Preview & Picks: No. 1 Ohio State at No. 17 Illinois

CHAMPAIGN — Bret Bielema has been around college football long enough to know that opportunities like Saturday don't come around very often.

In his first 16 years as a head coach, he's played the No. 1 team in the country seven times — three times in his first 11 seasons in the Big Ten and four times in his five years in the SEC.

But Illinois has played the No. 1 team in the country just 16 times in the program's first 133 seasons, going 3-13 overall in those games.

The No. 17-ranked Illini are big home underdogs (+14) to No. 1 Ohio State for Saturday's 11 a.m. CT kickoff, but the Illini (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) are excited for the opportunity to take their shot at the talented and deep Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) for a chance to make history and memories.

"I've been a head coach 17 years, and the amount of time that I get this moment have been very few," Bielema said. "To realize the moment you're in and take advantage of it. I told our players yesterday that a special memory is created for moments, and what you do with that moment makes that memory."

Ohio State is a massive challenge for Illinois. The Buckeyes have the No. 1 defense in the country with multiple projected first-round picks — led by safety Caleb Downs and linebacker Arvell Reese — and four- and five-star players up and down the depth chart.

Meanwhile, the Buckeyes offense has potentially the most talented group of receiving options in the country with WR Jeremiah Smith, WR Carnell Tate and TE Max Klare, and a first-year starting quarterback, Julian Sayin, who leads the country in completion rate.

So the Illini can't match the Buckeyes' depth of talent, but it's not like Illinois is some Big Ten bottom dweller anymore. Though they were dominated by Indiana (No. 3 S&P+), the Illini (No. 29 S&P+) have quality wins at Duke (No. 44 S&P+) and over USC (No. 13 S&P+).

The Illini have only played No. 1 as a ranked opponent three times in its history — and Saturday will make that twice in two years, a sign both of the Big Ten and Illini football's growth the last few seasons.

Illinois has made this matchup with No. 1 Ohio State more hopeful and less of a solemn death march, even if the odds are stacked against them.

Illinois has made this a ranked-on-ranked matchup worth watching and with shreds of intrigue as ESPN's FPI gives Illinois a 17.7% chance to win.

"The cool part, I think, for us is our players have put us in position at winning five games and playing well in those five games that adds a little something to it," Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. said. "Two ranked teams playing, and historically, I think there are some numbers there that are pretty astonishing as far as how many opportunities there's been where Illinois has been ranked and playing and hosting a No. 1 ranked team. At the end of the day, our guys knows it's another Big Ten battle and ultimately the rankings that matter are the ones at the end of the year, towards the end of the season. Our guys know that, but I think everybody is going to be super excited.

"There will be a lot of great energy around the week this week for preparation. You can feel it in the air [Sunday night] already in our meetings. You can sense it in the building with the guys coming in on their own today. I would assume you'll feel it all week. I feel it. It's a great opportunity. It's going to take a great effort from us playing a great football team. I know our guys are excited about the opportunity and challenge and put themselves in a good position. We've got an opportunity to hopefully try to go take advantage of Saturday morning."

Illinois knows beating the Buckeyes will take a near-perfect game. But they're excited for their shot to make a moment against No. 1.

"Tremendous challenge. No. 1-ranked team in the country for a reason," Bielema said. "I like our guys, I like the attitude, I like their demeanor. I don't know if we've played a game yet where we've put it all together for four quarters, and there would be no better time than this week. This is the team that you need your best from the opening snap to the last snap."

GAME INFO

Date: Saturday, Oct. 11

Venue: Gies Memorial Stadium

Time: 11 a.m. CT

Broadcast: FOX — Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst) and Jenny Taft (reporter)

Radio: Illini Radio Network (List of stations here)

Kickoff forecast: 67°F, 48% humidity, 0% chance of precipitation, 5 mph wind

Line: Illinois +14 (DraftKings)

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