No. 1 Ohio State Loses To The Fighting Illini - National Title Hopes Gone

Illinois 28, (1) Ohio State 21

The Fighting Illini Upset No. 1 Ohio State

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- In this season of upsets, top-ranked Ohio State was the latest to fall.

Juice Williams provided the big plays on the ground and through the air, spurring Illinois to a stunning 28-21 victory on Saturday night and throwing open the national title race for a bunch of teams that needed the Buckeyes to lose.


Firsts And Lasts

Illinois' 28-21 victory over No. 1 Ohio State was big for the following reasons:

• Ends Ohio State's Big Ten-record 20-game winning streak.
• Ends Ohio State's school-record 28-game regular season win streak.
• Illinois' first win vs. a No. 1 team since 1956.
• Illinois' first-ever win vs. a
No. 1 team on road.
• Illinois is first team to rush for over 200 yards vs. Ohio State since 2001.
"I know 'shock the world' is overused," Illini linebacker J Leman said. "It is pretty shocking to most people, but not to the guys in the locker room."

It was the first time Illinois (8-3, 5-2 Big Ten) had beaten a No. 1 since 1956, and the first time it had done it away from home. The defeat also ended a record streak of 20 Big Ten wins in a row by Ohio State (10-1, 6-1).

"This is a game I'll remember for the rest of my life," Ohio State offensive tackle Kirk Barton said. "This is disappointing."

Williams, criticized at times because of his errant passing, tossed four touchdown passes. On the Illini's last drive, Williams used his legs to keep the ball away from the Buckeyes, running for three first downs and burning up the final 8:09.

Williams finished 12-of-22 passing for 140 yards and carried 16 times for 70 yards.

The Buckeyes, who were in first-place in the BCS standings and two victories away from a second consecutive trip to the national title game, became the second No. 1 to lose this season. Only Kansas and Hawaii remained unbeaten in major college football, but both played later Saturday night.

All those who doubted the Buckeyes because of what they called a weak schedule must feel vindicated.

Who will be No. 1 now? Maybe, LSU -- again. The Tigers lost as the top-ranked team to Kentucky earlier in the season. Count Oregon, Oklahoma, Missouri and even West Virginia among the others happy to see the Buckeyes get beat. All now have a better chance at reaching the national title game, thanks to coach Ron Zook's Illini.

The Illini rushed for 260 yards against an Ohio State defense that came in allowing just 65 yards on the ground per game. Rashard Mendenhall set an Illinois season record while rushing for 88 yards on 26 carries.

The defeat crippled Ohio State's dreams of a national championship and knocked the Buckeyes into a tie for the top spot in the Big Ten because of Michigan's earlier loss to Wisconsin.

Not since Nov. 14, 1959, had Michigan and Ohio State both lost the week before their annual year-end grudge match, which once again this season will decide the champion.

"We don't have time to put our heads down," Buckeyes linebacker James Laurinaitis said.

Marcus Thomas' interception gave Illinois the ball with 8:09 left at its own 24. And Ohio State would never get it back.

The Illini lined up to punt on a fourth-and-inches at their own 34 with 6:53 left, but Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel called timeout and Zook reconsidered after being prodded by his quarterback.


How The Mighty Fall

An unranked team has beaten a top-5 team nine times this season. Since the AP poll began in 1936, there had never been more than eight wins by unranked teams over top-5 teams in a year when at least 20 teams were ranked. The only time there were more than eight such upsets was 1967 -- one of seven seasons in which only 10 teams were ranked in the AP poll.

Date Top-5 team Lost to
Nov. 10 No. 1
Ohio St. Illinois
Nov. 3 No. 2 BC FSU
Oct. 18 No. 2 USF Rutgers
Oct. 13 No. 2 Cal Oregon St.
Oct. 6 No. 2 USC Stanford
Oct. 6 No. 5 Wisconsin Illinois
Sept. 29 No. 3 Oklahoma Colorado
Sept. 29 No. 4 Florida Auburn
Sept. 1 No. 5 Michigan Appalachian St.
"I will get it," Zook said the sophomore quarterback told him. "You better get it," the coach said he told Williams.

Williams sneaked for the first down and twice more he converted third-and-long on quarterback draws.

Tressel said of the timeout, "I'd like to have that one back."

After the game, while Illinois players flooded the field to celebrate at midfield. The two teams got into a small skirmish with some shoving and a couple of punches thrown before order was restored.

Ohio State's Todd Boeckman had his worst game in his first year as a starter. He completed 13 of 23 passes for 156 yards with three interceptions. Thomas had one pick and forced another in the Illinois end zone in the third quarter by tipping it to teammate Antonio Steele.

The Illini built the lead to 28-14 with a drive that was manufactured around the running of Mendenhall and Williams. Mendenhall ran for 17 yards in the march, with Williams going for 16 and also hitting Brian Gamble on a 15-yard gainer.

Williams, who has been replaced late in games, finished it off with a 31-yard scoring pass to wide-open Marcus Wilkins at the goal line.

The Buckeyes came right back to cut the lead to 28-21 with a 76-yard drive of their own, with Boeckman -- never known as a runner -- picking up 35 yards on the first snap. The Buckeyes scored on Chris Wells' 18-yard run to the right corner of the end zone.

After forcing an Illini punt, the Buckeyes were moving the ball again when Boeckman's deep pass into double coverage was intercepted by Thomas, who leaped high to reach the ball ahead of Brian Robiskie.

Two of the best linebackers in the country were on display and both had good games. Leman had 12 stops, including two for negative yardage and Laurinaitis had 12 tackles.

Wells ran for 76 yards on 20 carries and scored on runs of 11 and 17 yards to lead the Buckeyes. Boeckman was harassed all day and was sacked twice.

The Buckeyes had won their last 28 regular-season games and hadn't lost at all since getting routed 41-14 by Florida in the BCS title game. Zook played a big part in building those Gators, before he was fired by Florida in 2004.

The Zooker got the Buckeyes again.

A year ago the Illini were 2-10, but they showed signs of improvement for the first time in years in a 17-10 loss to No. 1 Ohio State. The year before the Buckeyes beat Illinois 40-2.

Now the Buckeyes must travel to Michigan for a game they knew would decide the Big Ten title and hoped would be for a spot in the national title game.

Those hopes are pretty much gone.

CFI: THE BIG TEN REPORT

BY MICK MILLER
BIG TEN INSIDER

Fall is officially here, and we all know, that the Big Ten season is upon us, time to start the show. While not all played their opener – that’s just how it goes – there were eight teams that battled conference foes. Teams fire out of the gate as the autumn wind blows, so they are in good position by December snows. Each team relies on their stars to glow, some of which will shine as pros. So from Mike Hart’s power runs to Curtis Painter’s touchdown throws, let’s look back at Saturday’s game day highs and lows.

Purdue 45 Minnesota 31

A first half implosion by the Golden Gophers spelled doom for them in their conference opener against the Boilermakers. Five dropped passes, four turnovers, and four penalties dug the hole, and Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter buried them there. Painter threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns, mostly to his favorite receiver Dorien Bryant, who finished with 12 receptions for 150 yards and two scores. Minnesota’s redshirt freshman quarterback Adam Weber rebounded nicely from a disastrous first half to lead the Gophers to 28 second half points, but it was too little, too late.

Up Next: Purdue hosts Notre Dame; Minnesota welcomes Ohio State


Illinois 27 Indiana 14

The Illini won their first Big Ten opener in 14 years with their win in Bloomington. Tailback Rashard Mendenhall had a career day against the Hoosiers with 214 yards rushing on 27 carries, scoring one rushing touchdown and adding a receiving touchdown as well. Indiana quarterback Kellen Lewis (26 for 51, 263 yards, two touchdown passes) was erratic most of the day, missing on throws that would have resulted in scores. Illinois signal caller Juice Williams did not play well either, going 13 for 28 for 98 yards, but he also threw for two scores, as Mendenhall had to carry the day.

Up Next: Illinois invites Penn State; Indiana travels to Iowa


Michigan 14 Penn State 9

Michigan is gaining a second wind after a dismal start to this season by winning their Big Ten opener against the 10th-ranked Nittany Lions. Mike Hart has picked up this team and carried it the last two weeks -- his career high 44 carries for 153 yards and a touchdown are proof of that. In winning their ninth straight over head coach Joe Paterno and Penn State, freshman quarterback Ryan Mallett (16 of 29, 170 yards, interception, and touchdown run) ran his record to 2-0 as a starter. Timely turnovers by the running game and a poor performance by Lion quarterback Anthony Morelli (15 for 31, 169 yards) hastened Penn State’s demise.

Next Up: Michigan visits Northwestern; Penn State goes to fight in Illinois


Ohio State 58 Northwestern 7

Did the Wildcats even show up for this game? The Buckeyes crushed Northwestern in all phases and got out to a 45-0 at the half at the Horseshoe’s 500th game. Northwestern simply went belly-up on offense, netting 20 yards on 35 plays in the first half while falling into a 28-0 hole less than ten minutes into the game. Buckeye quarterback Todd Boeckman hit wide receiver Brian Robiskie for three touchdowns (his only three receptions on the day) in the first half and finished with 11 of 14 for 179 yards and four touchdowns. Outside of a 99-yard kickoff return to open the second half, Northwestern simply supplied the doormat for Ohio State to walk on. Chris Wells went for 100 yards on 12 carries and a 36-yard touchdown while the Wildcats mustered 120 yards of offense all day.

Next Up: Ohio State motors to Minnesota; Northwestern hosts Michigan


Wisconsin 17 Iowa 13

The ninth-ranked Badgers continue to play close games as they held off the upset-minded Iowa Hawkeyes at home. P.J. Hill scored the go ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter to put Wisconsin up for good at 14-10. While Iowa’s run game sputtered, Hill finished with 113 yards on 29 carries in a workman-like effort as the rest of the Badger offense struggled against a stingy Iowa defense. The difference in the game was Hill, as Wisconsin could run the ball, and the Hawkeyes could not. The usually efficient quarterback Tyler Donovan completed a mere 12 of 23 for 138 yards and a three-yard touchdown to tight end Travis Beckham. Iowa gave a gallant effort after losing two more receivers (tight end Tony Moeaki and wide receiver Andy Brodell) to injury in the first quarter in this battle of defenses.

Up Next: Wisconsin hosts Michigan State; Iowa welcomes Indiana


Michigan State 31 Notre Dame 14

Although the Fighting Irish scored their first two offensive touchdowns of the year, the defense continues to struggle as they lose to the visiting Spartans. Quarterback Brian Hoyer got off to a slow start, but came on with four touchdown passes, set up by a staunch running game that totaled 219 yards on 49 attempts. Both Spartan tailbacks, Javon Ringer (26 rushes, 144 yards) and Jehuu Caulcrick (20 carries for 83 yards) bruised the Irish repeatedly and set up easy touchdown tosses for Hoyer. Having a breakout season is Spartan two-way player Kellen Davis (tight end/defensive end). He caught two touchdown passes on his only two receptions and helped pressure Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen into a woeful 7 of 13 for 53 yards. The lone bright spot for Notre Dame was halfback James Aldridge, who finished with 104 yards on 18 carries. Notre Dame is setting all-time lows each and every week as they are now 0-4 for the first time in 119 years of Irish football.

Up Next: Michigan State wings over to Wisconsin; Notre Dame plays Purdue