No. 2 Ohio States Runs Past Illinois, 28-3
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Ezekiel Elliott ran for 181 yards and two touchdowns and No. 2 Ohio State pounded out a 28-3 victory over Illinois on Saturday.
The Buckeyes (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) started slowly and led 7-3 for much of the first half before Elliott picked up the pace. Elliott accounted for 50 of the Buckeyes' 75 yards on a third quarter drive that opened a 21-3 lead over the Illini (5-5, 2-4). His 10-yard scoring run with just under 10 minutes left closed out the scoring.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett, starting again after being suspended for last week's game, threw for 150 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also ran for 74 yards.
Ohio State held the Illini to 20 yards rushing. Illini quarterback Wes Lunt was 23 of 47 for 241 yards.
Illinois had chances to stay in the game, but made too many mistakes.
Dawuane Smoot set Illinois up at the Ohio State 31 late in the second quarter when he recovered a Barrett fumble. Taylor Zalewski's 50-yard field goal attempt banged off the right upright, and the Buckeyes maintained their 7-3 lead.
After a long drive fizzled in the second half, holder Ryan Frain failed to get the snap down for Zalewski's 49-yard attempt. Frain tried to scramble for a first down but fumbled.
That's when Ohio State turned to Elliott. He opened the drive with a 16-yard blast through the Illinois line, and the Buckeyes' fans finally had something to cheer about.
And with 6:57 left in the third quarter, he ended the drive with a 1-yard plunge into the end zone.
Barrett, back after his one-game suspension for a drunk-driving violation, had mixed results.
He lofted a perfect pass just over cornerback Eaton Spence for a 24-yard touchdown pass to Michael Thomas in the first quarter. But he also fumbled twice and threw an interception.
With 1:45 left in the half, Barrett and the Buckeyes had the ball and a sudden sense of urgency.
On fourth-and-11 at the Illinois 38, Barrett dropped back to pass, saw no one open and darted left untouched for 16 yards.
Three plays later, he rumbled around the left end, cutting through a gap in the Illini defense and into the end zone. Up 14-3 at halftime, the Buckeyes had some breathing room.
Now comes the hard part for Ohio State — games against No. 14 Michigan State and No. 15 Michigan.
The game was Illinois' last home this season. Still looking for the sixth win that would make them bowl eligible, the Illini travel to Minnesota on Saturday and then face Northwestern at Soldier Field in Chicago.
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