Ohio State Buckeyes vs Illinois Fighting Illini Match Player Stats On Nov 14, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Nov 14, 2015

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In a performance that was much more workmanlike than spectacular, No. 3 Ohio State remained undefeated and extended its winning streak to 23 games.

Running back Ezekiel Elliott rushed for 181 yards and two touchdowns Saturday while the defense allowed just 259 total yards as the Buckeyes knocked off Illinois 28-3 in a Big Ten Conference game at Memorial Stadium.

Elliott scored on second-half runs of 1 and 10 yards for Ohio State (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten), while quarterback J.T. Barrett completed 15 of 23 passes for 150 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Barrett added 74 yards and a score on the ground.

Barrett's 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Thomas with 3:43 left in the first quarter gave the Buckeyes the only score they would need.

Barrett made it 14-3 with 50 seconds remaining in the first half, running six yards to cap a seven-play, 60-yard drive that he extended with a 16-yard scramble on fourth-and-11 at the Fighting Illini 38.

Ohio State's defense gave Illinois (5-5, 2-4) fits throughout the day, using its quickness in the secondary to blanket receivers and bothering quarterback Wes Lunt with a consistent pass rush.

Lunt completed just 23 of 47 passes for 241 yards while absorbing three sacks and being forced to get rid of the ball on a spate of other attempts. The Illini were unable to establish a running game, managing just 18 yards on 24 carries.

Kicker Taylor Zalewski's 46-yard field goal with 10:12 left in the second quarter brought Illinois within 7-3, but he banged a 50-yard attempt off the right upright later in the quarter, four plays after defensive end Dawuane Smoot recovered a Barrett fumble at the Buckeyes' 31.

The Illini failed to capitalize on two other scoring chances in the third quarter. A low snap and fumbled hold aborted a 36-yard field goal try by Zalewski that would have cut the lead to 14-6. Running back Cameron Tucker lost 3 yards on a fourth-and-1 play at the Ohio State 13 late in the period.

NOTES: Illinois RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn, who entered the game as the team's leading rusher with 665 yards, left the game with an undisclosed injury in the third quarter and did not return. ... Ohio State RB Ezekiel Elliott went over 100 yards for the 15th straight game, dating back to last year. ... The Buckeyes improved to 28-0 in October and November games under coach Urban Meyer.