CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In one of the biggest games in program history, the No. 17 Illini will be hosting the No. 1 team in the country, the Ohio State Buckeyes.
For a team looking to put the college football world on notice, Illinois’ defense is going to have its hands full trying to slow down the Buckeyes.
Headlined by quarterback Julian Sayin and a duo of superstar wide receivers in Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, that offense has looked dominant through the team’s first five games.
In the words of Illinois
defensive backs coach Corey Parker, having to defend against all three of those guys will be a tall task.
“Julian Sayin’s a good quarterback, he can throw the ball all over the place,” Parker said. “Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, those guys can run and make plays down the field, but they can also run short routes and beat you, just make you miss and get YAC yards.”
Smith, especially, is a match-up nightmare.
He’s one of the best receivers in the country, is a future NFL draft pick and has already tallied 463 receiving yards and seven total touchdowns on the season.
When asked about what challenges defending a guy like Smith brings, Illini defensive back and team captain Miles Scott opened up what it means for their defense.
“Probably more attention will be drawn to him, so that gives guys like Carnell Tate and Max Klare more opportunities to get the ball,” Scott said. “As long as we’re able to take away their best weapon, I feel like that gives us a better chance to win.”
After losing star defensive back Xavier Scott to injury a few weeks back, the secondary has been dealing with some depth issues.
Now, it will come down to guys like Miles Scott, Matthew Bailey, Jaheim Clarke and Tanner Heckel to have big-time performances in what feels like a season-defining game.
But when it all comes down to it, Parker is confident in the Illini defense.
“Those guys are good players, we got good players too. So we’re excited to see how our guys meet that challenge,” Parker said.
On top of putting up an average of over 37 points per game, the Buckeyes are one of only 18 FBS teams that are averaging at least seven yards per play on offense.
They’re an undefeated 5-0, the defending national champions and have been ranked No. 1 since the second week of the season.
Nonetheless, to Miles Scott, it’s just another game.
“It’s the same thing every week. You don’t really care about the logo on the helmet, you don’t care about what school they’re coming from, they got on pads just like we do,” Scott said.
As kickoff looms in the distance, the vibes are mounting up in Champaign.
No. 1 comes into town, alongside FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff, at 11 a.m. Saturday morning.
