1G victory? Would Ohio State win impressively to keep pace with the other national leaders? And would the wind prevent the forward pass from being fully deployed by Braxton Miller?
Yes, LOL no, not impressively enough, and pretty much. Ohio State never allowed Illinois within a single-digit deficit, but be prepared for the narrative about how the Buckeyes almost lost.
Ohio State’s school record-tying 22nd straight win was annoying in so many ways, but it was never in doubt. Here are your weekly talking points:
Water Cooler prep (Everything you need to know…in one paragraph)
The Buckeyes jumped out to a 21-0 lead after the first quarter and stepped off the gas. Illinois got within two scores a couple of times in the second half, but Carlos Hyde (5 total TDs) put it out of reach in the fourth quarter. Ohio State threw for only 150 yards but ran for 441. The defense was already missing a pair of starters (plus Christian Bryant) and lost Joey Bosa, and it showed in the 60-35 win, despite a pick six by Bradley Roby.
Talk before the game
“Illinois is a terrible football team. Ohio State should roll.”
20 mph winds in Champaign with gusts up to 25. Could be lots of Carlos Hyde for the Buckeyes.
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) November 16, 2013
Update from Champaign: Joshua Perry did not make the trip with team. Mishap this week. Did not practice Weds/Thurs. Did watch, though.
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) November 16, 2013
Well, that’s unfortunate, losing a starting linebacker like that. At least we’ve still got Shazier and Grant, and…wait, what’s that you say?
Also : Curtis Grant did make the trip with the team but likely will not play.
— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) November 16, 2013
Day-um.
Talk in the aftermath
“Maybe we should just be happy with playing Stanford in the Rose Bowl with this defense.”
“How many teams will jump the Buckeyes after that? A: None, because they weren't playing 'Ohio State football.'”
“El Guapo is inhuman — in a good way.”
Give that man a buckeye leaf (Player of the game)
This was trending toward being Braxton Miller’s Buckeye Leaf in the first half, but Carlos Hyde brought the thunder with several explosive runs to swipe it. El Guapo ran 24 times for 246 yards (10.3 YPA) and four touchdowns, and caught and two passes for 26 yards, including an 18-yard score. His 246 yards set a new career high and put him in position to reach the 1,000-yard mark next week. He wasn’t just a man among boys; he was a man among middle school boys who routinely get picked on by other middle school boys.
You should immediately schedule an appointment with your OBGYN, because Hyde’s 51- and 55-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter got you pregnant. With twins. The offensive line cleared out enormous holes in the front seven and Hyde stiffarmed and outran the secondary to put the game to bed.
Snot Knocker of the Game
Philly Brown was the early leader when he pancaked Zane Petty on a keeper by Miller midway through the third quarter. But Roby took this award from Brown the way he took the football away from the Nathan Scheelhaase. Roby splattered junior wide receiver Martize Barr on a second-quarter catch with about 3:30 to play in the first half. Unfortunately, Barr held onto the football for a first down and Illinois went on to score on the drive. Still, it was a spectacular hit by Roby in a game where he really brought the lumber. His hit on Scheelhaase created the chain reaction that injured Bosa.
Did you see that?! (Play of the game)
You’ve been waiting for it all season and it finally happened. Leading 14-0, Ohio State’s defense took the field and faced a first-and-10 at the Illinois 41. Scheelhaase dropped back to throw and unleashed a pass under pressure. The ball was high and tipped to Roby, who snagged it and ran it back 63 yards for the third Buckeye touchdown, eluding the Illini quarterback along the way. It was a nice run after the catch and provided the game’s biggest momentum play until the Illini returned a punt for a score in the second quarter.
When you sank into your chair (The moment Buckeye football disgraced your family)
Illinois took the second half kickoff and marched down the field for a touchdown, pulling within two scores, 35-21. Ohio State was poised to restore its three-score advantage, taking the ball from its own 28 to the Illini 35 in six plays, including a fourth-down conversion by Hyde. On the next play, Miller faked to Hyde, turned to run up the middle and fumbled the football. The Illini recovered, taking over with momentum on their side and a chance to pull within one score. They didn’t, but that was a bad moment.
Jim Tressel's Least Favorite Moment of the game
Although the missed Drew Basil extra point was a strong contender for Tressel’s least favorite moment, there was another moment that forced the vested one to grind his molars even more. It happened in the middle of the second quarter, while Tressel was sorting through his bulk mail order of dental floss. JT likes to arrange his assortment of flosses by color, as you know.
On third-and-10 from Ohio State’s 19, Miller dropped back and was sacked by Tim Kynard at the six. An unnecessary roughness penalty on Chris Fields — coming to the aid of Philly Brown, who was hit in the face twice in front of the official, without a call — moved the ball back to the three. Cameron Johnston unleashed a 64-yard punt. Tressel watched breathlessly, tightly clutching a package of mint-flavored Oral-B Glide Pro-Health floss. But a team with just three punt return yards allowed all season let V’Angelo Bentley shake free of a couple of would-be tacklers and race 67 yards to put the Illini on the board.
Tressel kicked over the Amazon box, sending floss all over the living room.
What you texted your friend at the end of each quarter
First: Gonna be a long day for the Illini.
Second: That last eight minutes of the half was disgusting.
Third: Breathing easier but can we just get out of Champaign already?
Fourth: Carlos Hyde, don’t ever leave me!
It was over when
This spot was all reserved for Roby’s pick six until things got weird after halftime. The Illini punted late, down two scores and planning to use their timeouts on defense. Hyde had other ideas. After a nine-yard run on first down, Hyde took it to the house from 51 yards on second-and-one to put the Buckeyes ahead 53 (with a missed PAT)-35 with just over four minutes to play.
Believe it or not, there are only two games left in the regular season. The Buckeyes return home next Saturday to take on the Indiana Hoosiers (4-6, 2-4) on Senior Day. It’ll be a very special day for four starting offensive line seniors, Hyde, Brown, Fields and many other Buckeyes, and a chance for El Guapo to become a 1,000-yard running back. The Hoosiers will be coming off a 51-3 beatdown in Madison and need to win their last two games to become bowl eligible.
After watching Ohio State’s defense at Illinois and remembering last year’s game in Bloomington, you may want to keep a nice tall glass of bleach nearby.
