Overview

• Kickoff is set for noon ET at Memorial Stadium in Champaign on Fox, with Gus Johnson, Joel Klatt and Jenny Taft on the call.
• The spread opened near Ohio State -16 and has tightened to roughly -14 to -14.5, with totals clustered around 50–51.5.
• Analysts and computer models largely pick the Buckeyes and often favor a lower‑scoring game given Ohio State’s dominant defense.
• Ohio State enters 5-0 with nine straight wins and a defense that has allowed only two touchdowns and no Big Ten touchdowns through five games.
• Illinois is 5-1 behind Luke Altmyer’s 12 touchdown passes without an interception, though a 63–10 loss to Indiana highlights defensive concerns.