The Illinois Fighting Illini come into Saturday's game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in a very weird spot as a program, while being completely overmatched by the Buckeyes.

Illinois is 2-1 this year, with wins over Southern Illinois and UAB, but with a loss to the Duke Blue Devils. The loss to Duke was an eye-opener because it truly told the entire country exactly where the Illini stand in the big picture of college football.

It was just a year ago that they were in the top-10 in the country before two blowout losses to Indiana and Ohio State set them way back. Now, they enter the 2026 season with no real expectations after falling to their ACC opponent in week two

They feel like they need a win against the Buckeyes to erase all of the bad feelings they have had early in the year. To get that, they will need nothing short of a miracle. 

The Buckeyes' defense has been elite for five of the six halves of football this year. In the one game they struggled, they really ran out of gas and could not compete against Texas. Here are three players that the Buckeyes are going to have to look out for when they are on the field.

Katin Houser has hardly been the problem for Illinois. He has been really sharp in the first three games and, truthfully, would be in some conversations at the top of the sport if not for the loss. Houser is completing 74 percent of his throws for 758 yards, eight touchdowns, and just two interceptions.

He has added 50 yards and a score on the ground and has shown enough athleticism to be dangerous on the ground. The Buckeyes will obviously be his toughest test.

The Northeast Ohio kid is off to a great start for Illinois this year. The pride of Tallmadge, Ohio, Dixon has hauled in 25 catches for 367 yards and has a nation-leading seven touchdowns already to his name.

He has had multiple touchdowns in all three games, and he found the end zone three times against Duke. Standing at just 6'1", he isn't the biggest guy on the roster, but he is a technician and has made himself into a really good player.

The Illinois backfield is a two-man crew, but Valentine is the home run hitter. This year, Valentine has 38 carries for 177 yards and a touchdown. That one touchdown was a 51-yard scamper, and it was one of their biggest plays of the entire year. 

The Buckeyes will have to keep him and his running mate, Aidan Laughery, bottled up on the ground.