Battle for the Illibuck: #1 Ohio State (5-0) vs #17 Illinois (5-1) (12PM ET, FOX)

[TrueOrange]

Yep, it’s a rivalry (albeit a fairly one-sided one when it comes to results).

These teams first met in 1902, playing a game that ended in a 0-0 tie. After a 7-year hiatus due to Big 10 scheduling, there two meet for a 104th time in a matchup used to be the regular season finale for both teams from 1919-1933.

Originally, starting in 1925, the two schools exchanged a live turtle as the trophy to the matchup’s winner, choosing the animal for their long lifespans. However that practice ended In 1926…when the turtle died.

Since then, wooden replica Illibucks have been carved - 10 in total - with the scores from the games on its back. The Illibuck is the second oldest trophy passed between Big 10 teams (behind Michigan’s and Minnesota’s Little Brown Jug).

This is the first time both teams have been ranked in this matchup since 2007 (OSU won 28-21). Ohio State has won the last 8 meetings (technically 9 but 1 win was vacated in 2010) and leads the overall series 69-30-4.

The winner gets the Illibuck:

 

[RandomUTfan]

It's hilarious they chose a turtle for their longevity and it died a year later. Thanks for sharing this history. I enjoyed learning it.

 

[TrueOrange]

Oh, apparently they also exchange a “peace pipe” trophy at halftime to the winner of the previous matchup.

I couldn’t find any pictures of it though.

 

[TrueOrange]

Huh. I guess Illinois’s intro goes the route of “each starter gets their own announced entrance / run out” like how the NFL does.

 

[A-RodWiLks]

The Big 10 is such a joke

 

[TrueOrange]

FG is good. 3-0 OSU with 9:30 left in the first.

 

[TrueOrange]

And Illinois throws a pick on a tipped ball at its own 45. First pick of the year for the Illini and his first one thrown in 159 pass attempts.

 

[TrueOrange]

10-0 OSU ona TD run after the pick. Around 4 min left in the first.

 

[TrueOrange]

Yeah that probably should have been PI the OSU defender. He pretty much took away the receiver’s arm.

 

[TrueOrange]

Another 30 yard punt. That’s back-to-back punts.

 

[AllVols]

Is anyone beating OH st this year?

 

[TrueOrange]

And a low snap on the 4th down punt means the punter has to take it with his knee down on the turf ending the play before he can kick it.

First down OSU, with the Illini spotting them an extra 14 yards to the Illini 38.

 

[A-RodWiLks]

Ohio state is not good. Illinois looks like they'd get torched by Kentucky

 

[AllVols]

That strip and leg bend was brutal.

 

[TrueOrange]

That strip and leg bend was brutal.

Very much. Illini players had to carry the RB off of the field after.

 

[Zues1]

OSU = cheating bastages.

 

[Switch 625]

That was pass interference on OSU. No call, of course.

 

[95 Vol Alum]

That was pass interference on OSU. No call, of course.

Egregious. Didn’t even look for the ball.

 

[Switch 625]

Egregious. Didn’t even look for the ball.

Hit him early and wrapped up his arms, too.

 

[TrueOrange]

That was pass interference on OSU. No call, of course.

Egregious. Didn’t even look for the ball.

Hit him early and wrapped up his arms, too.

Wondering if him throwing it way too low possibly negated it being called?

 

[TrueOrange]

20-3 with 36 sec left in the half.

 

[95 Vol Alum]

Wondering if him throwing it way too low possibly negated it being called?

It should have been close enough to call PI. Receiver was not allowed a chance to play the ball due to the contact.

 

[TrueOrange]

20-3 OSU at the half.

 

[TrueOrange]

TD Illinois. Makes it 20-10 OSU with 10:06 left in the 3rd.

 

[adam.vol]

Jeremiah Smith just landed awkwardly. Looks like he has a back injury.