Ohio State will travel to Champaign to face Illinois in a matchup with Big Ten and College Football Playoff implications. The Buckeyes are undefeated and ranked number one in the country, while Illinois is ranked in the top 20 and has their eyes on pulling an upset. Before these conference rivals do battle in college football this week, continue reading to get my Ohio State vs Illinois prediction.
Our Ohio State vs Illinois Pick
- Pick: Ohio State –14.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Ohio State Buckeyes vs Illinois Fighting Illini
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 11, 2025, 12:00 PM ET
- Venue: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
- Broadcast: FOX
Ohio State vs Illinois Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio State –14.5 | Ohio State –750 / Illinois +475 | 49.5 |
Key Storylines
Ohio State is the national title favorite and they have one of the best defenses in college football. Their 42–3 shellacking of Minnesota showcased the program’s ability to dominate weaker Big Ten opponents, and Illinois represents the first true challenge they’ll face in conference play this year. The Buckeyes will want to show they can win big on the road in a hostile environment.
Illinois enters at 5–1 overall and 2–1 in Big Ten play. They fell in their first real challenge of the season in a 63-10 loss to Indiana. The Illini’s defense is still a work in progress, as they struggled to get stops consistently against lackluster USC and Purdue teams.
Four teams enter this week with 2-0 records in Big Ten play. Ohio State is joined by Michigan, Indiana, and Oregon in that club. An Ohio State win would keep them in the driver’s seat to make the Big Ten title game later in the season. But an Illinois victory would make things very interesting very quickly in the race to get to Indianapolis.
Quarterback Play
Ohio State’s freshman signal-caller Julian Sayin has quickly become the centerpiece of their offense. In the Minnesota game, he threw for over 300 yards and multiple touchdowns. Sayin has 13 touchdown passes and just three interceptions going into this contest. The Buckeyes’ passing game is now a multi-dimensional threat, aided by receivers who can turn short completions into explosive gains.
Luke Altmyer has been nearly flawless for Illinois thus far. His completion rate hovers in the low 70s and he has thrown 12 touchdowns with zero interceptions. He struggled against Indiana earlier in the season and could have his hands full against the best team in the country with arguably the best defense in the country.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Illinois is 5-1 against the spread for the season.
- Ohio State enters this week at 4-0-1 against the spread.
- The Fighting Illini have had four of their first six games go over their totals.
- Three of Ohio State’s first five games have stayed under their respective totals.
- Ohio State is 69-30-4 all-time against Illinois. The Buckeyes have won the last nine meetings between these programs.
Ohio State vs Illinois Model Projection
Score Projection: Ohio State 35 – Illinois 17
Win Probability: Ohio State 85%, Illinois 15%
Final Thoughts
Illinois may have a potent passing game, but everything points to Ohio State controlling this game from start to finish. I think that Ohio State’s defense is the best defense in the country and they will slow Altmyer down enough to win this game comfortably. I recommend laying the points with the Buckeyes in this huge Big Ten matchup.
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