The Ohio State football team put on a show today and kept the Illibuck Trophy for another year. The Buckeyes deployed an aerial attack on Illinois to defeat the Fighting Illini by a score of 42-19. Illinois had no answer for Jeremiah Smith
, who had over 200 yards receiving and four touchdowns. He and quarterback Julian Sayin were firing on all cylinders early as the two connected for three touchdowns before halftime.Smith continues his assault on the Scarlet and Gray record books. After breaking the Ohio State all-time receiving yards record last week, No. 4 inched closer to the all-time receptions record and is now within two of the all-time receiving touchdowns record. In the process, Smith also became the first Buckeye receiver to go over
3,000 career receiving yards. We are witnessing greatness in real time, folks.
After a solid win, spectacular plays, and retention of a rivalry trophy, fans had some thoughts and opinions. As we do each week, we turn to social media to see the best.
Illibuck secured for Ohio State
Get that man his IlliBuck!
— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) September 26, 2026
Jeremiah Smith 28
Illinois 19
There are no words to describe his talents anymore. He stopped to sign countless autographs after the game.
He may go down as a top two Ohio State player all time… and he might not be two. pic.twitter.com/pppcDU0fkt
That's a short list, even at Ohio State
List of Ohio State WRs EVER to have 10+ catches, 200+ receiving yards and 4 receiving TDs in a game:
— Novig (@Novig) September 26, 2026
Jeremiah Smith - 2026 vs. Illinois
That’s the list. pic.twitter.com/fQBsJdEQy1
Jeremiah Smith literally might be from another planet
HE IS NOT HUMAN pic.twitter.com/gDduZc5B1W
— THE ™️ Barstool Ohio State (@BarstoolOSU) September 26, 2026
Ohio State only retires numbers after winning a certain trophy
Ohio State might have to retire 4.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) September 26, 2026
Interesting comparison for the Ohio State All-American
DeVonta Smith Heisman year - 12 game regular season
— JBook. (@JBook_37) September 26, 2026
105 catches
1,641 yards
20 TD's
Jeremiah Smith current 12 game pace
100 catches
1,866 yards
18 TD's
Made him look silly
JEREMIAH SMITH BROUGHT JUICE CLARK TO COLUMBUS FOR BRING YA CHILD TO WORK DAY pic.twitter.com/O2GaikbMNV
— wok (@wokdior) September 26, 2026
It's just too easy for Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith
"Yeah, feel kind of bad for him."
— Underdog CFB (@UnderdogCFB) September 26, 2026
Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith admitted he started laughing after cooking Illinois' secondary during his 4-TD performance. pic.twitter.com/hUYyipVofn
Enjoy every moment Buckeye Nation
Will continue to cherish every single second I get to watch Jeremiah Smith play football in an Ohio State uniform
— Unbiased Ev (@DoubleVodkaDon) September 26, 2026
Ohio State fans love to see Julian Sayin move those legs when needed
LOOK AT THE LEGS pic.twitter.com/wMDBNBAO70
— THE ™️ Barstool Ohio State (@BarstoolOSU) September 26, 2026
Ohio State sophomore got that dawg in him
Riley Pettijohn pic.twitter.com/aYn9jKKbDt
— OHIO STATE GOING BACK2BACK (@Yo_Walt) September 26, 2026
Ohio State freshman is going to be a good one
KHARY WILDER IS THE ONE IM TELLIN YA
— wok (@wokdior) September 26, 2026
KEEP 34 ON MY FIELD pic.twitter.com/VyyhHMkJYW
Not a bad idea for the Ohio State defense
Riley Pettijohn and Khary Wilder on the field for a third down, and the play resulted in a sack pic.twitter.com/eUwLdk27W1
— Andrew Gillis (@Andrew_Gillis70) September 26, 2026
All that and still not enough to beat Ohio State
Illinois went to Ohio State, put up 462 yards, didn't commit a single turnover, won the time of possession battle.
— Ryan Easterling (@RyanEasterling) September 26, 2026
Lost by 23.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Social media reacts to Ohio State win over Illinois in Big Ten opener
