College Sports

College football preview: Ohio State at Illinois

Posted October 14, 2011 12:00 am

By Mike McGraw

mmcgraw@dailyherald.com

Ohio State (3-3, 0-2) at Illinois (6-0, 2-0)

When: 2:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium

TV: Channel 7

Radio: WIND 560-AM.

Series: Ohio State leads 63-30-4, and won 24-13 last season.

Coaches: Ron Zook (34-45, seventh year at UI); Luke Fickell (3-3, first year at OSU).

Players to watch: Ohio State RB Dan Herron is set to return after serving a six-game NCAA suspension. He ran for 1,155 yards last season. Freshman QB Braxton Miller left the Nebraska game in the third quarter with a sprained ankle, but is expected to play. … For Illinois, QB Nathan Scheelhaase to WR A.J. Jenkins has become one of the most potent passing duos in the nation. Defensive linemen Whitney Mercilus and Michael Buchanan rank 1-2 in the Big Ten in sacks.

The skinny: The Illini are off to their best start in 50 years, while Ohio State just lost consecutive games for the first time since 2004. The Buckeyes gave up a 27-6 lead at Nebraska last week, mostly after Miller left with an ankle injury. If Miller is healthy and with Herron returning from suspension, will a better Ohio State team show up?

Fast fact: Illini WR A.J. Jenkins just posted the most receiving yards in consecutive games (450) in Big Ten history.

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