Illinois football reflects on 42-19 loss to Ohio State
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 27, 2026, 5:50 PM
Last updated Sep 27, 2026
College SportsIllinois football suffered a 42-19 defeat against No. 7 Ohio State on Saturday. The Illini's defense struggled, accumulating zero sacks and only one tackle for loss. Illinois quarterback Katin Houser faced significant pressure, resulting in a reduced completion rate. Offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. engineered two substantial third-quarter drives and employed a new 'Wildcat' formation that included wide receiver Jershaun Newton at quarterback. The team is dealing with injuries, particularly on the offensive line, as right guard Champ Smith's status remains uncertain following a leg injury during the game.
- •Illinois allowed zero sacks and only one tackle for loss against Ohio State.
- •Katin Houser's completion rate declined from 74% to 57% under pressure.
- •Barry Lunney Jr. designed a 'Wildcat' formation with Jershaun Newton at quarterback.
- •Champ Smith is questionable after sustaining a leg injury during the game.
- •Illinois dominated time of possession in the third quarter despite the loss.
- 5:50 PMYahoo Sports — Richey Ten things I think I know about the Illini
"Sep. 27—Saturday's 42-19 loss at No. 7 Ohio State provided some new insight into Illinois football for beat writer Scott Richey. Here's 10 more things he thinks he knows about the Illini: 1. The postgame press conference at Ohio Stadium was an exercise in body language reading. The sheer number of times Illinois coach Bret Bielema brought his right hand to his head across 9 1/2 minutes of ...
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