Illini ready for OSU

If Illinois had any lingering doubts it could hang with the big boys, they disappeared with last November's 7-point home loss to top-ranked Ohio State.

Nobody had stuck so close to the Buckeyes for 60 minutes to that point -- something particularly revelatory to a program that had won just two of its previous 29 Big Ten games.

"We were able to play with them," coach Ron Zook said.

While that 17-10 loss served as a springboard for this year's bowl-bound revival, here comes another chance to use a top-ranked Ohio State team as a launching pad.

Illinois (7-3), which jumped to No. 31 in the Bowl Championship Series standings Sunday, heads to Columbus on Saturday for a highly visible afternoon affair.

"It's a great opportunity for us," junior linebacker Brit Miller said. "We always match up with them well."

Miller bases that opinion on Illinois' ability to limit the Buckeyes to 224 total yards last November. The Illini forced 2 turnovers, posted 3 sacks and smacked Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith several times more.

"They play a big style of ball," Miller said. "They go out and run a lot of 'power.' They run right at you. We see that a lot with our offense, so we've got a little experience with that.

"That's Big Ten football, and that's what we enjoy. That's how our defense is built, and so it's going to be a great matchup."

Cumberland home: There's an additional level of excitement this week for Illinois' fistful of Ohio natives, but none more so than for sophomore tight end-turned-split end Jeff Cumberland.

Illinois lured Cumberland out of Columbus, Ohio, where he was a three-sport star (football, basketball, track) for Brookhaven High.

"I'm really looking forward to going to Columbus," Cumberland said. "I love playing Ohio State. It's a great environment. Hopefully I go out and execute the same way."

By that, Cumberland meant his production Saturday night at Minnesota, not his uneven showings prior to that.

Cumberland hadn't done a lot to live up to his top-100 prospect status until Saturday at Minnesota, when he used his first start at wideout to snag a career-high 4 passes for 53 yards and a touchdown. He also sprinted 24 yards on a reverse.

"Switching from tight end to inside receiver to outside receiver, we're just seeing what fits me best," said the 6-foot-5, 244-pound Cumberland, a wideout in high school who struggled to block as well as Illinois needed for its run-based attack.

"Tight end was a pretty good position. I was faster than pretty much most of the linebackers and could get open," he added. "At 'X' receiver, I'm faster than most of the (defensive backs) and I'm bigger than everybody, so that gives me an advantage."

Injury update: Four-year starting guard Martin O'Donnell sat out most of Saturday's game, but he should able to go against Ohio State.

"Someone fell on the back of his leg," coach Ron Zook said. "It's not really a sprained ankle, but more of a contusion on his calf. He should be OK."