The battle for the Illibuck trophy between Ohio State and Illinois will be in the national spotlight.
FOX selected the Buckeyes' Sept. 26 matchup against Illinois at Ohio Stadium as its Big Noon Saturday game, with kickoff scheduled for noon E.T.
The two teams met last season in a 34-16 victory for the Buckeyes in Champaign, IL. Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 19-of-27 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. The defense was the star of the show, however, with three forced turnovers that were converted into 21 points.
Illinois is currently sitting at 1-1, with a victory over UAB in week 1 and a loss against Duke in week 2. The Illini face off against Southern Illinois this week before both teams open up their Big Ten schedules in week 4.
Time
is set for Illinois ⏰ pic.twitter.com/kNPO3nxbWz
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) September 14, 2026
Being one of the biggest brands not just in the Big Ten, but in the country, will often put Ohio State in prime television slots throughout the season. Despite the early-season loss, the Big Ten championship is still possible for the Buckeyes, and the program will get its first chance to achieve that goal at home with a national audience.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs. Illinois set for FOX Big Noon Kickoff
