Buckeye Rosters

Recap

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — A trick play and a stout Illinois defense added up to defeat for the Buckeyes in their Big Ten opener.

Ohio State cut the deficit to three (17-14) late in the third quarter thanks to a 66-yard punt return by Jeff Graham. But the Illini regained the momentum three plays later when wideouts Steve Williams and Mike Bellamy hooked up on a 34-yard TD pass.

The Buckeyes penetrated deep into Illini territory in the fourth quarter, but couldn’t get into the end zone either time, fumbling once at the two-yard line and coming up a foot short on a fourth-and-four from the four.

The game was played on the Illini’s new turf, installed in 12 days after vandals burned nearly 50 yards of the old field.