The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Ohio State Buckeyes are two prominent football teams in the Big Ten Conference. The Fighting Illini represent the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the Buckeyes represent the Ohio State University. The Fighting Illini and the Buckeyes began their collegiate journey in 1890. The Illinois Fighting Illini play at the Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois, whereas the Ohio State Buckeyes play their home games at the Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Both the Fighting Illini and the Buckeyes have generated numerous All-Americans, NFLers, and conference championships. Ohio State is historically one of the most dominant programs in college football, with Illinois having experienced more athletic success. Each of these programs has had its share of legendary players, from Illinois's Red Grange to Ohio State's Archie Griffin.
Illinois vs Ohio State Football Rivalry History
The Illinois vs Ohio State rivalry began in 1902, and have played over 100 games since then. The rivalry has been known for its competitive atmosphere since the early 20th century. The Ohio State University has been the dominant force in this recent century. The Illibuck Trophy was first awarded in 1925 to the winner of this rivalry game. The Illibuck series came to a halt in 2003 and 2004. The award, however, was handed to Ohio State for winning the 2002 Illibuck Trophy game. Although Illinois has notable victories, including an upset in 2007, Ohio State is a powerhouse with more success in the past two decades. This is a distinctive rivalry in which it combines history and Ohio State's more recent dominance, where such games in this conference are pivotally important in the Big Ten standings. The match between the two was canceled during the 2020-2021 season due to COVID and they have not played any games since 2017. As of 2024, the teams will not face each other annually but can play against each other once in four years.
Illinois vs Ohio State Football Rivalry Head-to-Head Stats
The table below summarizes key statistics for the Illinois vs. Ohio State rivalry.
| Stat | Illinois | Ohio State |
| First Meeting (1902) | 0 | 0 |
| Total Meetings | 103 | |
| All-Time Wins | 30 | 68 |
| Largest victory | 46-0 | 48-0 |
| Longest Win Streak | 4 (1983-1986) | 15 (2008-2023) |
| Illibuck Trophy | 64 | 23 |
Illinois vs Ohio State Football Rivalry Winner Year-by-Year
Below is a table of their rivalry results from 2000 to 2017:
| Year | Winner | Score |
| 2000 | Ohio State | 21-24 |
| 2001 | Illinois | 34-22 |
| 2002 | Ohio State | 23-16 (OT) |
| 2005 | Ohio State | 40-2 |
| 2006 | Ohio State | 17-10 |
| 2007 | Illinois | 28-21 |
| 2008 | Ohio State | 30-20 |
| 2009 | Ohio State | 30-0 |
| 2010 | Ohio State | 24-13 |
| 2011 | Ohio State | 17-7 |
| 2012 | Ohio State | 52-22 |
| 2013 | Ohio State | 60-35 |
| 2014 | Ohio State | 55-14 |
| 2015 | Ohio State | 28-3 |
| 2017 | Ohio State | 52-14 |
FAQs on Illinois and Ohio State
A. Illinois vs Ohio State rivalry began in 1902.
A. It is a trophy awarded to the winner of the Illinois vs. Ohio State game.
A. Ohio State has won eight national championships.
A. Illinois plays at Memorial Stadium, and Ohio State plays at Ohio Stadium
